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Merzouga

Morocco travel guide

What to see in Merzouga

The gateway to Erg Chebbi: golden dunes, nights in a desert camp and skies full of stars.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 4 must-see places
  • Best time: April, May and from September to November
  • Stay in Erg Chebbi
  • Typical food: Madfouna
Photo: Jorge Franganillo · CC BY 4.0

Merzouga highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Erg Chebbi

    Dunes up to 150 m high; camps and camels.

  2. Khamlia

    A Gnawa village of Saharan music.

  3. Lake Dayet Srij

    A seasonal lagoon with flamingos after the rains.

  4. Sand tracks

    4x4 trips along the edge of the desert.

Where to stay in Merzouga

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Erg Chebbi · Merzouga village

Day trips from Merzouga

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Merzouga

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Merzouga are April, May and from September to November. If you can, avoid from June to August (extreme heat).

  1. Jan with warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar with warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun with strong warnings
  7. Jul with strong warnings
  8. Aug with strong warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec with warnings
  • from December to February

    Snow on the mountain passes

    From December to February snow sometimes closes the Tizi n'Tichka pass between Marrakech and the desert.

    What to do: Leave a spare day for crossing the Atlas.

  • February, March

    Ramadan (approximate dates)

    During the day many restaurants close or open less and museum and shop hours change. The evenings, with iftar, are very special.

    What to do: Out of respect, don’t eat or drink in the street during the day; book dinner for after sunset.

  • from June to August

    Extreme heat

    In summer Marrakech reaches 40 °C and the Merzouga desert 45 °C.

    What to do: A night in the desert, yes, but set off at sunset and return at sunrise; riads with a pool.

Typical food of Merzouga

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Merzouga from your kitchen).

Madfouna
Photo: Karima El Youbi · CC BY-SA 4.0

Madfouna

The desert’s “Berber pizza”: a dough filled with meat, onion and spices, cooked buried in the sand beside the fire. In Merzouga they make it in the camps and guesthouses.

  • Serves 4
  • 1 h 30 min

Ingredients

  • 500 g flour
  • 1 sachet of dried yeast
  • Warm water and salt
  • 400 g minced beef or lamb
  • 2 onions
  • 1 green pepper and 1 tomato
  • 2 eggs
  • Cumin, paprika, parsley and coriander
  • 50 g butter

How to make it at home

  1. Knead the flour with the yeast, salt and warm water until you have a soft dough. Leave to rise for 1 hour.
  2. Mix the raw meat with the chopped onion, pepper and tomato, the eggs, spices and herbs.
  3. Divide the dough in two, roll one half into a disc, spread the filling over it and cover with the other half, sealing the edges.
  4. Bake at 200 °C for about 35 minutes, until golden.
  5. Brush with butter and serve cut into portions.

The trick: With a little lamb fat in the filling, as in the desert, it’s juicier.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the souk stall. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Morocco guide.

  • Restaurant Les Dunes

    Merzouga

    Tagine after the dunes.

  • Café Fatima

    Hassilabied

    Simple Berber cooking.

Frequently asked questions about Merzouga

What to see in Merzouga?

Erg Chebbi, Khamlia, Lake Dayet Srij and Sand tracks.

What to see in Merzouga in one day?

Don’t miss Erg Chebbi, Khamlia, Lake Dayet Srij and Sand tracks. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in Merzouga?

The handiest areas to stay are Erg Chebbi and Merzouga village.

What’s the best time to travel to Merzouga?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Merzouga are April, May and from September to November. If you can, avoid from June to August (extreme heat).

What day trips can you take from Merzouga?

Camel ride and a night in the desert and Quad biking on the dunes.

What is the typical food of Merzouga?

Madfouna. The desert’s “Berber pizza”: a dough filled with meat, onion and spices, cooked buried in the sand beside the fire. In Merzouga they make it in the camps and guesthouses.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.