multi day
2 Day Merzouga Adventure
Two days in the Sahara: quad biking, a 4x4 tour, a camel trek, a night at a desert camp, sunrise and nomad visits.
Three days in the Sahara by quad, buggy, 4x4 and camel, with sandboarding and two nights at desert camps.
The 3 Day Desert Expedition goes further than the usual short desert visit. Over three days you explore Erg Chebbi by quad, buggy and 4x4, ride a camel out to remote dunes, try sandboarding, visit nomadic families and spend two nights under the desert sky. We designed it for travellers who want time to get to know the Sahara properly: the landscape, the people who live there and the pace of daily life.
You are collected from your hotel in Merzouga and driven to our base at the foot of Erg Chebbi. After fitting your helmet and goggles and a full safety briefing, you head into the dunes on a quad, starting gently on firm sand before moving onto longer climbs and ridge-top runs. There are stops on high dunes for photos and a visit to a nomad family for tea.
In the late afternoon you settle into a desert camp among the dunes. Before sunset you can try sandboarding on a smooth slope near camp; the guide shows you how to stand, steer and stop, and it is easy to walk back up for another run. Dinner is a hot tagine with bread and salad, and the evening ends around the fire under a sky full of stars.
After breakfast at camp you swap the quad for a buggy. With its roll cage and harness, the buggy feels stable on the sand, and the guide leads you across a quieter part of Erg Chebbi with long, smooth descents. If two people share a buggy, you can swap driver and passenger at the viewpoints.
After lunch the 4x4 takes over for a wider loop around the dunes. You visit the stony plain where ammonites and orthoceras lie in the rock, stop at Khamlia to hear the Gnawa music the village is known for, and see a small oasis with its palm gardens. The day ends back at camp, with another chance to sandboard before dinner if you still have energy.
Wake early and walk up the nearest high dune to watch the sunrise over the Sahara. The light reaches the crests first and then pours into the valleys between the dunes, and the air is cool and still. Take your time here; there is no rush on the last morning.
Breakfast is served at camp, then your guide drives you back to Merzouga. There is time to shower and repack before you continue your journey. If you are heading on toward the Todra Gorge, Fes or Marrakech, your guide can advise on the best route and timing for the drive, and point out good places to stop along the way.
Besides the quad, buggy and 4x4 gear, this three-day trip includes sandboards for the dune slopes and two nights of proper camp bedding, with extra blankets for the colder hours. We provide saddles and equipment for the longer camel trek to the remote dunes. Each camp has a first-aid kit, torches and a stocked water supply. Learn more about our fleet.
Two nights in a row in the desert can be tiring, so we spread the quad, buggy and 4x4 outings across the days instead of stacking them together. Camp staff stay on site both nights. Guides demonstrate proper sandboarding technique first and supervise every run. Bring warm layers, because the nights are noticeably cold. Read our full safety standards.
To check dates or ask a question about 3 Day Desert Expedition, send us a message on WhatsApp, call us or use the booking form on this page. We reply within 24 hours to confirm your booking.
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