Quad Biking in Merzouga: Tours and Prices

Quad biking in Merzouga: how the rides work

Every quad ride starts at our base on the edge of Erg Chebbi, a few minutes from Merzouga village. You get a helmet, goggles and a scarf for the dust, then a ten-minute briefing on the throttle, the brakes and how to lean into a dune. Nobody needs a licence or previous experience. Your guide rides in front the whole time and picks lines that match the group, so a first-timer and a confident rider can share the same trip.

The bikes are automatic 4x4 quads, which matters in soft sand: no gear changes, just steady throttle. If you would rather not drive, most of our rides can be done as a passenger, or swapped for a dune buggy or a seat in a 4x4.

Which quad tour should you pick?

• One hour is enough to learn the basics and reach the first big dunes. Good if you arrive in the afternoon and leave the next morning: see the 1 hour quad tour.
• Two to three hours lets you go deeper into the erg, stop at a nomad family's tent for tea and ride the open plain toward the Algerian border hills. The 3 hour tour is our most balanced option.
• Sunset or sunrise rides are timed so you are parked on a high dune when the light turns the sand orange. The sunset ride is the most popular; the sunrise ride is cooler and quieter.
• A full day loops around the whole dune sea with lunch, the Gnawa village of Khamlia and the fossil beds. Choose the full day tour if you ride confidently.

When to ride

October to April is the comfortable season, with warm days and cold nights. In summer we move rides to early morning and the last two hours before dark, because midday sand gets hot and the engines work hard. Spring can bring wind; on gusty days we keep to sheltered routes. Our seasonal guide explains what to expect month by month.

What to wear and bring

Closed shoes, long trousers and sunglasses make the ride far more comfortable. Bring a light jacket for sunset tours. Leave large bags at your hotel; we carry water. For a full checklist, read what to pack for the desert, and if you are still deciding between machines, our comparison of buggy tours vs quad tours helps.

Safety rules, group sizes and how we maintain the fleet are covered on the safety page. To book, send a message through the form below or contact us with your date and group size.

Frequently Asked Questions