5 days Sahara desert trekking: 5 Days Sahara Desert Trekking in Merzouga
5 days · Desert trekking

5 Days Sahara Desert Trekking in Merzouga

Five days walking in the Sahara at the pace of the camels: the great dunes of Erg Chebbi, nomad families, oases and four nights under the stars.

See the day-by-day route
5 days / 4 nightsStarts in MerzougaEnds in MerzougaPrivate tour
Merzouga

About this 5 days Sahara desert trekking

Our 5 days Sahara desert trekking trip lets you walk the desert the old way. A guide leads you across the dunes of Erg Chebbi while camels carry the bags.

First, you meet your guide and camels in Merzouga and walk into the dunes. Then you walk in the cool morning, rest at midday and continue to the next camp. After that, you share tea in a nomad family’s tent. Next, you climb the highest dunes for the view and try sandboarding. Finally, you watch the sunrise from a dune and walk back to Merzouga. As a result, 5 days Sahara desert trekking gives you four nights under the stars. It is a private trip, on your dates.

Highlights of this 5 days Sahara desert trekking

  • Walking with a desert guide
  • Camels carry the bags
  • Four nights in desert camps
  • Nomad families
  • Sunrise and sunset on the dunes
  • Sandboarding

5 days Sahara desert trekking: day by day

  1. 1day
    Day 1

    Into the dunes

    Meet your guide and camels in Merzouga and walk into the dunes in the late afternoon.

    Stay: Desert camp
  2. 2day
    Day 2

    Across Erg Chebbi

    Walk in the cool morning, rest at midday in the shade, and continue to the next camp.

    Stay: Desert camp
  3. 3day
    Day 3

    Nomad families

    A day between the big dunes and the stony desert, with tea at a nomad family’s tent.

    Stay: Desert camp
  4. 4day
    Day 4

    The highest dunes

    Climb the highest dunes for the view, try sandboarding, and a last night under the stars.

    Stay: Desert camp
  5. 5day
    Day 5

    Sunrise & back to Merzouga

    Watch the sunrise from the top of a dune and walk back to Merzouga.

What’s included in this 5 days Sahara desert trekking

Included

  • 4 nights of accommodation as listed (riads, guesthouses and a desert camp)
  • Breakfast every morning
  • Dinner and breakfast at the desert camp
  • Private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with driver
  • Pick-up in Merzouga and drop-off in Merzouga (hotel, riad, airport)
  • Camel ride as described in the programme
  • Local guide for the guided visits

Not included

  • International flights
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Entrance fees to monuments and museums
  • Optional activities (for example quad, buggy or balloon) unless listed
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips for drivers and guides

Draft based on this programme – our team confirms the exact list with your quote.

Where you stay

  1. Night 1Desert camp
  2. Night 2Desert camp
  3. Night 3Desert camp
  4. Night 4Desert camp

Comfort level: Standard + – comfortable riads, guesthouses and a traditional desert camp, chosen by our team. Luxury camps and riads are possible on request.

Best time for this trip

October to April is best for walking in the dunes, with cool mornings and mild days. From June to August the Sahara is far too hot for trekking.

  • JanGood
  • FebGood
  • MarBest
  • AprBest
  • MayPossible
  • JunAvoid
  • JulAvoid
  • AugAvoid
  • SepPossible
  • OctBest
  • NovBest
  • DecGood

What to bring for this trip

  • Light walking shoes or trail sandals for sand
  • Gaiters or socks to keep sand out
  • Scarf or cheche for sand and sun
  • Wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses
  • High-factor sun cream and lip balm
  • Warm jacket and sleeping layer for the nights
  • Headtorch
  • Wet wipes and hand gel
  • Refillable water bottle

Booking & payment

How to book
Send your request; we confirm the programme and the price in writing on WhatsApp or by email.
Payment
A deposit secures your booking and the balance is paid on arrival.
Cancellation
Our cancellation conditions are sent with your quote, before you pay anything.
Weather & changes
If the weather stops an activity, we adapt the day or replace the activity.

5 Days Sahara Desert Trekking in Merzouga: your questions

How much do we walk each day on the Sahara desert trek?

A few hours a day, in the cooler morning and late afternoon, at the pace of the camels.

When is the best time for Sahara desert trekking?

From October to April. Summer is too hot for walking in the desert.

How do I get to Merzouga for the trek?

We can pick you up in Marrakech or Fes (this adds travel days), or meet you in Merzouga.

Do I need to be fit for 5 days Sahara desert trekking?

You need to be happy walking a few hours a day, but no special training. Walking on sand is slower than on a path, so our guide sets an easy pace with long breaks in the shade.

Where do we sleep and what do we eat on the trek?

Each night we sleep in a desert camp under the stars. Our team cooks simple meals on the way – tagines, bread baked in the sand, fresh salads and mint tea.

