Why you should see the Sahara Desert in Merzouga, Morocco
Merzouga, Morocco (ISO 800, 75 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 s)
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**This post is the 4th of a 5-post series discussing what to see in Morocco. (You can check out the other parts in the list below, separated by each specific city. Everything is also summarized in another post here.**
Morocco is a country in Northwest Africa, whose region has been inhabited for over 300,000 years. It bears a rich geography with the Atlas Mountains in the center/south of the country, the Sahara desert to the west, with Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines to the north and west, respectively. The official languages of Morocco are Arabic and Berber, but you will also find French spoken in many of the country’s institutions.
In this post I will talk about some of the places to check out in Merzouga/The Sahara Desert. If you would like to read more about Morocco, feel free to check out the blog posts below:
Marrakech (Blog Post: Taking a Walk Through Marrakech, Morocco)
Essaouira (Blog Post: Explore Essaouira on the Moroccan Coast)
Chefchaouen (Blog Post: Just a few reasons why you HAVE to see Chefchaouen in Morocco)
Merzouga - Sahara Desert (Blog Post: Why you should see the Sahara Desert in Merzouga, Morocco)
Summary (Blog Post: Which city in Morocco is best for you?)
Merzouga is a village in the southeast of Morocco situated 31 miles from the border with Algeria. It is a popular village due to its juxtaposition to Erg Chebbi, a part of the Sahara known for its large sand dunes. Though the area remained largely uninhabited, it became a stop for merchants and later a site for French fortifications during battles occurring between 1916 and 1932.
If you like some of my photos that you have come across, just know that I have many prints showcasing a variety of landscapes available for purchase below! (Sold as Posters, Canvas, or in Metal-Frames and Wooden-Frames).
Merzouga, Morocco (ISO 400, 10 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 s)
How to get to Merzouga
Now Merzouga is a bit off the beaten path. There are many ways to get here, depending on where you’re coming from.
You can rent your own car and drive however it is about 560 kms from Marrakech to Merzouga, and you also drive through the Atlas Mountains on the way. Those who LOVE a bit of adventure and road trips, with a lot of patience, then this is the option for you. Also, renting a car may not be the cheapest option as you would need it for a few days and automatic transmission is immensely more expensive.
Usually people take group tours that start in either Marrakech or Fez, the most popular origin being the former. This is usually the best way to go considering your transportation is covered, some of your meals, and an overnight accommodation in the desert. Any hostel and hotel will have information about these tours. What is also awesome about these tours is that you stop off in other places of interest on the way, such as Aït Benhaddou, Ouarzazate, and Dades Gorge.
If you don’t do a group tour, most people would opt for their own bus itinerary. Be forewarned that the buses have infrequent connection times. The only direct bus journey from Marrakech is with Supratours, which takes 15.5 hours and costs about $40. If you desire to see some of the other places that a small group tour would go, your bus itinerary gets considerably more complicated. I would refer to other blogs in this case who have experience with such a journey.
Merzouga, Morocco (ISO 800, 130 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 s)
Erg Chebbi
First off, what is an Erg? Well an erg essentially is a large dune field within a desert. Specifically, an area with little to no vegetation with wind-swept sand. It comes from the Arabic word ‘arq’, which means ‘dune field’.
Erg Chebbi is one of Morocco’s more popular ergs. Depending on where people assume the Sahara Desert starts, some consider Merzouga and Erg Chebbi as being too far west to be considered the Sahara. Regardless, you can expect dunes up to 150 meters high in an area of 125 square kilometers.
Merzouga, Morocco (ISO 400, 10 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 s)
Rissani Souk
Nearby Merzouga is the small town of Rissani. It was known as the ancient capital of Tafilalet but currently is more known for its souks, specializing in its leather and goat skin offerings. I prefer going to places like this in smaller towns/venues as opposed to Marrakech or other large cities; the vibe is just much better and you do not get hassled to buy such things (or nearly as much at least).
Merzouga, Morocco (ISO 800, 18 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 s)
Dayet Srji Lake
Dayet Srij is a lake that only exists between November to May, as it dries out during the summer months. What is gorgeous about this area is that when it is dried out, you get such an amazing contrast between the black sea bed and the blue sky and sand dunes. When bound with water, it is a popular spot for migrating birds like flamingos.
Merzouga, Morocco (ISO 800, 10 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 s)
Khamlia Village
Khamlia is a small village located at Erg Chebbi and about 7 kms away from Merzouga. Although a rather small area, there are some shops, guesthouses, and a cafe for those looking to get off the beaten path. Specifically those who want to explore the desert a bit more and bird watchers alike, tend to spend more time in Khamlia village.
If you opted for the group tour, which included stops in Aït Benhaddou, Ouarzazate, and Dades Gorge, you’re in for a treat. Here’s a bit more info on what you can expect to see in each place:
Aït Benhaddou, Morocco (ISO 200, 18 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 s)
Aït Benhaddou
This area is known as a ksar, or a fortified village. Aït Benhaddou is situated on a former caravan route between Marrakech and the Sahara. As if you couldn’t assume already, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 due to it being a prime example of Moroccan earthen clay architecture. What is truly remarkable about this site is its scale and how these buildings are still standing while being constructed with very basic materials!
The site itself dates back to the Almoravid period in the 11th century however it is believed that none of the current buildings are older than the 17th century. It is located in the Ounila Valley, which is a stop along the main trans-Saharan trade route. Presently, there are only a few families that still live in the ksar due to Aït Benhaddou loss of strategic significance. The families that have left have moved to a more modern village nearby, making their living off agriculture and tourism.
Aït Benhaddou, Morocco (ISO 200, 13 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 s)
Ouarzazate
This place has the nickname of ‘the door of the desert’. Ouarzazate sits 1160 meters above sea level in the middle of a plateau. Though the site of many holiday kasbahs for tourists, it is also known as a major area for film production. Indeed films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Kingdom of Heaven, and Gladiator along with Game of Thrones has been filmed here.
Morocco (ISO 200, 10 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 s)
Dadès Gorges
This area is a system of gorges that were created by the eroding landforms around the Dadès River. The river starts in the Atlas mountains, traveling about 350 kilometers southwest before connecting with the Draa river. The walls of these gorges are gorgeous, and stand up to 500 meters tall. It’s an amazing sight to behold.
Of all the options you can take to check out this part of Morocco, I still cannot recommend enough doing a small group tour. This will give you the chance to enjoy yourself more without worrying about how to get to some of these hard to reach places.
Not to mention that you could make a new friend or two with the other people that come on the tour with you. The smaller group sizes I am think are better for being more social (at least for me).
This list is by no means comprehensive but it should give you an idea of what you can come to expect when in this part of the world. I recommend planning a few days in Merzouga to take a step back from the busier Moroccan cities like Marrakech, Casablanca, and Fez.
