Merzouga Dune Buggy Itineraries: Off-Road Adventures in the Sahara
Morocco is a country that is known around the world for its beautiful nature supplies, antiquities, history, and unique lifestyle, with the southern region being one of the most interesting and attractive regions of Morocco. Visiting the Saharan region of Morocco is a special experience not to be missed as it is a unique high spot in your travel tour across Morocco. Among the other Saharan cities and locations, Merzouga is well known for its charm, beauty, and friendly and nice locals. The beautiful sand dunes of Merzouga are the most interesting characteristic of the beautiful town of Merzouga located near the border with Algeria.
Dune buggies are special four-wheel trucks that have been designed to go fast on sand dunes. The dune buggy experience is one of the most exciting experiences to have while you are in Merzouga. As you ride your buggy across the beautiful sand dunes of Merzouga, you will have a nice fun time with your friends, family or whoever is with you during your travel trip. Riding your own buggy in the Saharan region and the dunes that comprise the region is one of the things that you should do if you are ever in the city of Merzouga in Morocco. It can be a nice adventure and life experience that provides you with several exhilarating moments that will always be embedded in your memories.
Safety Guidelines for Dune Buggy Riding
Merzouga Buggy Tours advises participants to read and follow the following safety instructions during the tours. Rides can be in difficult terrain such as riverbeds, dunes and hills. Dune Buggy riding is an adventure, so, like with all adventure sports there is a risk of accidents from entering into objects, both moving and stationary, and the risk of injury. Please listen carefully to the operator’s description of how to use the vehicles, the tracks you will take and how to ride properly and safely. Choose the vehicle that is right for you. Safety Guides for Buggy Riding:
1. Some people may not be able to participate in Merzouga Dune Buggy riding, including those pregnant: Under aged children, over-weighed guests, drunk, influenced by drugs or medicines, hot-tempered people, dangerous people or those who have received prior guidance not to take part. Guests take part at their own risk and own liability and cannot hold the operator responsible for any injury or damage caused.
2. Children 10 and younger must ride in a buggy driven by adults. Adults must take full responsibility for their safety, including confirming helmet fits and fastening all helmets.
3. There are many sharp objects in the terrain that may cause injury. The operator does not guarantee that you will not be injured. Please be aware of possible injury. If you should be injured, please inform the operator as soon as possible and they will assist you as much as possible.
4. We are determined to place the utmost importance on improving safety and minimizing accidents during buggy tours. However, this is an adventure sport and there is the possibility of accidents. By reserving, you acknowledge and accept the nature of the tour and take responsibility for your own safety.
5. Riding a buggy with other people on the same tour is the guiding’s specialty and by observing the following rules, it helps to make the trip enjoyable and safe for all.
1-Hour Dune Buggy Itinerary around Merzouga
3. 1-Hour Dune Buggy Itinerary around Merzouga 3.1. Overview of the 1-Hour Experience
While this itinerary is highlighted as an introductory option, a number of people use it as a part of their longer adventure with a few-hour tour plus other activities elsewhere. For the buggy ride, you can choose to be behind the wheel of your vehicle and make it on your own – but that option is only available for private groups.
Timewise, this tour only takes 1-hour of your time but for a few extra bucks, you could extend it to a 90-minute adventure, which would also allow you to see more of the area. Either way, this is best-suited for anybody who would like to experience a little bit of the desert landscape during their short stay or with limited or no other activities. It might be fun, and visiting Erg Chebbi would be a shame without at least a small part of it.
3.2. Recommended Routes
If taking a 1-hour tour, you have these routes usually offered: Route #1. Erg Chebbi sand dunes area Route #2. Hassilabied palm groves and village Route #3. Erg Chebbi sand dunes area and Hassilabied village
3.3. What to Expect
Although you can normally choose from a variety of options, the 1-hour route is around the sand dunes area usually but it can also go through the palms’ area around Hassilabied village. If you need to get to the dunes or palms in advance, you’d waste at least 15 minutes traveling there and the same amount returning. And with 1-hour only, it means about 30 minutes of driving.
During your tour, you will have a chance to ride through stunning sand dunes, marvel at the breathtaking vast desert scenery, visit a couple of nomadic families living in oasis-like palm groves, breath in the freshest air for miles, explore a wonderful desert, feel the relaxation and excitement of riding the dozer and let the heavy-duty buggy take you virtually anywhere.
3.4. Tips for Enjoying Your Ride
Of course, such things like our choice of which route to take, when to go and for how long, whether you’d like to do it at all and so on, depends on what you’re looking for in your Merzouga experience and why: what else are you going to do while here, how much time do you have at your disposal, what are the weather conditions, your group preference, which nomads do you want to visit or did you make friends with, if any, and in which aspects, do you wish to deepen your experience.
3.1. Overview of the 1-Hour Experience
A one-hour buggy excursion is the ideal way for a tourist with limited time who wants to tour the Erg Chebbi dunes to get a taste for the experience. Many visitors riding for the first time are overwhelmed and amazed at how powerfully these vehicles accelerate, and how easily they can clang over the dunes. For only an hour out on the dunes, the experiences generally seem worth it to everyone. The desert landscape you’re riding across is breathtakingly beautiful. The dunes of Erg Chebbi sometimes tower far above us, with gentle crests just begging to be climbed. You twist and wind through ‘streets’ lined by thorny desert bush and trees, speeding across shallow washes, humping down steep-sided valleys. It’s exciting and exhilarating. Most of our clients have told us afterward how much they loved going dune bashing and how they could have ridden around the dunes all day long!
So, after we’ve made some introductions — including introducing you to the all-important rules for driving a buggy, we strap on your helmet and set you off for a test drive on a nearby flat section. If you’re determined to be driving it yourself, watch out to see that you can make a five-point turn in a reasonable space, and stop suddenly where you want to. Once we’ve satisfied ourselves that you can handle it, off you go, racing along the flat.
The test drive done and everyone looking sharp, off we go fishtailing across the sand. If there are no traffic jams on your route to the dunes, it shouldn’t be long before we stop to let you catch your breath and gaze at the surrounding scenery. A brief chance to stretch, and back in the bucking, gas-guzzling seats we go! Then it’s off into the golden sea, straight for giant dunes glimmering in the distance.
3.2. Recommended Routes
When taking a 1-hour buggy ride in the Merzouga area, you essentially have two options, each one offering a different view of the Erg Chebbi dunes. The first option is to drive north to Khamlia, the small village immigrant from Mali, that offers a unique view of the dunes. The second option is to drive along the southwest slope of the dunes. This option allows you to make stops in the middle of nowhere to check out different camel caravans crossing the dunes or visit Lake Merzouga, which often presents visitors with a unique view of different flamingos dancing just above its waters when it has enough water.
Option A: Ride Up North To Khamlia
This option is the most commonly offered to travelers as it allows them to reach Khamlia, one of the small villages located north of Erg Chebbi. This option generally starts with a quick ride on the red sand dunes before taking a dirt road that drives through the palm oasis located near Merzouga.
You will reach Khamlia village during your next tour. You should choose the buggy without a guide option if you want to spend longer exploring the oasis than with a guide. If you take the guide option, you would be taken to the area near the cement plant located north of Merzouga. After your visit to Khamlia, you will enjoy a nice sandy drive while heading back to Merzouga village, where you will return to your original start point.
Option B: Visit Lake Merzouga
This option allows you to check out the Southwest Slope of the Dunes without firstly riding on the longest route. If you choose this option with a guide, you will be taken to the small and quiet lake located southwest of the sand dunes. From there, you will visit some small colonies of flamingoes that often visit this area, if they have enough water. You are also privileged to meet some nomadic families that may be crossing from the nearby border with their camel caravans.
3.3. What to Expect
With a limited amount of time to explore, travelers interested in dune buggy itineraries are likely considering a short trip around the dunes. 1-hour trips are very popular and always available on short notice. The 1-hour dune buggy experience around Erg Chebbi is not much different from the 1-hour ATV experience, for good or for bad. You will travel along similar paths and most groups will cover the same sights.
The tour is basically a sauna experience with small variations. Halfway through, guides will prepare a short stop for tea and a quick rest due to the extremely hot weather, and although you might not want to be fully immersed in deep and soft sand due to the heat, a guide will likely encourage you to do so. Everyone on the tour will travel at least a segment of the tour at the same time, so it is unlikely that you will feel lonely for long. Sand dunes are a popular spot for sandboarding, and almost every guide will stop for people to try it.
