4x4
4x4 Desert Tour in Merzouga
A comfortable 4x4 tour of the Erg Chebbi dunes and nomad camps, with an expert driver. Suitable for all ages.
4x4 Erg Chebbi Tour
A full day by 4x4 around Erg Chebbi, Morocco's best-known dune field, with oases, fossils, nomads and Berber villages.
Tour Overview
The 4x4 Erg Chebbi Tour is a full day exploring Morocco's best-known dune field. Erg Chebbi runs for 28 kilometres and its dunes reach 150 metres. We drive right around the erg, stopping at oases, ancient fossil beds, nomadic camps and traditional Berber villages along the way. Much of this ground can only be reached by 4x4, which is why the full-day circuit covers far more than a shorter tour can.
Tour Highlights
- Full circuit of the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Oases tucked away in the desert
- Ancient fossil beds
- Visits to nomadic families
- Traditional Berber villages
- Berber lunch included
Detailed Itinerary
Morning Circuit
After hotel pick-up, you set off on a full loop around Erg Chebbi, a dune field around 28 kilometres long with dunes up to about 150 metres high. The morning includes viewpoints over the highest dunes, the seasonal lake that sometimes fills after winter rain and attracts birds, and the fossil-rich stony plain to the east.
You stop at fossil sites and at a small oasis, with time to walk and take photos at each one. The driver-guide explains how the dunes formed and how people have lived around them.
Lunch
Lunch is a traditional Berber meal at a desert camp: tagine, bread, salad and fruit, with mint tea to finish. You eat in the shade and have time to rest before the afternoon.
In summer, this break is longer so the afternoon drive happens when it is cooler.
Afternoon & Return
The afternoon continues around the erg through Berber villages and nomad camps. You may stop at Khamlia, a village known for its Gnawa musicians, whose music has roots in sub-Saharan Africa.
The loop ends back in Merzouga in the late afternoon, giving you a complete picture of the area in a single day.
What's Included
- 4x4 vehicle with driver/guide
- Fuel and insurance
- Traditional Berber lunch
- Bottled water and Moroccan tea
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Merzouga
What's Excluded
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
Equipment Information & Vehicle Details
Driving the full 28-kilometre length of Erg Chebbi means our 4x4s carry sand ladders, a tow rope and extra fuel as standard, as well as the usual first-aid kit and drinking water. The Berber lunch is cooked fresh at a desert camp around the midpoint of the circuit. Before entering the softer, more remote dune sections, drivers check the tyre pressure. Learn more about our fleet.
Safety Information
Parts of this circuit are remote, so our drivers keep radio contact with base camp all day and carry more water than usual. Keep your seatbelt on whenever the vehicle is moving. When you walk near soft dune edges, or around the fossil beds and Berber villages on the way, follow the driver's lead. Read our full safety standards.
Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Erg Chebbi is 28km long and 5-7km wide, with dunes up to 150m high.
Yes, there are vegetarian options. Please ask when you book.
Book This Tour
To check dates or ask a question about 4x4 Erg Chebbi Tour, 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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