Things to Do in Erg Chebbi, Morocco
Erg Chebbi is the reason I finally understood the word awe. This dune field in southeast Morocco stretches for dozens of kilometers along the edge of the Sahara, a rolling sea of orange sand that rises into some of the tallest dunes in the country, around 150 meters high. The star dunes here are big, silent, and endlessly changing. The dusty village of Merzouga sits at its foot, but the dunes are the whole show. These are the things I have come back to do again and again.
The best part is that none of it requires much planning. Erg Chebbi is empty, free, and open to anyone willing to walk a little or ride a camel. You can shape a single perfect afternoon or a full week out here, and the dunes will meet you either way.
Climb a star dune for sunset
The first thing everyone does, and the first thing I would tell you to do, is climb. Pick the nearest big dune and push up its face, which is harder than it looks, because every step sinks. The reward comes at the top. From the crest the desert unfolds in every direction, wave after wave of sand catching the low sun. I have done this climb many times and the view at the top still knocks the words out of me.
Ride a camel across the sands
A camel trek is the timeless way to move through Erg Chebbi, and there is no better way to feel small against the dunes. The guides set a slow, swaying pace that has carried travelers across North Africa for a thousand years, and by evening the rhythm gets into your soul. Whether you ride for an hour or camp out overnight, the camel takes you somewhere your feet alone would find exhausting.
Book through a camp or an operator that treats its animals well, and you will see the dunes at the slow, dignified pace that makes them feel even more vast.
Sleep out in a desert camp
Every serious Erg Chebbi visit should include a night under the stars. I have stayed in camps tucked between the big dunes, with lanterns, rugs, and a simple Berber dinner served as the last light faded. When the lamps go out, the Milky Way reveals itself with a brightness that city dwellers simply do not believe until they see it. I lay awake longer than I should, just counting the falling stars.
Sandboard the great slopes
For speed, Erg Chebbi is a playground. Sandboarding means waxing up a board and sliding down the steep faces of the tall dunes, and the pure thrill of it is hard to beat. I am not a natural on a board, so my runs were more tumbles than glides, but even the laughing failures are worth it. The quad bikes are the other adrenaline option, roaring across the open sand between the dune ridges.
Rise early for dawn over the dunes
The sunrise in Erg Chebbi deserves its own place on this list. The morning light spills across the crests, turning the sand from deep red to glowing gold in minutes, and the shadows draw fresh lines across every slope. On my first dawn there I was the only person on my dune, and the silence was so complete that I heard my own heartbeat. It remains one of the best hours of my life on the road.
Walk barefoot on the big ridges
Do not let the activities take over entirely. Some of my favorite moments in Erg Chebbi had no plan at all, just walking barefoot along the high ridges in the cool of the day, watching the wind recarve the sand around me. The dunes are never still, and no two steps leave the same trace. It is meditation dressed up as a walk, and it costs nothing but time I was glad to give.
Explore the desert edges
The dune field does not exist in a vacuum. Around its edges lie palmgroves, the seasonal lake of Dayti that can attract flamingos in wet years, and small villages where desert life continues its slow rhythm. A guide can show you these in an afternoon, and they give texture to the trip, reminding you that the desert has always been a home, not just a backdrop.
Practical notes for your visit
Carry enough water, because the dry heat is relentless and there are no shopfronts in the sand. Wear boots or sturdy sandals with grip for the climbs, and pack a warm layer for the evenings, because the dunes shed heat fast once the sun goes. And book camps and rides through a reputable operator, so the animals and people behind your desert day are treated well. Erg Chebbi rewards the prepared traveler with experiences that stay for a lifetime.