During the summer, it is possible to get added to a sunset tour if you request it at least a few days ahead. When available, these tours tend to be a then and then experience. Just don’t expect much: The sun disappears very quickly in the desert and will be replaced by starlight in no more than 15 minutes. Customize your tour to meet your preferences. If you are after adventure and speed, let your guide know. If you prefer to ride quietly and take some pictures, say it clearly.
3.4. Tips for Enjoying Your Ride
This short itinerary is the best way to dip your toes into the water without committing to an activity that is just too long, or if you have physical problems. You can add a small extension to cross some big dunes, but you will not take all day going through the sand. It is a great option if you are struggling with the usual heat of the region, as the times when you can do this without dying in the attempt are very limited and can only be done in the early morning, with the sun not yet risen, or at the end of the afternoon, when the sun is already going down. I would also recommend it for groups of friends looking for adrenaline; driving around the dunes at full speed or drifting, if you have experience, is one of the funniest things you can do with a buggy. But keep in mind, you will be on open sand so the risk of a flip is relatively high; choose wisely who drives! To make it a complete visit, it is good to combine this activity with something calmer that lasts a couple of hours. A nice brief hike through the desert during sunset is perfect; you can either just go to the middle of nowhere or enjoy the views from the small hill that is located in the northeast saxon of Merzouga. If you want to opt for a night view, the best option would be to enjoy the desert from any of the accommodation you have near the sand dunes, sit on the terrace, and watch the sunset while having dinner.
4. Half-Day Dune Buggy Itinerary to explore the Erg chebbi desert and Merzouga
4.1. Overview of the Half-Day Experience
Most of the buggy tours from Merzouga go from a few hours to a full day, even multi-day with overnight in camps. In this guide, we present you the buggy routes as part of a trip to Erg Chebbi and Merzouga, adapted to what is possible to do in just a few hours. That means the routes can also be done in a half-day buggy tour. What does that mean? You can start the adventure in the early morning or late afternoon and then enjoy the sunrise or sunset over the dunes. We recommend doing the buggy ride first thing in the morning or at sunset time. While the desert sun will not hurt if you go for a few hours, it does not let you enjoy the experience as it is expected.
4.2. Suggested Routes and Stops How to combine the buggy tour in Erg Chebbi and Merzouga with other activities in the area? Here you have suggestions on what you can stop by, depending on the time you have for the ride. The only thing we recommend here is to have a break in one of the small villages in the area to try their traditional tea with sweets. After all, while the sun in the desert is quite treacherous, heat in the village can be quite unbearable during summer. You really want a refreshing stop.
4.3. Activities During the Half-Day Tour How about the itinerary? If we’d have to describe the time and possible stops during a two-hour buggy ride tour, it would be like this: make the buggy ride from Merzouga to the small Oasis or Ksar of Tanamoust, close to the Erg Chigaga; after a long time exploring the Erg Chebbi dunes and the Merzouga village, come back to the starting point.
4.4. Safety Considerations While there are no established regulations for buggy drivers, all buggy drivers must possess a driver’s license. Even if you do not possess a driver’s license, please remember to drive at a slow pace and be careful with foot traffic in the area. There are many small villages in the vicinity and their roads are shared with the local people.
4.1. Overview of the Half-Day Experience
To take your first steps into discovering the Erg Chebbi desert, you might consider choosing one of the two half-day tours on a buggy. Either the morning or the afternoon will offer a narrow insight into this fascinating cosmos of dunes and mountains. The morning tour is the most common for those staying in hotels in Merzouga. After having breakfast at your hotel, you will take a ride on the buggies and go through the dunes, using some of the local tracks. You will pass by some berber families living in the desert, some hills that offer breathtaking views over the colors of the dunes. Finally, you will have fun trying to climb some pyramidal dunes, before heading back to Merzouga for lunch. The afternoon tour is usually taken by people who book a camp the same day and want to have the last activity before heading to their camp for the night.
Just like any other activity in the desert, the buggy ride passes by other berber families and settlements. The teams making the buggy rides are locals, from Merzouga, but the landscape is also sensitive to the use of this type of motorsport. A day of drivers car elevated noise pollution over the tiny berber families living in the desert, spraying them – again – with dust and dirt from below for endless hours. Moreover, the dunes just above the main camp and at the other end are constantly driven up, since they are the highest and closest ones. This results in a flattening of this incredible natural structure. Therefore, to lessen the impact: the morning is suggested for the tour.
4.2. Suggested Routes and Stops
Although every experience may vary, both half-day buggy tours share many routes and several stops. Here are some suggestions to inform your guide about the stops you would like to do during your half-day buggy tour. Please note that the distance between stops is not accurate since the tracks used by the buggy are not always close to the dunes.
Dunes of Erg Chebbi The vast dunes of Erg Chebbi will be present during the entire buggy tour. Depending on how far you go, the Merzouga dunes will be more or less crowded. What you can be sure of is that after an intense session dune bashing, you will be the only ones in the middle of the dunes, and you will be able to contemplate a beautiful sunset or sunrise as well as some stellar nights far from the light pollution of the town.
The Community of Khamlia Located only 9 km from the center of Merzouga, in the community of Khamlia, you will be able to enjoy a unique experience if you are lucky enough to participate in the Gnaoua music jam. Gnaoua music, which was created by the descendants of Saharan slaves, aims to cure people suffering from diseases. When the months of spiritual healing end, Khamlia goes into a music party and people come from miles around to enjoy it. You can also enjoy a cup of Berber tea and, if it’s allowed, some delicious Moroccan crepes while listening to the music in one of the Khamlia cafes.
The Berber Villages of Taouz and Hassi Labied Around the desert, take the opportunity to discover the Berber way of life. From the Merzouga dunes, you can find small settlements that have not changed over time and where you can interact with the local population in search of stories about their traditions.
Mini-Caves of Erg Chebbi Dunes If you want to do some sightseeing, these small caves located between the Guide’s Village of Tissardmine and the dunes of Erg Chebbi are ideal. Although they are not spectacular caves, it is always interesting to explore small and hidden places in the desert.
4.3. Activities During the Half-Day Tour
Exploring the Erg Chebbi dunes on a half-day dune buggy tour will reveal to you this extraordinary region’s desert geography and way of life. The following valid activities will help you discover the most captivating areas of Merzouga and Erg Chebbi during the tour.
1. Explore the Expanse of Saharan Sand, Erg Chebbi Dunes During the ride, you will certainly admire the lines of dunes plunging into the infinite horizon and the waving pattern brought by wind. Erg Chebbi dunes are the tallest of Morocco. Some of them reach 280m and rise sharply from the splash of yellow sand overthrowing into the dune below. The half-day experience will only allow you to explore a small part of the expanse of sandy Erg Chebbi dunes with their embarking wild beauty.
2. Visit Abandoned Old Villages in the Area During the ride, your guide will take you to areas away from the big tourist groups so you could visit quiet and enchanting outlying old adobe villages. These abandoned Kasbahs are nice to have a walk-around and take a cup of mint tea and Berber lunch.
3. Share the Berber Nomad Living Space Along the way, you will see some Merzouga families living in the black tents of the Berber nomadic tribes. They still keep the same way of living thanks to herding their goats in pastures and the sand’s abundance of the desert. You may stop by and share their Berber hot tea and bread. You can also inquire about their daily nomadic life.
4.4. Safety Considerations
In terms of safety, dune buggy tours are safer than quad tours. Although they are faster than quads and you have to be careful, you have less chances of falling or having an accident. The track is much more stable if driven slower. Dune buggy tours are an activity suitable for everybody. We drive you across gorgeous weathering dunes, where everybody can see the beauty of nature. Only breathtaking sandscapes and desert silence. When you reach the first oasis, you will be surprised by the emerald color. The warm sun and the shady palm-leaves give color and warmth. You will find a little bit of town life from a distance. You will even hear the children’s laughter. You drive your own buggy, but you have to take care. In the heat of the moment, it can easily happen to drive into the cramped distance of another buggy. And though our dune buggies are very strong and made for often tricky conditions, this should not happen in order to avoid damage. We place your safety in the focus. So do not forget that driving means responsibility and concentration!
5. Full-Day Dune Buggy Itinerary: a great dune buggy to experience the rugged desert terain
5.1. Overview of the Full-Day Experience
If you’re looking for a great dune buggy to experience the rugged desert terrain in Morocco, consider taking a 6-hour full-day trip from Merzouga. This trip is a breathtaking experience that will take you through the area starting in the morning with a short rest for lunch either at your hotel or in a restaurant in Khamlia village if you’ve chosen a half-day trip. It’s a little tiring for both the rider and the buggy, but it’s worth it because you will discover beautiful landscapes, cross the high dunes, explore the dry sandy lake, the desert plateau, and the Berber and Nomadic tribes in the region, take beautiful photos in the magical colored landscapes of the enormous Sahara desert, while communicating and discovering the culture of the local people during the stops you want.
