Erg Chebbi Dunes: Height, Size and How to See Them

The Size Figures Compared

This table brings together the size of Erg Chebbi as each source gives it, with Erg Chigaga for scale. The figures differ by source, so each row names where it comes from.

Where the Dunes Sit

Wikipedia places the dunes along the Algerian border, rising from the hamada, the flat stony plain around them. Merzouga is the local tourist center on the western lee of the dunes, and the erg is sometimes called the dunes of Merzouga. Erfoud is the nearest sizable town, about 60 km further north, and Rissani is around 40 km from Merzouga.

Visitmorocco.com adds a palm grove and Dayet Srij, a lake with migrating birds, close to Merzouga.

150 or 160 Meters

Wikipedia says the dunes rise to 150 meters from the surrounding hamada, and the Desert Luxury Camp guide gives the same 150 meters. Moroccan National Tourist Office material says Morocco's biggest dunes, up to 160 meters high, are near Merzouga, and the Bucketlistbri guide also gives up to 160 meters. Either figure makes these the highest dunes in Morocco.

The tallest dunes are steep and soft. The climb at sunrise or sunset is a slog in loose sand,, so start early and carry water.

Road Distances

This table compares the road routes to the dunes with the distances and times the Desert Luxury Camp guide and visitmorocco.com give.

Why a Tour Makes Sense

Nine hours each way is a full day of driving. The FCDO warns that poor lighting makes night driving dangerous in Morocco and that mountain roads can be hazardous in bad weather. A desert tour splits the road over several days.

The Marrakech to Fes 3-Day Desert Tour via Merzouga costs $109 per person and ends in Fes, which saves the long drive back. The shortest format is the 2-Day Merzouga Desert Trip from Marrakech, Back to Marrakech or on to Fes at $106 per person, which runs 38 hours in total.

What You Actually See

Merzouga is not inside the dunes. It sits on the western lee, about a 10-minute drive from the sand. Wikipedia says camel trips run to permanent campsites on the outer sections of the erg, and that tours from Marrakech and Fes include overnight camp stays.

Transfers from Merzouga to the camps use 4x4 vehicles, per the Desert Luxury Camp guide. So the night you book sits at the edge of the erg, with dunes up to 150 meters around the camp.

The Ride and the Camp

Morocco Travel Blog says the camel trek into camp lasts thirty minutes to an hour, followed by a three course dinner and a folkloric band. The Sahara Desert Luxury Camp site lists luxury and traditional tents, with dinner and breakfast included. Camps run sunset and sunrise camel rides, so you ride in at dusk and back out at dawn.

The camp tier changes the night more than the dunes do. The 3-Day Merzouga Desert Tour from Marrakech with a Luxury Camp costs $148.26 per person, against $114.05 for the Marrakech to Merzouga 3-Day Desert Tour with Camel Trek. Read each listing for the bathroom setup before booking.

Activities and Where They Run

This table brings together the dune activities listed by visitmorocco.com, the Desert Luxury Camp guide and the Merzouga Luxury Desert Camps site.

The Quad Bike Catch

Visitmorocco.com places quad and 4x4 at Erg Moulay Omar or Erg Znigui, not on the main Erg Chebbi dunes. Ask where an add-on quad ride runs before you pay for it. TripAdvisor reviewers highlight sunsets, soft golden sand, camel rides and quad bikes.

The Decision

This table compares the two ergs on the points the Bucketlistbri guide raises, with Wikipedia for the Erg Chebbi size.

What Each Choice Costs You

Merzouga is more touristy and crowded, with dozens of camps. That brings choice, from the $65 budget private tent to the $148.26 luxury camp. The Bucketlistbri guide says Merzouga fits a loop from Ouarzazate via the Skoura kasbah, Dades and Todra gorges and Rose Valley.

Chigaga trades crowds for a long, bumpy, dusty 4x4 ride, where travelers wear masks and sunglasses even inside the vehicle.

Season and Safety

Wikipedia gives October to April as the best time, with milder temperatures. In the warmest part of the year some Moroccans come to be buried neck-deep in the hot sand as a treatment for rheumatism, which tells you how hot the sand gets. In summer, ride at sunrise and sunset only.

The FCDO notes that public health facilities offer limited care while private clinics work to a higher standard, and the ambulance number is 150. Carry your own water, sun cover and motion sickness tablets for the 9-hour road.