3-Day Errachidia Desert Tour: Two Nights in Merzouga

This is the slowest, most relaxed way to experience the Sahara from Errachidia. Over three days and two nights, you spend very little time on the road and a great deal of time in the desert. The first night is at our luxury camp among the dunes of Erg Chebbi, after a sunset camel ride. The second day is a leisurely exploration by 4x4, followed by an afternoon and night at a riad at the edge of the sand. On the last morning, you visit the historic town of Rissani before returning to Errachidia for your flight or bus.

No day has more than two and a half hours of driving. That makes it ideal for families with children, older travellers and anyone who simply wants to switch off for a few days.

The route at a glance

• Day 1: Errachidia → Blue Spring of Meski → Ziz Valley viewpoint → Erfoud → Merzouga, then by camel to camp (about 130 km)
• Day 2: Erg Chebbi by 4x4: nomad family, Mfis, Khamlia and Dayet Srij in season, then a riad by the dunes (about 60 km)
• Day 3: Merzouga → Rissani → Erfoud → Ziz Valley → Errachidia (about 160 km)

Day 1: from the airport to the dunes

Your driver meets you at Moulay Ali Cherif Airport, the bus station or your hotel in Errachidia. The journey south is short and full of interest. At the Blue Spring of Meski, spring water wells up into a palm-shaded pool below the ruined ksar of Meski, an earthen village that once guarded the oasis. From the rim of the Ziz Valley, you look down on a long palm grove threaded between desert cliffs.

In Erfoud you visit a workshop where fossil-rich stone is cut and polished, and see the ammonites and trilobites that once lived in a sea covering this region. Then the dunes come into view. In Merzouga you mount your camel and ride out into Erg Chebbi, stopping to watch the sunset from the top of a dune before continuing to camp. Dinner is followed by drums around the fire.

Day 2: a slow day around Erg Chebbi

There’s no rush this morning. Watch the sunrise if you like, or sleep in and enjoy breakfast at camp. Then your driver takes you out by 4x4 for a half-day loop around the dunes.

• Nomad life. Visit a family who still lives in a tent on the edge of the desert, moving their animals with the seasons. Over mint tea, you’ll learn how they find water and grazing in such a harsh landscape.
• The ghost town of Mfis. Near the Algerian border, a mining village stands empty among the lead workings that once supported it. The rusting equipment and crumbling homes tell the story of a boom that ended decades ago.
• Gnawa music in Khamlia. In this village of black African heritage, musicians keep alive the spiritual music of their ancestors. The rhythm of the drums and the metal castanets is hypnotic.
• Dayet Srij. From February to April, if there has been enough rain, a shallow lake appears on the plain north-west of the dunes, and flamingos come to feed. In other months the lakebed is dry.

In the early afternoon you check in to your riad at the foot of the dunes. The afternoon is yours to rest in the shade, try sandboarding, or walk out onto the sand. In the evening, climb a dune for a second sunset before dinner at the riad.

Day 3: Rissani and the return

After breakfast, you drive to Rissani, a few kilometres from Merzouga. It was the capital of the Tafilalet and the end of the caravan route from Timbuktu, and the ruling Alaouite dynasty came from here in the 17th century. You see the monumental gate at the entrance to the town and walk through the old ksar. On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, the souk fills with farmers and traders, and the famous “donkey parking” is one of the most photographed sights in the south.

From Rissani you return north through Erfoud and the Ziz Valley to Errachidia, in time for your flight or onward bus.

Where you’ll sleep

• Erg Chebbi (1 night): our luxury desert camp, with a private tent for your booking, en-suite hot shower and flushing toilet, comfortable beds and electricity for charging. Heavy blankets are provided in winter, and family tents are available on request.
• Merzouga (1 night): a traditional riad at the foot of the dunes, with a private room and bathroom.

Dinner and breakfast are included both nights. If you’d rather spend both nights in the dunes, we can book the camp for both.

Travelling with children

This is the tour we recommend most often to families. The short drives mean children aren’t stuck in the car for hours, and there’s always something to look forward to: the spring pool at Meski, the fossils in Erfoud, the camels, sandboarding on the dunes, and the drums around the fire at night. The riad on the second night has more space and comfort than the camp, which gives everyone a good night’s sleep before the return.

At camp, family tents with extra beds are available on request. If your children are too young or too nervous for a camel ride, they can go to camp by 4x4 instead. We plan the days around their needs and can cater for dietary requirements and children’s food preferences; just let us know when you book.

Best time to go

Spring (March to May) and autumn (October and November) are the best seasons, with warm days, cool nights and, in spring, the chance of flamingos at Dayet Srij. Winter is sunny and quiet, but cold after dark. In summer, the heat in the middle of the day is intense, so the tour is planned around early mornings and evenings, with long rests in the shade.

Who this tour is for

Travellers flying in and out of Errachidia who want a relaxed, unhurried stay in the Sahara with very little time in the car. It’s the one we recommend to families with young children, to older travellers and to anyone who wants a restful break rather than a road trip.

Good to know

• Very little driving: no day has more than 2.5 hours on the road.
• Plan around market day: time your trip so day three falls on a Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday to see the Rissani souk at its liveliest.
• Nights are cold from October to April. The camp provides heavy blankets, but bring a warm layer for the evening around the fire.
• Tips for musicians and nomad families are optional and not included.
• Short on time? The 2-day Errachidia to Merzouga tour fits the highlights into one night.