During the trip, the rider can have fun riding the buggy in the dunes and sometimes boringly pass through the other areas, but we assure you that you will see many beautiful landscapes that will make you love the desert with all the valleys, plateaux, and dunes.
5.2. Detailed Itinerary
In the morning of the second day, you will leave your hotel on the buggy to discover every place of interest in the area surrounding Merzouga – its several nomadic and Berber tents, the beautiful golden Erg Chebbi dunes, the dry sandy lake, the lovely desert plateau, and the untouched high dunes and their majestic transitions at dawn, besides visiting the Khamlia people, you will want to prepare some good mint tea for you, learn a little about their culture, taste it and enjoy the desert with its majesty and silence.
5.1. Overview of the Full-Day Experience
The highlight of anybody’s trip to Southern Morocco is the stunning sand dunes of Merzouga. The golden sandy dunes are just mesmerizing and one of the many unique activities you must do when visiting Merzouga is to check out the beautiful dunes using a dune buggy ride. What hides beyond the magnificent golden sand dunes and the rich colors of the setting sun or rising sun? A vast and rugged desert terrain which is impossible to explore without going on an adventure trip. For this, you need a sturdy vehicle which can take you further into the wilderness. Not only that, you should also enjoy the ride and have the option of stopping and exploring some of the hidden albeit hardy beautiful and cultural experiences while on the adventure trip. The full-day buggy trip plans a day’s itinerary through a series of unique activities including meeting the Berber nomadic tribes, lunch at their small tents, taking a dip in the salty lake, or even a leisurely play at the big dunes.
When we contacted the team organizing the buggy trips, we were informed that our buggy was not just any vehicle. Our buggy was a specialized off-road 2-seater vehicle built specifically to traverse the dunes and rugged terrain near the Merzouga Dunes. The buggy was designed specially for us functional, quick, and dare we say it, fun to ride on the sand dunes. While you can have a fun dune buggy ride for an hour and take images of the great dunes and landscapes from a height near the sunrise/sunset, doing that on a serious off-roading vehicle really adds to the experience.
5.2. Detailed Itinerary
This full-day itinerary is designed for adventurers looking for an extended expedition to explore deeper into the harsh, rugged desert terrain surrounding Merzouga. Traveling out for typically 4-5 hours from Merzouga to the south in trailblazing fashion over the beautiful Haj Embarek dunes, travelers will steer at their driver’s discretion, depending on trackless conditions. Once deep into the wild, the entourage will dismount for a delicious Moroccan lunch and tea, recharge in the summer sun, and experience authentic nomadic desert life. Afterward, it’s back on the buggies to cover more miles through deep, arid rock and mud landscapes, more dunes and more vast space before heading again at the driver’s discretion to deserted Boul Njil where a different set of rolling dunes can be navigated up and down, and a final stop can be made before heading back to base in Merzouga.
This authentic and physically demanding trip back to Merzouga by way of various desert bumps and dry riverbeds typically takes just over three hours. Talk about adventure! Other highlights along the way include special stops. This full-day adventure is great for seeing just how rugged this part of the desert really is! Lunch can be prepped ahead of time for you by our desert guides to give you a taste of Moroccan cuisine. We offer Berber-style meals with grilled meats and vegetables or the ultimate Moroccan dish, and tajines and mint tea are always included.
5.3. Lunch and Refreshment Options
When mapping out a long day of adventure in the Moroccan desert, a filling lunch can be a make-or-break element. A day of dune bugging offers plenty of thrills, and if you aren’t refueled with a satisfying meal, you’re bound to be left feeling deflated. There are many criteria to take into account when organizing lunch. The type of outing you are making is yet another important factor concerning refreshment breaks: if you’re going for an early morning half-day stint in the buggy, you may want to partake in breakfast instead of lunch – a course of offerings that burst into color and flavor around the dunes. Many participants often simply show up fresh and ready to ride, without prior bookings. While this format allows for greater flexibility, it can, at times, lead to disappointing results.
Many local establishments cater to this mobile, spontaneous clientele. If you’re stuck in a township or waiting at a hotel for an air-conditioned ride to drop you off, you’ll probably find it hard to get away from bland, pre-cooked tourist samples. Thankfully, however, that’s far from the only option. Since they’re all hoping to impress you with their food, all the top-named guesthouse, hotel and riad owners have sent scouts to snatch you for a private ride. This means that there’s general consensus when it comes to chop off into the palm groves or skirt the incredible dunes overlooking the lake to lure in fun-loving, thirsty travelers. With several mobile kitchens specializing in couscous and tajine ready to dish up filling portions, it’s a surefire way to stock on energy.
5.4. Cultural Experiences Along the Way
5.4. Cultural Experiences Along the Way.
A full-day dune buggy excursion gives travelers the chance to gain a deeper understanding of traditional Berber culture. The itinerary takes participants into the higher dunes of Erg Chebbi, where they can visit nomadic families who spend summers in the Sahara. The route generally passes through palm groves at the foot of the dunes or the hamlet of Khamlia Oasis, inhabited mainly by black ethnic groups. Many families from the Sahara’s desert regions today are able to preserve their memorable hospitality thanks to the wealth generated by tourism, although this is a question of ongoing debate. Local food, mint tea, and music performed by groups of musicians are usually on the menu. Black music and songs from the Sahara’s desert regions have a distinct rhythm that invites dancing.
Besides Khamlia Oasis, visitors can also discover the souk in Merzouga village, held on Thursdays. It is considered a fundamental meeting point for the region’s Berber population. Until the 1970s, Merzouga was a nomadic encampment. Thanks to the turistic boom and the migrations of Berber families, this small village reached, in the course of the twentieth century, the number of 1,000 inhabitants. The souk still maintains its authenticity. Along narrow alleys, merchants display a wide variety of items, from slippers to gourd mechanical pencils, as well as donkey meat, savory hummus, mint tea, and frying falafel. Visitors can also find orishi, delicate embroidered cotton dress beaded with elaborate textile patterns.
6. 2-Day Dune Buggy Itinerary: A full experience to explore the deep sahara desert on a dune buggy
6.1. Overview of the 2-Day Experience The 2-day buggy adventure is the best way to experience Merzouga and the functions of the buggy. In this tour, you can see a lot of locations in deep Sahara, in big, high dunes, Merzouga oasis, black desert, Berber nomads, and sandy and rocky desert, and enjoy beautiful views at sunrise and sunset. Visit the desert with an overnight option in the private camp in the deep Sahara.
6.2. Day 1: Itinerary and Highlights Around 10 am: Start your buggy adventure – We take you to get the equipment, helmets, and protective clothes, and start your buggy adventure from the hotel. Visit many locations in Erg Chebbi dunes and desert: Take pictures of the stunning dunes and desert. Visit the Merzouga oasis area – Over half of vegetation is due to the underground water coming from the oasis and wells. See the interesting life of locals. Visit the small dunes in the oasis area – Small dunes but still beautiful. Visit the small lake during rainy season – Flamingos and other birds often come there. Visit the black desert – Dress your feet in the first sand of the black desert and enjoy the stunning views. Visit Berber and Moroccan nomads – You can try Berber and Moroccan refreshing drinks. Visit Khamlia Berber village – Famous village with its music which originates in Mali and Niger. Return to the hotel to have lunch, rest, and get ready for part two of our adventure.
3 pm: Time for the second part of exploring the dunes and desert – Time to continue your exploration of the stunning Erg Chebbi dunes and Sahara desert after lunch. Visit the camp chosen for overnight: Relax at the camp, have a tea, and watch the impressive desert dunes and sand landscape. Visit the sunset view point or relax at the camp: Enjoy the amazing sunset desert views. The sunset colors the dunes in many beautiful colors. Enjoy dinner and musical evening: Prepare for bed, fall asleep, and wake up for another exciting day. Have breakfast and prepare to continue for day two.
6.3. Day 2: Itinerary and Highlights 8 – 9 am: Have breakfast at the camp: Have a breakfast with impressive view of the dunes and the sand landscape. Walk near the camp area. 9 am: Time to see sunrise in Erg Chebbi dunes – At the end of the first day, we will discuss the best time for you to wake up. We will discuss it when you arrive at the camp, but the wake-up time will be between 30 and 90 minutes before sunrise. For the wake-up time, we advise waking you up before breakfast and sunrise. Enjoy the amazing desert sunrise: Watch the sand dunes slowly changing their color. Watch the impressive day color the dunes in many beautiful colors. Have breakfast and prepare to continue for day two. Visit the Khamlia village on the way back to Merzouga – Visit the Berber village, enjoy the Moroccan mint tea, and hear the Gnaoua music. Continue back to Merzouga and then to the hotel.
