4 Days
Private Tour
Up to 1 day
English, Multilingual
This 4-day wild desert trip starts in Merzouga, where you visit the fossil-rich Tissardmine Oasis and the quiet Safsaf Oasis. Later, you return to the dunes to watch a beautiful sunset and spend the night in a desert camp under the stars.
On the second day, you wake up early to see the sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes. You can also try sandboarding, or choose an extra activity like riding a quad or buggy. Along the way, you will meet nomad families, explore the old mining village of Mifis, and enjoy traditional music with the Gnawa people in Khamlia. Following the famous Paris–Dakar Rally track, you arrive in the Ouzina Desert for the night.
Day three takes you across desert villages like Ramlia and Tafraoute, then into the impressive Mharech Gorge. You also visit the ancient ruins of Oubahlou before returning to Ouzina.
On the last day, you drive back to Merzouga through the dunes of Erg Znaigui, ending your desert adventure.
| Day | Departure | Arrival | Distance |
| #1 | Merzouga | Erg Chebbi | 95 km |
| #2 | Erg Chebbi | Ouzina | 80 km |
| #3 | Ouzina | Ouzina | 150 km |
| #4 | Ouzina | Merzouga | 120 km |
The abandoned mines of Mifis, once important for lead and zinc.
Prehistoric rock carvings, showing ancient desert art.
The ruins of the Portuguese “Lost City” at Oubahlou.
Beautiful oases such as Safsaf, Ramlia, and Mharech Gorge, where palm trees and water appear like a miracle in the desert.
Our journey begins in Merzouga. From here, we travel to Tissardmine Oasis, a beautiful place well known for its rich fossil deposits. After exploring, we continue through the black desert until we reach the Safsaf Oasis. This is a wild and peaceful spot, perfect for relaxation. Here we will enjoy a picnic and take some time to rest.
Later in the afternoon, we head back towards the golden dunes of Merzouga. We will ride camels and climb up the dunes to watch the sunset over the desert, an unforgettable experience. Tonight, we stay in a desert camp, where you can enjoy a traditional dinner under the stars.
We start the day early to watch the sunrise from the top of a dune, followed by breakfast. If you wish, you can also try sandboarding on the Erg Chebbi dunes before we start our adventure.
Our next stop is the abandoned village of Mifis, once an important mining town. It was left behind when the mines stopped being profitable. From the high points here, we get amazing panoramic views. You can still see open-pit mines and shafts, some more than 50 meters deep. These mines were once worked by the French, extracting lead and zinc. The famous Kohl powder, used by Moroccan women for eye makeup, also comes from here. Be careful in this area, as the mine shafts can be bottomless.
From Mifis, we continue to Khamlia Village, which is home to around 300 residents of Berber, Arab, and sub-Saharan origins. Here, we will meet the Gnawa musicians, who will perform traditional music and dances while we enjoy a glass of mint tea.
Afterward, we drive to Taouz and then take the old Paris–Dakar Rally route. Along the way, we stop at Restaurant Itrane Sahara to enjoy a traditional Berber lunch. If the weather is nice, you may also use the swimming pool. After lunch, we take a short walk to see the prehistoric rock carvings nearby, before continuing our journey through the desert.
On the way to Ouzina, we pass through Jdaid, a small and remote Berber village in the middle of the desert. By evening, we arrive at our hotel in the Ouzina Desert, where we will spend the night with dinner and breakfast included.
For those interested, there is an optional activity: quad or buggy ride through the Erg Chebbi dunes (not included in the price).
1-hour single quad: €50
1-hour motocross: €140
1-hour double buggy: €130
After breakfast, we set off in our 4×4 along desert tracks. Our first stop is the village of Ramlia, a Berber settlement hidden in the middle of the desert. If you wish, we can take some time to visit the village and its oasis.
From here, we cross the Sand River (Oued Ghris), a dry riverbed filled with soft sand, until we reach Tafraoute (Sidi Ali). We stop here to rest and enjoy a cup of tea, and if you prefer, we can also have lunch in the village.
Afterwards, we continue towards the Mharech Gorge, passing through Tafraoute. The gorge is a simple but stunning place, with palm trees and a small oasis. It is often called the “Bethlehem Gate” because of its resemblance to a nativity scene.
We then cross the Sand River again and arrive at Oubahlou, also known as the “Lost City” or the “Portuguese City.” These are the ruins of an ancient Portuguese settlement. We will take a short walk to explore the site before heading back along desert tracks to our hotel in the Ouzina Desert for dinner and an overnight stay.
After breakfast, we begin our return journey. We head back towards Taouz and then continue towards Merzouga, crossing the dunes of Erg Znaigui along the way. Depending on your next destination, this tour can be finished late morning or afternoon.
Yes, the tour can be adapted to your interests, such as including extra quad rides, longer desert stays, or visiting additional oases and villages around Merzouga.
Yes. All areas visited are safe. Our guides are experienced and ensure proper safety, especially near dunes, cliffs, and mine sites.
The tour uses a 4×4 vehicle for long distances. Shorter excursions in the desert may include camel rides or optional quad/buggy trips.
Yes, the tour is moderate and suitable for people with basic fitness. Walking on sand can be tiring, so some activities may require care.
Yes, water, breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are included on the tour.
Yes, camel treks are part of the tour in Merzouga, and you can add an extra desert excursion by ATV/Quad, Buggy tour, or Motocross.
Leave a review