Off road desert safaris and 4×4 excursions in Merzouga

The desert around Merzouga is a beautiful and exciting place to explore. The best way to see it is by riding in a strong car called a 4x4. It is very important to have a local driver who knows the desert roads. He will keep you safe and can take you to meet local families respectfully.

Remember to bring water, sunscreen, and a scarf to protect your head from the sun and sand. It is also kind to ask for permission before taking pictures of people.

1st option) A One-hour trip to the high dunes

This short trip is perfect if you want to feel the excitement of the desert quickly. You will leave from your hotel and drive straight into the great sand sea called Erg Chebbi. The car will go up and down over the golden sand waves. It feels like riding a rollercoaster on the sand.

Your driver will take you directly to the tallest sand dunes. These dunes can be as high as a big building. You will stop to take amazing pictures of the endless sand all around you. You can even try to walk up the dune a little bit to see even further. Then, you will have a fun ride back to your hotel.

2nd option) A Two-hour trip to the dunes and nomad families

This trip lets you see the beautiful desert and also learn about how people live there. You will start by driving into the sandy dunes, enjoying the ride as the car moves over the hills of sand.

After a little while, your driver will take you to a special place where a nomadic family lives. Nomads are people who move from place to place. Their house is a tent made from camel hair. The family will likely invite you inside for a cup of sweet mint tea. This is a very kind tradition. You can see how they live in the desert. It is a simple and peaceful life. After your visit, you will drive back through the sand, seeing more beautiful views on your way.

3rd option) A three-hour tour to Berber villages, nomads, and fossils

This longer trip helps you understand the culture and history of the desert. You will first drive to a village called Khamlia. It is sometimes called the "Black Village." The people who live here came from countries far to the south a long time ago.

They are famous for their music, called Gnawa music. You will go into a simple house and listen to them play drums and sing. The music is powerful and happy. After that, you will go to a place where people find fossils. This whole desert was once under an ocean. People dig up old stones that have the shapes of sea animals inside them. They cut and polish these stones to make beautiful things. Finally, you might drive through a traditional Berber village to see the mud-brick houses before heading back.

4th option) A Five-hour trip around the Merzouga desert

This is a complete tour to see all the different faces of the desert around Merzouga. You will see that the desert is not just sand. You will drive to a place called the Tissardmin Oasis, where a green garden of palm trees grows in the desert. It is like a miracle.

Then, you will see the Black Desert, where the ground is covered in dark black stones instead of sand. It looks like another planet. You will also see the large Kem Kem Gorges, which are deep, rocky valleys. Your driver will take you to drink tea with a friendly nomad family in their tent. You will also stop to see how people find and work on fossils from the ancient ocean. The trip includes a drive through a traditional village and a fun ride over the sand dunes before you return.

5th option) A Full-day desert safari to Safsaf Oasis

This trip is for explorers who want to go far away from everything and see a hidden part of the desert. You will spend the whole day in a 4x4 car, driving deep into the stony desert. You will first make a quick stop to see the fossil mines.

Then, you will drive for a long time through a vast, empty landscape until you find a secret green place called the Safsaf Oasis. It is a beautiful group of palm trees sitting at the bottom of a deep canyon. You can walk around and enjoy the cool shade. Here, you will have a picnic lunch right under the palm trees.

After lunch, you begin the long drive back. On the way, you will stop to look at the amazing views. Finally, you will reach the famous golden sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. Your driver will take you on a thrilling ride over these high dunes. You can play in the sand, take pictures, and enjoy the peace of the desert as the day ends. Then you will drive back to your hotel, tired but full of wonderful memories.