6.1. Overview of the 2-Day Experience
Welcome to the desert! A well-known phrase resonates when you reach Merzouga. This small 200-inhabitant village with extreme temperatures is famous for its 220 meters-high orange dunes, the Erg Chebbi dunes, which are called “Saharas” in Berber language. Merzouga is where we’ll have a base to explore, in a 2-day buggy tour, the desert and the Berber camps located deep in the Sahara. Get ready to visit places that look straight out of a movie, full of sand and camel footprints, native flora and fauna of the desert, small Berber communities, and see another side of the Sahara! Experiencing the Saharan dunes in a buggy is an adventure full of adrenaline, jumps, drifts, and even some controlled fear at seeing the maximum inclinations of the highest dunes in the north of Africa if you are seated in the back.
Seeing the sunset and sunrise over the dunes hiking and in complete silence is an experience full of peace and tranquility. Spending a night with indigenous Berbers at the campsite, under a ceiling of stars, by the fire, making music and singing songs or simply hearing the silence is an experience full of flavor. Hiking in the depths of the desert is also an experience full of learning about the desert’s flora and fauna and its ecological balance, observing how the Berber nomads create solutions for their lives in this arid land.
6.2. Day 1: Itinerary and Highlights
The 2-day Merzouga dune buggy itinerary allows you to completely explore hidden tracks of the sahara desert with a multi-tent encampment overnight in the heart of the erg chebbi dunes. This 2-day buggy experience includes one full day of driving for the first day then bumping along the dunes the second day on flat roads with the option to do a more intense excursion the second day instead of drive back to Merzouga. The first day of this trip starts in the afternoon with an hour-long buggy ride to the Merzouga desert campsite where you will spend the night. Upon your arrival, enjoy a welcome tea or coffee with an option of freshly baked Berber bread with honey, olives, and camel sausages.
After you have settled in, your guide will explain to you what to expect for the second day of your Merzouga buggy camp experience. A picnic lunch awaits you before an afternoon rest during the warmest hours of the day. The dune buggy adventure continues in the early evening for another 1 hour tour during which you will have time to climb to the top of a dune for a refreshing Berber whisky while admiring the views. As the sun sets down the horizon, you will get ready for your full Moroccan meal dinner and local music entertainment. By the time dinner is over, the night won’t be complete without communal music around the fire so get ready to explore some local folklore.
6.3. Day 2: Itinerary and Highlights
Day 2 of our Merzouga Dune Buggy Itinerary begins with a delicious breakfast at your guesthouse. The itinerary for the day is extremely flexible. During your full day of exploration, discover all the hidden secrets of the sand dunes and also off the dunes that the Moroccan Sahara desert has to offer. Drive to abandoned kasbahs, Berber villages, salt lakes, or even meet the nomads who live in the area. We are here to help you discover all these places that so characterize southern Morocco. You decide on the itinerary, we settle for the pace. Therefore you can enjoy it in a more relaxed way and stop to take as many photographs as you want.
After lunch and a short siesta, continue riding your buggy, this time we will do the scenery of the sunset. After doing it, return to your guesthouse and stay overnight again, having dinner and a good night sleep. The following morning we will still make the buggy tour for a few hours. In this time, we will cross a typical nomad village of the Moroccan Sahara and a panoramic view of the dunes to take some good photos. When we finish, we will return back to the starting point where you will say goodbye to us. We hope you have enjoyed this incredible Sahara buggy tour that will allow you to discover all the hidden secrets of the Sahara desert. The tour prices are 50€ per person. The buggies are 2 seats, but if you want to go just one seat, ask us how much it is.
In conclusion, you have the option of riding the dune buggy for only half a day, or a full day. It is up to you to choose. Also, this is only a recommended buggy tour itinerary. If you have thought about visiting a different area or places, contact us and we will customize it for you. The only request is that you have a special experience in the desert dunes. In choosing the best buggy itinerary tour for you, you could check the half-day buggy tour. Find your answers if we explain a shorter route, or if it is better to do this full day tour option.
6.4. Accommodation Options
Merzouga Desert is an ancient treasure of architectural construction. Its streets reflect the art of its historic construction. Once inside you will see hotels with different prices so that the guest feels comfortable. A small detail to take into consideration, if your budget allows, try to stay in a hotel inside the village. During the night you can take a walk, grab a mint tea with a local or create strong ties with local artisans. If your budget is reduced, we invite you to try hotels in Merzouga Village, which are very cheap and have simple services.
The cuisine is always included in the lodging. The chefs will try to please you if you want to eat something special. The villagers are useful people, and if to help we give them work, they will treat us with special affection. All hotel owners maintain the Merzouga Route and have decent drivers and guides. All hotels in Merzouga follow a special supervision and offer offers for tourists. The houses of the locals are very modest. You will not find the comfort and well-being of a hotel, and they use rooms that they fix for guests or food storage rooms. This house is prohibited to open to tourism. The visit to a villager’s home is for a very specific reason such as: sharing a special religious celebration, like eating CousCous on Fridays, sharing Ramadan fasting, birthday celebration in honor of Muahammed, or any reason the villager invites to share a meal in their house. Because of this, we recommend you take a walk through the room of the locals to get information.
7. 3-Day Dune Buggy Itinerary: For lover of the vast desert and sahara dunes
7.1. Overview of the 3-Day Experience
This 3-day itinerary is perfect for those who want to explore the vastness of the Moroccan Sahara and spend most of their time in the desert. The time is sufficient to allow you to discover the diversity of the desert but at the same time sufficient to leave you with exceptional memories to share with your friends. Both buggy enthusiasts and amateurs, nature lovers, hikers, or simply adventurers, this circuit and the proposed bivouac allow you to enjoy a total change of scenery. We adapt the duration of the excursion according to the levels of experience and convenience. Our Buggy circuit is also easily modifiable so that you can explore the desert to discover amazing hidden corners.
7.2. Day 1: Itinerary and Activities
We will start our first day early in the morning, around 9 am, to drive you to the Buggy center located in one of the Hassi Labid villages for a period of 4 hours of buggy raid. After a short break, you will set off again for another 4-hour tour. You will be at the bivouac at 4:30 pm, where you will have the opportunity to ride camels and explore the dunes avoiding the hustle and bustle at sunset. At the Bivouac, you will sleep in Berber tents, and for dinner, you will find a good traditional Moroccan tagine waiting for you. In the evening, you will enjoy a traditional evening with music around the fire. This first day will already be exciting, and it will allow you to contemplate the fantastic sunsets available in the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
7.3. Day 2: Itinerary and Cultural Insights
This day is only dedicated to the buggy ride. You will explore the North and South of the sandy biotope of Erg Chebbi. You will enter the Oubir village, then you will go to Khamliya for lunch. You will also have the opportunity to listen to Gnaoua musicians, take the local path, and go to the oasis of the last river. You will have already traveled 103 km in 6h30 of buggy rides. You will end this second journey at the bivouac by 4:30 pm. You will follow the same program as the first evening, but it will be more special since you will be with the Berber tribes. This long day will allow you to discover the Facies of Erg Chebbi, geological, hilly, and rocky, and at the same time, meet the locals and share a moment with them.
7.1. Overview of the 3-Day Experience
Taking a 3 days Merzouga Desert Buggy Tour is a picturesque expedition across the Moroccan vast Sahara desert: Erg Chebbi Dunes. The combination of spending a night at a Berber tent under the starry night and hearing the music of the desert breeze, climbing the dunes to enjoy the golden sunrise shades make of this tour an experience you should do at least once in your life. During the trip, you will also have the opportunity of visiting traditional Berber and Khaalie villages, having lunch with a local family, and find out about their way of life.
On the first stage, you will leave Merzouga before really getting to know your buggy. After 1 hour driving on sand dunes, you will enjoy a simple lunch made by a local family where you will have the time to visit their house, made of clay and straw, and feel like at home with them. After the tasty food, you are going to explore the hidden oasis, where the monkeys play all around, and wild animals living spread out.
After that, there is time for you to continue the drive among dunes. Don’t forget the camera because you will want to stop from time to time to make some incredible panoramic pictures. In the second stage, you will enjoy the sunset on the sand dunes from a different point of view. After that, it is time for a warm shower and service in your room at our guesthouse. Your dinner will be served around 8:30 in the restaurant or around 9:00 upstairs.
