Morocco
Merzouga
Stay one night in a desert camp in Erg Chebbi; add a second day for Khamlia, Rissani's market and the seasonal lake. We have mapped 2 sights, 2 activities and 2 outdoor spots here, each with a reason to go.
- Places
- 9
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Mar – May
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- October
2 See · 2 Do · 2 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Shop
Morocco Imperial Cities
from our route notes
43°C / 109°F avg high
17°C / 63°F avg high
about 14 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Merzouga
9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in Merzouga across Khamlia and Rissani.
Photo: Ali el farkali · GoogleSeeKhamlia village
Village of Gnawa families descended from West Africans; music sessions over tea.
Tip Dar Gnawa groups play for visitors; leave a tip or buy a CD.
Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeKsar Abbar
Fortified mud-brick ksar near Rissani, once a palace for the Alaouite royal family.
Tip Combine with the Rissani market.
Do
Hands-on ways to spend time in Merzouga in Erg Chebbi.
Photo: Merzouga luxury Desert Camps · GoogleDoCamel trek to a desert camp
Ride 1–2 hours into the dunes to a Berber camp for dinner and stars.
Tip Book through your auberge; bring a scarf for wind.
Photo: Neil Paterson · GoogleDoSandboarding on Erg Chebbi
Slide down the high dunes on boards rented from auberges.
Tip Best in late afternoon when the sand cools.
Outdoors
Trails, views and open space in and around Merzouga.
Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 3.0OutdoorsErg Chebbi
Sand sea with dunes up to 150 m, reached by camel or 4x4 from Merzouga.
Tip Sunset camel trek to an overnight camp; climb a dune for sunrise.
Photo: Karim Dehbi Desert Events · GoogleOutdoorsDayet Srji
Seasonal lake near the dunes that draws flamingos after wet winters.
Tip Only fills after rain; ask locally before driving out.
Eat
2 places to eat, picked for groups who care about the food.
Photo: Bruno Simões Coelho · GoogleEatRestaurant Nora
Popular spot for medfouna, the stuffed 'Berber pizza', with cooking classes.
Tip Book a medfouna cooking class in advance.
Photo: El yazidi alaoui Mehdi · GoogleEatCafé Restaurant Chez Youssef
Small village cafe known for medfouna baked to order.
Tip Order early; medfouna can take an hour.
Shop
1 shop in Rissani for browsing and souvenirs.
Photo: Chicco Furlan · GoogleShopRissani Souk
Market town with a busy souk and a donkey-parking lot, 35 km north.
Tip Main market days are Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.
How to fit Merzouga into a trip
Merzouga is stop 3 of 3 on our Morocco Imperial Cities route. Follow it as-is or lift Merzouga into your own plan.
Stop 3 of 3
Morocco Imperial Cities
Marrakech, Fes & Sahara edge
- Trip length
- 8 days
- Best season
- Mar – May
- Pace
- moderate
- Before: Fes
Getting here and onward
- Fes to MerzougaFes is about 340 km / 211 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Merzouga month by month
Average daily highs run from 17°C / 63°F in January to 43°C / 109°F in July. October is the wettest month, with about 14 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan17° / 63°F average high
- Feb20° / 67°F average high
- Mar25° / 76°F average high, in our recommended season
- Apr29° / 85°F average high, in our recommended season
- May34° / 93°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun39° / 102°F average high
- Jul43° / 109°F average high
- Aug41° / 107°F average high
- Sep36° / 97°F average high
- Oct30° / 85°F average high
- Nov22° / 72°F average high
- Dec18° / 64°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Merzouga weather and the best time to visit →
Near Merzouga
2 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.
Merzouga questions, answered
How many days do you need in Merzouga?
Our route notes suggest 1 night in Merzouga. On our Morocco Imperial Cities route it is stop 3 of 3 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 28 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Merzouga best known for?
Stay one night in a desert camp in Erg Chebbi; add a second day for Khamlia, Rissani's market and the seasonal lake. Standouts on our list: Khamlia village (Village of Gnawa families descended from West Africans; music sessions over tea); Ksar Abbar (Fortified mud-brick ksar near Rissani, once a palace for the Alaouite royal family); Erg Chebbi (Sand sea with dunes up to 150 m, reached by camel or 4x4 from Merzouga).
When is the best time to visit Merzouga?
Our Morocco Imperial Cities route is best Mar – May. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (43°C / 109°F), the coolest in January (17°C / 63°F) and the most rain in October (about 14 mm).
What are the best things to do in Merzouga?
Start with Erg Chebbi, Camel trek to a desert camp, Sandboarding on Erg Chebbi, Khamlia village and Dayet Srji. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 2 sights, 2 activities, 2 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat and 1 shop.
Where should a group eat in Merzouga?
Our picks: Restaurant Nora (Merzouga); Café Restaurant Chez Youssef (Merzouga). Book a medfouna cooking class in advance (Restaurant Nora).
What is near Merzouga?
The closest destinations in our guides are Fes (about 340 km / 211 mi) and Marrakech (about 382 km / 237 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Merzouga with your crew
Open the Morocco Imperial Cities route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.