Caravan into the Desert Dunes
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Travel to Erfoud
Time to head into the desert. You’ll probably be travelling from Fez which is an eight hour drive away from Erfoud, so it’s good to start early then you’re not rushed and can stop along the way. The roads are well maintained and the drive takes you through beautiful valleys and over mountain ridges. You’ll spend the night in a desert style hotel in Erfoud. The sandstone walls give the place a real Saharan vibe. After the long drive, you may want to take a refreshing dip in the pool or relax with a drink. In the evening, enjoy a delicious tagine, grilled kebab or couscous on the terrace lit with oil lamps.
Day 2 – Overnight in the desert
There’s no need to rush up today. Enjoy a leisurely morning relaxing beside the pool. Late in the afternoon, when the temperature gets a little cooler, depart Erfoud and drive for around one hour towards the desert. In the distance you can see the impressive sand dunes of the Erg Chebbi appearing on the horizon. You can park your hotel at the kasbah hotel in Merzouga and enjoy a refreshing drink in the garden, before climbing onto a camel for the final journey into the desert. After around 30 minutes of plodding through the dunes you will see a traditional Bedouin tented camp, which is where you will be spending the night. It’s a simple camp with shared toilet facilities, and a separate tent where meals are served. Beds and blankets are provided in the tents. Enjoy the silence, the starry skies and the vastness of the desert while the camel guides prepare your traditional meal. It can cool down considerably in the evening, so it’s advisable to pack a warm sweater.
Day 3 – Camel ride to Merzouga
Getting up early for sunrise over the dunes is highly recommended. Watch how the sun slowly turns the sand red and orange. Back at the camp enjoy a cup of mint tea and as the temperature starts to rise, climb back on your camel and slowly plod out of the desert. Breakfast will be ready for you at the hotel in Merzouga where your car is parked. You might also want to take a quick shower here before you continue your journey.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Extend your stay in Merzouga
If you’ve got the time, we would recommending extending this bite-sized trip with a night in Merzouga. In our experience it’s nice to have a day of relaxing after a night in the desert, instead of rushing off to the next stop. The Merzouga kasbah we have selected is a peaceful, characterful oasis with a swimming pool and a restaurant serving traditional Berber cuisine.