In the following day, there is the possibility of an excursion with local camels; you will ride the camels to visit a nomad family living in the desert. They have an interesting and simple life living throughout the desert in their tents. You will also explore a secret oasis where the Barbary ape lives. On the last day, after breakfast, we can continue with the tour, climbing the highest sand dune to enjoy the sunrise.
7.2. Day 1: Itinerary and Activities
This itinerary is perfect for lovers of off-road vehicles, dunes, and the great Moroccan desert. Over a long period of time, we offered this activity in a 2-day excursion, however upon making observations of our visitors’ comments regarding the specific wishes of our buggy excursion visitors for more time-it had come as an answer to set up the 3-day formula. Despite no one from the participants having complained about the 2 days buggy excursion to discover Merzouga Dunes, the buggy trekking in 3 days would allow an understandable organization of the stages whilst covering most of the Merzouga Dunes hidden corners.
As lovers of the vast desert that we are, we always remain shocked by the way our buggy activity visitors would abandon their comforts of family, hotel, and ability and how all of a sudden, they become so close to each other even in such different activities as laughing or making music. All of a sudden everyone shares amazing moments whilst leaving behind dusty cars and kitchens filled with oil for the days the group is sharing the desert while discovering with our buggies the deepest corners and routes; playing with the sand whilst showing their skills either in buggys or dunes boards. Long talks in front of little lighted dinners and cups of tea. Much pleasure and amusement whilst salting the tea-soaked Moroccan pastries. Sweet and short nights filled with authentic tastes of the Moroccan cuisine.
Your adventure would start the first day by meeting our guides in an established place, who will drive you to the buggy base; where you will benefit from total buggy driving explanations whilst having a while to try the buggy. The goal of the first day will be to discover and explore Merzouga Dunes in an amusement and conviviality atmosphere for a distance of approximately 100 kilometers. You will end the stage during the sunset by joining the camp for lunch and sleep in large traditional nomad tents. You will also have the possibility to discover and explore the dunes on foot.
7.3. Day 2: Itinerary and Cultural Insights
This route allows us to leave early in the morning towards the town of Hassi Labied by negotiating beautiful boulders where the most skilled pilots seek the most energy. Upon arriving at the town, we will take a traditional breakfast with locals visiting their school before heading to Mhamid Elghizlane, which is the last town before the big dunes. We will take a traditional lunch there and then we continue to cross the Tinfou dune, arriving late at the dugout. Arriving at the dugout, we will drop off our buggies and prepare for dinner before enjoying a starry sky in one of the places with the least light pollution on the planet. In this chapter, we explain a Cultural Discovery in a traditional village of the Sahara Desert.
We will leave early by buggy, leaving the cycle and the board to stay on the track, going to the Town of Hassi Labiad to have breakfast with the locals, a breakfast in which we will soak bread in a delicious sauce. There we contemplate how they make their bread and how the local school is. Then we leave to go back to the town of Mhamid, where we will have a traditional lunch. After lunch, we will fill our buggies with gas to leave the buggies in the middle of the Tinfou dune with a partner while we return to sleep in a Berber Dugout. In this chapter, we show you the experience of sleeping in a dugout with a guide and different groups in one of the places with the least light pollution on the planet. For our experience at Mhamid Elghizlane, the Berber Dugout seems to us the best option. A traditional dugout with a Fireplace, mattresses, and thick blankets and 5-Star Service: They have been in the world of tourism since 1990. Everyone is excited and smiling. A traditional candlelight dinner is prepared and the dining room, dugout, and surrounding areas are decorated. Out of respect for Mr. Orlando, we don’t film his family or the inside of the dugout.
7.4. Day 3: Itinerary and Scenic Views
Section 7.4. Day 3: Itinerary and Scenic Views
Day 3: Merzouga to Marrakech
Having awakened with the first light of dawn, a lovely sunrise before breakfast awaited you in the Erg Chebbi dunes. After a delicious breakfast, your buggy jeep waits for you to start the second section of your excursion through the Erg Chebbi dunes. Departure for the big dunes of Erg Chebbi to make this schedule for half a day: a squeezes (without dunes), crossing the small and large dunes of Erg Chebbi. After these 3-hour buggy tour, stop close to the hotel to have a drink before returning to check out and return by 4×4 to Marrakech (6 hours drive approximately).
Included: breakfast + 3-hour buggy ride + drink during the buggy tour + transfers Merzouga-Marrakech with 4×4 vehicle.
While you enjoyed the experience of 3-day 2-night desert Merzouga Dune Buggy, it is offered the Tour 2 days 1-night. It is a quite intense tour but which is ideal for those who are limited of time. It is also possible, depending on the time of the year, to reserve a Tour Full Day from Marrakech, a buggy tour with some 6 hours duration and you used the 4×4 of the hotel to return to and from Merzouga. This Full Day depending on the month you arrive, it is below.
January: 1 to 7, 11 to 13, 19 to 21, 25 to 31. February: 1 to 9, 13 to 16, 20 to 28. March: 1 to 30. April: 1 to 22, 25 to 30. May: 1 to 20, 24 to 31. June: 1 to 12, 13 to 30. July: 1 to 7, 13 to 15, 17 to 19.
8. 4-Day Dune Buggy Itinerary: Discover the wild desert on a dune buggy
Merzouga Dunes Buggy offer guided dune buggy excursions in the Merzouga Saharan dunes in Morocco, for anywhere from a single hour to several days. The company is located in the village of Merzouga at the foot of the famous orange dune Erg Chebbi, and executive Samir use professional and high-quality gear. We ourselves see it as a fantastic choice because a multi-day excursion allows you to escape the heavily touristic areas of the dunes, offering stunning sunset and sunrise experiences all by yourself.
8.1. Overview of the 4-Day Experience
During this custom 4-day dune buggy itinerary through the Merzouga dunes, you will explore the wild desert, ride countless dunes, and enjoy stunning views, all while staying away from the masses. We start on arrival day, spend two days riding, and end with some final action before transfer out. The program also includes two nights in a comfortable desert tent for a camel trek and a cultural experience. For this option, you ride an ex-Saharawi Camel – without saddles, just a simple rope in the mouth. This is the Moroccan-Saharawi custom and you will feel the difference right away. This option is, of course, only available if you rent the complete tent.
The first day will be focused on your arrival. Once you get to Merzouga, we have a short test ride, and get you suited up before heading out. Each buggy has a two-way intercom, allowing us to chat about sights and other things you’re interested in. After your initial ride/adventure session, there’ll be time for some nice pictures and a refreshing mint tea break. We’ll assist you with your camera and find nice places to shoot your video or pictures. Later that afternoon, we will ride back to our camp, where you can chill a bit and enjoy desert life in the evening before dinner.
8.1. Overview of the 4-Day Experience
Should you wish to soak up the Moroccan desert, but desire something beyond what customary three-camel caravans can proffer, consider instead-driving dune buggies. Test your power and endurance by discovering the wild desert at breakneck speeds, roar over sandy bowlies, cliffs, and escarpments, along the old French proxy road of tournament-fame from Rabat to Bamako or through spectacular oases laden with palm trees-all under the broiling sun of North Africa.
The following itinerary starts in Merzouga and includes meals and accommodation at the Auberge Desert of Eden. A set of dunes just two kilometers from the auberge allows for evening and morning ascent to enjoy sunset and sunrise views over peanuts that appear endless, full of shifting patterns of sand blown into steep faces and valleys along their crest.
Day two incorporates an extensive exploration of the trackless desert by driving a buggy or quad on its natural terrain. After supper, you will have the opportunity to visit a camp in the dunes, where you will enjoy a Berber evening of music. Other options include tea with a nomadic family or a sunset trip to the dunes. Day three involves a trip to Rissani to search for the scattered remnants of a former capital on the awe-inspiring palm-filled floodplain, to visit a nomadic family, and to stay overnight in a Berber house. Depending on your schedule, extra days can be added for additional missions in deeper and sandier country. Long-distance tows can be arranged if you want to undergo major exploratory missions and this means only your fuel, plus food, water, and camping gear needs to be carried.