Local team in MoroccoYour trip is planned and run by our own team on the ground.
Private, on your datesOnly you and your travel companions, starting when you want.
Every day can changeAdd a night, an activity or a slower pace – the plan adapts to you.
Answers on WhatsAppAsk us anything before you book: +212 600 643 098.

What our travellers say

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Wonderful adventure!

We went on 5 day trip through Atlas Mountains to the desert. Different landscapes, trekking in Dades Valley, the night in the desert etc. were incredible. The accommodation was great in every place we slept and the kindness of the people was the best…
L
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Excellent Moroccan trip

We booked a 5-day holiday with the company for our trip to Morocco, and it exceeded all our expectations. The entire experience was fantastic, from the beautiful landscapes to the unforgettable overnight stay in the Sahara desert. The outdoor activities…
M

Optional activities

Add one or more of these to your 5-day trip. They are not included in the price – ask us and we add them to your programme.

Quick request

Request this 5-day trip

Fill in the form and press send: your request comes straight to our team’s inbox (or WhatsApp, if you prefer) and we reply with the full programme and a clear price.

  • No payment to send a request
  • Private tour on your dates
  • Or write to us: +212 600 643 098
Camel & horseback treks
Land adventure

Camel & horseback treks

On this trip: Day 1 – Into the dunes

Camel trekking Morocco’s Sahara is the slow, quiet way into the desert: a line of camels led by a guide on foot, swaying over the orange dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga as the light turns soft. Most of our guests ride at sunset to a camp in the dunes and come back at sunrise. It is calm, not sporty – anyone who can sit on a saddle for an hour can do it.

Where
Merzouga (Erg Chebbi), Agafay desert, Marrakech palm grove
Duration
1 hour to 6 days
Level
Easy, no experience needed for camels
Minimum age
Children ride with an adult; ask us for small kids
  • The classic Sahara moment
  • Local camel men
  • Slow travel
Desert camping & stargazing
Land adventure

Desert camping & stargazing

On this trip: Day 3 – Nomad families

Sahara desert camping in Morocco is about one evening you will not forget: arriving at a camp hidden between the dunes of Erg Chebbi, climbing a ridge for sunset, eating tagine by the fire while drums play, then lying on a rug under more stars than you thought possible. Our camps near Merzouga range from simple nomad-style tents to comfortable tents with real beds and private bathrooms.

Where
Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes), Agafay desert near Marrakech
Duration
1 to 3 nights
Level
Easy, for all ages
Camp types
Nomad-style, standard and luxury tents
  • Real dunes
  • A sky full of stars
  • Choose your comfort
Hiking & trekking adventures
Land adventure

Hiking & trekking adventures

On this trip: Day 1 – Into the dunes

Hiking Morocco’s High Atlas is a walk through a lived-in landscape: terraced fields, walnut trees, flat-roofed Berber villages built from the same red earth as the mountains, and mule paths that people still use every day. Our local mountain guides grew up around these valleys. They choose the route, set a steady pace and arrange lunch or a night in a village house.

Where
High Atlas (Imlil, Ourika, Toubkal), Dades & Todra gorges, Merzouga dunes
Duration
Day hikes to 5-day treks
Level
Easy valley walks to challenging summit treks
Minimum age
Valley walks for families; Toubkal for fit teens and adults
  • Real mountains near Marrakech
  • Toubkal, the big one
  • Village life on the trail
Quad & buggy rides
Land adventure

Quad & buggy rides

Optional extra: Quad or buggy ride in the Erg Chebbi dunes

Quad biking Marrakech style means leaving the city noise behind in minutes: dusty palm grove tracks, Berber villages and the rocky hills of the Agafay desert, with the Atlas Mountains on the horizon. Our guides ride in front, set the pace to the slowest rider and stop for photos and mint tea. You do not need any experience – we show you the controls and do a short practice loop before we leave.

Where
Marrakech palm grove (Palmeraie), Agafay desert, Merzouga dunes
Duration
1 hour to 6 days
Level
Beginner friendly, no experience needed
Minimum age
Drivers usually 16+; younger children ride as buggy passengers
  • Desert right next to the city
  • Quad or buggy, your choice
  • Real landscapes, not a track
4x4 & off-road safaris
Land adventure

4x4 & off-road safaris

Optional extra: 4x4 tour around the dunes and nomad families

A 4x4 tour Morocco style takes you where normal cars cannot go: around the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes, across the black stone plains near Merzouga, up rough mountain tracks in the Atlas and down into dry riverbeds where nomads still water their flocks. You sit back with an experienced local driver who knows the pistes, the weather and the best places to stop.

Where
Merzouga & Erg Chebbi, High Atlas tracks, Dades & Todra gorges, Agafay
Duration
Half day to multi-day private tours
Level
Easy – you are a passenger, no driving needed
Group
Private vehicle for your family or group
  • Reach the hidden places
  • Drivers who know the pistes
  • Private and flexible
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