5-Day Sahara desert trekking around Merzouga (Morocco)

Your desert adventure begins in Merzouga, the gateway to the Sahara and the famous Erg Chebbi dunes. After meeting your camel caravan team, you set off into the vast golden sands. The trek starts gently, with camels carrying supplies while you walk alongside, absorbing the silence of the desert and the immensity of the dunes.

After a few hours of walking, you will reach the Boyighd Dunes, a magical spot where the sands stretch endlessly before you. Here, the bivouac (camp) is set up in the heart of the dunes. As the sun sets, the desert glows in hues of red and orange, offering a perfect moment for photography and reflection. Dinner will be served under a starlit sky, followed by storytelling and music around the fire. Overnight in traditional desert tents.

Wake up early to catch the sunrise over the Bouird dunes, an unforgettable spectacle as the first rays of light paint the sands gold. After breakfast, you begin a long crossing of the Erg Chebbi dunes. This is one of the most spectacular sections of the trek, as you wander through towering dunes and rolling sand ridges that change color and shape with the wind.

The walk brings moments of serenity and pure happiness, with only the sound of footsteps in the sand and the occasional call of your camel caravan. By late afternoon, you arrive at Hassi Mardani, a small and ancient village at the foot of the erg. Here, you set up camp and spend the night in a place where desert traditions remain alive. The evening is filled with unforgettable views as the sun sets behind the dunes and the sky turns deep purple. Dinner and overnight in camp.

After breakfast, the journey continues through a different desert landscape: the rocky plateau of the Hamada du Guir. This black stone desert contrasts sharply with the golden sands of the dunes, offering new perspectives of the Sahara. As you move through these vast open spaces, you feel the immensity and isolation of the desert even more.

By late afternoon, the trek leads you back to the soft, golden sands of Erg Znaigui, a lesser-visited area of dunes that gives a true sense of peace and remoteness. The camp is set up for your final bivouac under the stars, deep in the heart of the dune massif. After dinner, enjoy a last night of stargazing, where the silence of the Sahara and the brightness of the Milky Way create an otherworldly experience.

Today is dedicated to cultural immersion. After breakfast, you walk across the dunes and desert plains toward Begaa Village, a remote desert community surrounded by an oasis and small mountains. The village offers a chance to discover traditional desert life — mud-brick houses, palm groves, and small fields cultivated with ancient irrigation systems.

You will enjoy a picnic lunch in the shade of the oasis and spend time with locals to learn about their customs and way of life. In the late afternoon, you return to the Erg Znaigui dunes in time to admire a breathtaking sunset over the Sahara. Dinner and overnight once again in the desert camp, surrounded by the silence of the dunes.

On your final morning in the desert, wake early to witness one last breathtaking sunrise over the Erg Znaigui dunes. After breakfast, the trek continues with a gentle walk across the sands toward the village of Khamlia, a small settlement famous for its Gnaoua heritage.

Upon arrival, you will pause to enjoy a live performance of traditional Gnaoua music, a soulful and spiritual rhythm played with drums and castanets that reflects centuries of Saharan culture.

After this cultural stop, a short transfer brings you back to Merzouga, where your unforgettable desert trek comes to an end.