8.2. Day 1: Arrival and Initial Ride
Depending on what time you arrive in the desert, you will either begin your adventure at sunset, or else you will sleep in the desert and have a ride after breakfast before you begin making your way back to the village in the following afternoon. The first day is short and sweet. This is the best way to build anticipation and prepare you for the days to come! Welcoming you to the Sahara is unlike anywhere else. Something as simple as pulling into a tiny desert village, surrounded by scorched earth and fasting camels—while above them, curious drifts of golden sand glisten in the mid-afternoon sun. There is nowhere else quite like this area, either. The main street is lined with souvenir shops, the crème de la crème of lodges, and native desert denizens, all of whom are eager for a friendly chat as you wander by. Before long, however, the shops give way to desert, and your ride begins in earnest.
You hop into one of our shiny red buggies, step on the accelerator, and scoop right up the edge of Erg Chebbi, picking a path alongside camels, clambering up the many rolling peaks, and streaking down into the hollow basins. However, this isn’t merely a dune safari. The ride is, rather, a West Coast-style buggy day on a sand dune playground. There is something relaxing about pedal-to-the-metal dune bashing, some freedom about whipping around and arcing on the miles of fresh sand. We offer prepared routes so that you see a variety of landscapes during the day—including one of the world’s only breweries on the edge of the Sahara. And then, after a bit of high-speed bashing, we take you to a north-facing slope and let you have a go at some soft-sand climbing. Or, rather, descending: the site is extraordinary, and your ride down the dune will certainly be the highlight of your day.
8.3. Day 2: Extended Exploration
On the second day, it is recommended to wake up early to contemplate the sunset. And then head towards the auberge to have breakfast and discuss the rest of the program with the buggy tour managers. We will apologize and change groups with the other group because according to the local people, it is better to take a half-day tour at the hottest times of the day, which is not a good thing to go out in these times of the desert heat. After breakfast we headed off to the city to meet our cook. Relaxed and ready to start this second adventure. He will accompany us through caves and old mines in the middle of nowhere, eat together in the engine rooms of abandoned houses on the banks of the Oued Ziz, look for fossils, go bathing in the river… And it all ends with dinner moving to the old kasbah of the ancient city to observe the stars and contemplate the fantastic moon.
The exploration tours are private groups broken up by the three buggies and headed by guides. Schedules and activities can be changed at any time, like all the activities of your stay. We recommend that you return to your original hotel in Merzouga where you have left your luggage and travel in the second buggy to finally reach the dune of Erg Chebbi, the highest in Morocco. The sunset here is totally magical. A suggestion: document yourself very well before preparing your circuits and the activities to be carried out. The Merzouga area and its surroundings are full of possibilities. And each local company offers its own version. You can spend all the time you want exploring the desert and its surroundings.
8.4. Day 3: Cultural Immersion
Activities may differ in this itinerary with no accurate schedule available. Talk with your guide to customize your experience. On this day, you will become immersed in the rich cultures of the region. You will be able to dive into the daily lives of local Berber people and learn about their traditions and way of life. You will have the chance to visit an authentic Berber village located 23 miles north of Merzouga where you can experience intense Berber hospitality and even enter their homes and share a delicious lunch with them if you wish. Meet some of the locals and have the opportunity to talk with them if you speak any Arabic or Berber language which is also likely the case. You will also be able to tour a local carpet cooperative and see how the stunning Moroccan carpets are created the age-old way as well.
Also, if you are a Sahara history lover, today’s activities are perfect for you. Visit the few remnants of the old ancient caravans used for trading salt back in the days and stop by the weekly souk with snake charmers presented on every corner and where you can haggle for the best prices on anything from leather bags to spices and blankets. You can also plan a visit to the Khamlia village in the area and spend the evening listening to Gnaoua music. Gnaoua Music, a trance-like experience, arrives from a mix of African spiritual songs and Berber melodies. This last segment is not included in the price of the itinerary so please ensure to plan ahead.
8.5. Day 4: Final Adventures and Departure
The final day of our suggested 4-day itineraries will be a relatively chilled day with a final dune buggy ride before breakfast and head back to civilization. Given that you may depend on bus or train schedules, we suggest getting up early on this day to maximize your chances of completing the buggy tour and heading back to Merdzouga and from there to Merzouga airport, Fes, Marrakech, or Ouarzazate.
Getting up on your last day in the Sahara desert. You may have hiked up the Erg Chebbi or Warrich before, and got up Saharan sunrise or spend the night in a luxury desert camp with a solitary Saharan starry sky to enjoy. After collecting your day bag and doing the last checks at the camp, we suggest hopping in the buggy again to ride around the southern part of the Erg Chebbi dunes. We love that area; it is remote, pristine, and almost void of any other camps or visitors (except the occasional adventurer camping). You will be offroading on small hills and valleys, offering endless side scenes of the ridges with the morning sun rising or soft golden lights hitting on top of the dunes. From there, we will organize your last breakfast under the tents or simply in the open, depending on the weather.
Heading back to Merdzouga or your next stop should not be less impressive. While most people just shuttle back on the main road, we suggest to take an alternative path and offroad around. Either way, it is always sad to leave the golden sands behind. On the way back, we will stop by the quaint village of Merdzouga. Merdzouga is often confused with Merzouga proper. A view to the valley mountains, a final scenic swoosh ride in the bougies, or lunch at your next station.
9. 5-Day Dune Buggy Itinerary: For these who look for a dune buggy lifetime adventure
9. 5-Day Dune Buggy Itinerary: For those who look for a dune buggy lifetime adventure
9.1. Overview of the 5-Day Experience The 5-Day Dune Buggy Experience in Merzouga is an adventure for dune buggy devotees. It takes you deep into the dunes of Erg Chebbi, exploring the Saharan valleys and visiting some real Berber nomads who still live in traditional tents. You will end your quest for sand in the front courtyard of a real Kasbah.
The 5-day dunes buggy adventure itinerary is “More a Special Experience”: you will be in Merzouga for 5 days, and with us for 4 days. You will alternate time with the crews and time without. Every day you will put the buggies through the ultimate sand trials, either on specially designed routes that last for a few hours or on straight as arrows stretches that are more like dune buggy racing than anything else. In between, you will feed, groom and relax your buggies; just as they will do for you! You will sleep in local hotels or desert camps. 9.2.
Day 1: Introduction to the Dunes You will arrive in the town at 4:00 PM, followed by laundry and beaujolais at the hotel with your groups. At 6:00 PM, it’s off to the desert to explore the dunes closest to the town. A barbecue dinner and overnight is either at our base or in a Berber camp down in the dunes.
9.3. Day 2: Adventure and Exploration The desert is beautiful in the early morning, so take some snaps at sunrise! Breakfast and off you go again at 8:30 AM: this time, the buggies are going to get a workout. More engine room playtime until lunchtime; during the heat of the day, relax at the hotel. At 5:30 PM, it’s dune bashing until sunset. Dinner and overnight are “probably” at the hotel; the dune bashing may be “too much” and an overnight in a Berber camp may take precedence.
9.4. Day 3: Cultural Experiences and Local Cuisine 4:00 AM, wake-up call and tea/coffee with cookies. You will be greeted at the dunes’ top where you will enjoy the dawn over golden sands; the sun seems to jump out of nowhere! We will be back at the hotel around 8:00 AM; breakfast, sleep a bit until lunch then at around 5:30 PM return to the same area for dune bashing. Dinner at the hotel with locals; overnight at the hotel.
9.5. Day 4: Scenic Routes and Nature After breakfast, you will put the buggies back on the floor! At around 9:30 AM you will hit the nearby valleys; first you will wander with cattle then explore the sunset magic in the dunes’ shadows being at the dunes once again late in the evening for the sunset magic. After lunch, our dune buggy will return to the Merzouga hotels; your guides will take you for dinner before dropping you at the bus terminal.
9.6. Day 5: Conclusion of the Journey The 5-day dune buggy experience on the Merzouga dunes is not a garden variety ride. Desert buggies are pretty sturdy but do require maintenance and love. We have taken care of the buggies at every opportunity. And this is how Saharan stoves enter the picture! They are high-performance machines, true desert buggies are not. They are underpowered and flimsy; video game-scale hazards mean little to them.
9.1. Overview of the 5-Day Experience
This 5-day buggy-safari in Merzouga is designed for those passionate about adventure with many passions to explore such as thrilling rides, cultural experiences, physical activities, amazing views through incredible desert valley routes, sleeping under the stars, and drinking tea with locals. You will discover and connect with the Berber people, authentic Moroccans who have been living for many years in the desert and have fascinating stories to tell. Traveling through their desert will give you a wonderful opportunity for mutual understanding and fun personal exchanges.
Moreover, you will walk through the beautiful Erg Chebbi sand-dunes of Merzouga while being treated to a delicious local meal, ride a camel for a sunset experience, and sleep in the Berber tent (or wind any of our accommodation choices). You will also recover from the tiring days of fun physical activities by taking moments to relax inside the Berber tent, camp outside by the fire earthing, or explore a small part of the cerulean colored lake where migratory birds come from northern Europe and the USA. If you prefer to relax on the 5-day trip as other travelers return after they have taken the sunset to catch back to Merzouga to finish their trip, that is definitely an option. Otherwise, you can join in with the fun and thrilling activities by either riding the buggy, camel, or on foot.
Your experience will begin on the first day in the afternoon. We will say goodbye and end our 5-day buggy excursion at the end of the 5-day experience on day 5 in the afternoon. You can choose between a nice refreshing drink while relaxing inside the buggy-optimized tent or a stop to have a delicious local meal at our already prepared gourmet buffet tent style or a Berber tent until the car arrives after saying goodbye.
9.2. Day 1: Introduction to the Dunes
The first day of the adventure is when you will discover the majestic Erg Chebbi’s dunes. You will meet your guide, who will be with you throughout the adventure. In the morning, you will start your exploration of the dunes getting a taste of the specific trails of the area. You will be guided through the red dunes with almost no other tourists around. You will get the opportunity to try some amazing sand slopes and learn how to master your buggy. More than that, you will enjoy a breathtaking landscape made of an ocean of dunes that goes as far as your eyes could see! After a bit more than two hours of driving, you will get to a secluded spot in the dunes where lunch will be served.
After lunch and a nice break, you will venture further into the dunal area where you will visit a Berber village. You will have a cup of tea with one of the local families who still live as they have for generations. You can talk with them using some basic Berber and enjoy this short cultural experience. Then you will get back to your buggy and head to the campsite for the night.
The campsite is usually in the Red Dunes area far from the busy parts of the dunes. Normally, you will be the only group in that area. The preparation of the camp for the night is quite simple. When you arrive at the location chosen for the camp, your guide will unpack a small number of tents, conclude it and lay it flat on the ground before anchoring it. Dinner will be prepared on an open fire, and you will have the chance to chat or sing with local Berber people who often come to the camp.
9.3. Day 2: Adventure and Exploration
Day 2 of the 5-Day Dune Buggy Itinerary is the most exciting. This is the day that you explore the highest dunes and largest areas of dunes and experience the sand that the Merzouga Dunes are famous for: smooth, fine, and slipperiest sand. It is where adventure does really happen. Be ready for this Day 2 to get up and go! Today you will wake early and drive to the highest dune called Erg Chebbi or Dune Merzouga. After climbing the dune, depending on the season, you may even catch the sun rising from the sky with its passion red-orange beautiful colors and rays beaming through the clouds if extended clouds are covering the blue sky. It is a breathtaking experience worth having; however, you have to have a good physical situation to climb the dune on foot. It can take you up to one hour, specifically if you are carrying a camera backpack as well.
After the sunrise experience, you will drive back to the camp, have breakfast, and rest a little bit because climbing this huge dune is tiring. After having your physical and mental resources regained, you will hop on your buggy and explore the Dunes Area. Exciting riding adventures and experiences are guaranteed for this Day 2. Check the ergonomic shaped dunes, twisty roads, black rocks, and dry lakes of Merzouga. Feel the experience of climbing, riding on or conquering a small dune, rip on the sandy flats, where you can have some speed, and speed up these ergonomic shaped dunes for slopes; however, remember that it all comes to safety first! While coming back to the camp for lunch, you can either on your way back, have with you someone who can believe it or experience it. Please note that you may have a difficulty coming back in time if it’s busy with having fun.
9.4. Day 3: Cultural Experiences and Local Cuisine
At the third day I recommend to start the day with a cultural experience such as a visit to the nomad family where you will see how they are living. Or you will be able to visit the Berber museum where different antique items are exhibited. After the cultural visit, we will head back to Merzouga for lunch. After lunch, you will be involved by one of the local restaurants to have a local cuisine experience. You will be introduced to the ancient traditional way of cooking food in the big tajines. Once the food has been prepared, you will taste it. This experience will be unique and delicious. Then you will have some free time to relax. In the evening, after the sunset, we will return back to Merzouga to see the town and to spend the night there.
Today seems to be the famous chef of the Moroccan local food. It is one of the large dishes that Moroccans usually eat during special occasions such as weddings, celebrations, etc. It is made from a big tajine depending on the number of people and it takes several hours to be prepared. It consists of different layers, the first layer using lamb or chicken, and some additional fat, the second layer from large potato slices, and the third layer using some sugar and dry apples or dried figs, and the final layer is the semolina. The tajine is covered and is cooked by a special oven under the earth for several hours. When you get this tajine it will be so delicious with a unique taste and special scents that you can’t compare it with the normal tajines that are cooked above the earth.
9.5. Day 4: Scenic Routes and Nature
Day 4 might be a day when you wake up and feel like you are in the dream, that dream of living for years in the luxury of high dunes. Sun rays gathering with the cold particles of the dew are wrapping you with a little warm breath that marches you to the summit of the dune. The dune seems far now, and yet it is very near. The last few steps get you close to the summit, a push of wind, and you sit on the soft golden sands that sing over the warm grains who got the whisper of the sun. You let it go. Go far, far away… far above the dunes.
The white camels are walking graciously in silence, of a color too pure for the landscape, and the wind, a little tempestuous now, drags the grains to the dunes’ foot like a painter gathering some golden powder to the palm and pouring it over the canvas… drawing stepped œuvre of art. Above the dunes, a balanced kite invites the passers on a little trek to the sea… horizon. The sea is crawling near the whitewashed house of Merzouga, a little oasis in the middle of the massive dunes, whose community proudly and humbly gather the sustain of the ancient yet now limited commerce of tourism, mainly thanks to those who took the courage to cross the Sahara to discover some pearl of a local hidden boy.
Hiding is no longer possible. Merzouga is not hidden anymore but, no one could ever hide the excavation of early grains to build Merzouga, “the community of the thirsty”, sea in the desert of sand dunes, but for no one to come back again with no word to write in the golden sand, forgive us by following the scenic routes. Let’s go, let’s go far away and gather together still those words… with the best kindnesses of the majestic dunes of Merzouga.
9.6. Day 5: Conclusion of the Journey
The day 5 of what is probably the longest itinerary you can do starting a buggy from a desert camp is almost a round trip, because you will go for lunch and to sleep in the same camp, the one of Merzouga, and it is just logistic reasons that makes us to do this route. In the morning, we will take direction to the Erg Chebbi region, first crossing the small fossil dunes of the far north of the Erg, Tuinsik, before you can have the first sightings of the Chebbi huge dunes, from the west. The same as it was axis to the Algodrón Camp, during this morning we will use the narrowest road we can, digging on the ridge of the hills that border the north of the Erg. The idea is to pass as nearer as possible to the Merzouga area, while you keep going in between the hills, with the dunes always out of sight; this short 50 kilometers section can get long, because of sometimes quite difficult sand and rocky conditions; but it is just a short step to access to the Erg Chebbi huge dunes, with a spectacular vertiginous view from the top of the western ridge of the dunes.
Once we finish and climb the dunes, we will stop to have lunch in the camp, and later we will go to the famous sunset point, at the far west of the Erg. It is a very beautiful, cool place, only spoiled by the dozens of tourists that access with their 4x4s, mainly from Merzouga. One of the days of the tour, that we highly recommend to combine the buggy with the sunset and sunrise in the dunes, is the departure. With the first and last rays of the day, the colors of the dunes turn into gold; during the evening, sunset tints the dunes in beautiful ochre, golden, caramel, pinkish tones, that light up the faces of the tourists, sitting on the bank protected from the wind.
10. Equipment and Gear for Dune Buggy Riding
Dune buggy riding can be an exciting and rewarding experience if everything goes well. In addition to the capabilities of a quality buggy and the support of an experienced guide, the right equipment is essential for a successful tour. Unfortunately, this is an area where many tour operators are lacking. At buggy rallies, the chance is low your operator will provide put you in a buggy that doesn’t have the skills for off-road, technical sections. Excessive smoking, leaking fluids, disabled features, and no maintenance are usually signs an operator doesn’t support their equipment. Especially if you’re using a rental buggy in a buggy tour with multiple machines. Also note, if a buggy operator doesn’t have spare parts and mechanical support for repairs, you may not be happy with your experience or holiday!
While your tour operator should provide helmets, not all of them will take steps to ensure a more complete riding can be experienced. Gloves can help improve grip, rescue help allow riding doesn’t stop for heat or even rain, and other off-road sports supplies equipment are the best way to guarantee your adventure is as fun and worry-free as possible.
Almost all buggy tours and events will require riders to wear a DOT-approved helmet whenever aboard a buggy. Though skimping by using a sub-par, cheap or older helmet isn’t an option, the latest innovations in off-road helmets have made this safety equipment incredibly comfortable. If a helmet fit well and isn’t moving around while you ride, you may even forget you’re even wearing it. However, if the helmet isn’t equipped for racing, or rallying, don’t expect your helmet to stay dry throughout the entire event.
11. Best Times to Experience Dune Buggy Adventures(October to April)
Dune buggy lovers want sunny weather. The dunes can be a great activity all year long, but conditions can change. Mornings and nights can be very fresh (even cold) in winter and during the day, the sun can be really hot. Depending on the periods, it is also more or less windy and there can also be some sand storms. All activities are available during the whole year. Depending on the time you will be in Merzouga, we will guide on your trip.
The right times for those who are not used to the desert climate to enjoy dune buggies are from mid-pumpkin to mid-april. Dune buggy rides are done at any time of the day, or we can do them before sunrise and after sunset, to avoid the heat. October is one of the best times for this activity, since autumn is just settling in, the days are not too hot, the nights start to be fresh and the dunes are empty.
April is also a good time, with some occasional heat, but great for those who want a unique experience of a lifetime. In short, for travelers who want to avoid the heat during the day, it is preferable to come to Merzouga during the months of October, November, March and April. As for the rest of the year, it will depend on the chosen activities. It is always better to enjoy the desert dunes during a short period. Here at Erg Chebbi, summer is usually a story of wind and sand storms, without forgetting the heat. This may prevent the adventure of a lifetime from being memorable.
12. Local Culture and Etiquette While Riding
12.1. Introduction
Riding in the Merzouga desert is an exciting experience. When riding in the desert, it is important to be aware of the local culture. The Sahara desert is home to Berber and Arabic influences from across northern Africa. These are nomadic tribes who travel from the mountains to the desert every year. Each culture has its own unique language, clothing, houses, and music. The manner in which they dress is of great importance. Both Berbers and Arabs highly value politeness and courtesy. Although the united kingdom are different people, as in many countries, they are very sensitive to being disrespected. Most of the country is of Muslim belief so when riding in the desert you should respect those traditions.
12.2. Greeting
Greet your host with “Salam Alaikum!” followed by their name. They will likely respond, “Wa-Alaikum-As-Salam!” If you’re unsure of their name, simply greet with “Salam Alaikum!” Shake hands. This is usually followed by kisses to the cheeks, either alternating left and right or all on one side. You might want to lightly touch your host’s shoulder as you kiss. Men and women typically do not greet each other in this way; it is reserved for members of the same sex unless you’re very close friends (in which case, kisses are acceptable). While greeting, try to look at each other’s eyes. It shows your sincerity and respect.
If you’re visiting a local home, be polite. Bring gifts such as fruits, candy, and even clothing like an elegant scarf to the female host. Take off your shoes if you enter a house. Sit in the designated place if offered a seat while also waiting to be invited. To show respect, do not point your feet towards anyone, especially when sitting. Do not cross your legs with your feet showing. Eat and drink with your right hand, as the left is considered unclean in their culture. Thank your hosts for their hospitality. Say “Shukran” or “Besaaf.”
13. Environmental Considerations and Responsible Riding
It would perhaps be easy for visitors to regard the dune environment as barely altered by man, but the remnants of the past and the scars left by earlier visitors are as much a part of each area’s history as they are in the towns. It is to be hoped that good weather has blown away most of the litter, cigarette packets, plastic bags, provisions wrappers, discarded tampons and sanitary napkins, tins, broken bottles, abandoned shoes and clothes, bits of rope, rusty nails, and other detritus. The visible effects of the traffic can also be marked, but are less easy to remove. The larger dunes are just small sections of already encrusted ancient dry valleys or other substrates which were at one time potentially productive areas. Off-road traffic over these sandy areas creates a distinctive hollow wave-like pattern until erased by a test of the winds, inlaid with rubber marks that last much longer.
Repetitive disturbance of thin, fragile dune surfaces can also cause serious long-term erosion. Even if such basic environmental considerations are new or limited, visitors must be helped to understand such behavioral requirements and other simple codes of conduct to lessen or ameliorate the effects of human activity. These requirements could easily be summed up in posters presented in the town centers, tourist camps, and trailheads. Simple short piggy-backs or trailers could be used for both camping and day trips to lessen the effects of an underlying alternative motorized vehicle, camels. More cooperation and restraint by commercial enterprises and private travelers, who used only such lightweight motorized vehicles and stayed only on the same tracks, might make it easier for local governments to gradually set visitor limits and directly apply some earnings to local environmental rehabilitation.
14. Frequently Asked Questions about Dune Buggy Tours
Dune buggy tours are undoubtedly an exciting adventure, unlike any European destination. Questions abound about how to plan your tour, what to wear, what to bring, and what is included. Here are some common FAQs:
How long are the Merzouga buggy tours? Dune buggy tours in Merzouga are different than you may experience on an all-terrain vehicle. With a greater focus on the experience than the adrenaline, tours often span a couple of hours across the sand dunes and back roads of nearby hamlets and oases.
What are buggies? Dune Buggy is a term for off-road vehicles based on a Volkswagen beetle and modified for open terrain. Dune Buggy in Merzouga are similar but not the same. They are arranged more like a car than an ATV but have some pretty serious brakes and are seat-belt equipped – safety first! Most companies offer buggies for one or two people.
Is it safe? Touring with a respected company, on resilient yet reliable buggies, and following a guide makes this an exhilarating yet safe experience. Helmets are provided but the sand gets everywhere. Stone riding can be bumpy, but the shock absorbers protect you. The buggy is pleasant enough and the guides will stop often for photos or for you to adapt to the driving. The sandy slopes and valleys of the Erg Chebbi demand respect, but if you drive with care and follow your guide, this is a fun and safe way to explore the desert landscape.
What is included? All-inclusive packages should include pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in Merzouga, fuel, buggies, helmets, and soft drinks. An English-speaking driver should also be available for questions along the way. Note that tours may get a little more expensive if you want a private buggy. If you have allergies be sure to bring your own snacks. Credit cards aren’t normal, so bring cash to cover any additional costs.
15. Booking and Reservation Tips
When considering a dune buggy ride, whether a short tour or an overnight desert camping experience, there are a number of important points to take into account prior to securing a reservation to ensure you get the experience you dreamed of. Although almost all desert tour operators offer their tours online and are typically called boutique agencies, given the nature of some of the experiences, it is better to check in person to see if accommodations and services meet your requirements. While these boutique agencies recruit tourists for shared tours, some of the better-known hotels and riads in Merzouga provide private excursions into the desert in their fleet of ATVs and UTVs. They do not pay for commission fees to the boutique agencies and therefore will not inflate the prices of the excursions.
In high season, it is advisable to book ahead, preferably for direct services from a hotel or riad, as they will offer the most competitive rates available, whereas with the boutique agencies, this could vary. Also consider children under the age of 13: some agencies may not allow small children on the excursions, or they may not offer child safety seats. Children are often not charged; however, you should indicate their ages beforehand. Also, be sure to ask for the full details of all excursions, prices, and timings so that you are aware of what to expect before you arrive. During the summer months, temperatures in the south of Morocco can go beyond a staggering 50° Celsius, or 122° Fahrenheit! Morning jeep and dune buggy desert excursions are available, which are good ways to escape the heat. Meanwhile, sandboarding is also always available during the summer, as it is done on a shaded dune.
16. Conclusion
We have collectively taken a leap of faith, a trip into the desert, into the world of dreams. Indeed, this journey across the sand dunes will be inked onto your memories and illustrate your mind forever. These paths along which you have travelled will allow you to relive the beauty of this beautiful region, its immense dunes, the majesty of the sun at both sunrises and sunsets, the shady valleys, the hospitality, living together in harmony with the tribes of the region, and the moments of life where hope shines brightly through the stars outside of every tent or in the depths of the palm trees. You can be sure that you will want to come back. Be strong and when you do, your extended family awaits you to revisit this place filled with emotions and love.
Time will change the place, but our family, your family, will be the same. The system without automobile is alive and breathing yesterday, today and tomorrow. Indeed, the magical font of energy that is the child of an everlasting people of love who colonised the dunes with fear, care and ultimately love is you, your family, your tribe and it should allow us to evolve without taking a step backwards. Come with love, staying for love and then depart for the love that connects all hearts and we will collectively, always, be there to give you life.
