Erg Chebbi

Morocco's most iconic sand sea — soaring dunes at sunrise.

Erg Chebbi is one of Morocco's two great ergs — large seas of sand dunes. Stretching roughly 28km long and up to 9km wide, its dunes climb to about 150 metres — the tallest free-standing dunes in the country — and change colour from orange to gold to crimson with the shifting light. Ride a camel at sunset, drive the crests by 4x4, or simply walk up from Merzouga for a sunrise with the sand to yourself; however you meet it, a night between these dunes is among the world's great travel experiences.

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Erg Chebbi in Pictures

Camel caravan crossing the Erg Chebbi dunes by day near Merzouga
A camel caravan crosses the erg in full daylight.
Tourist in a colourful Moroccan djellaba facing the Erg Chebbi dune sea near Merzouga
Climb any crest and the erg rolls out in every direction.
Luxury desert camp at sunset on the Erg Chebbi margins near Merzouga
Camp on the dune edge: sunset, dinner, and the dunes to yourself.

Erg Chebbi through our lens

Berber camel guide in a blue djellaba leading a camel across the Sahara sand near Merzouga
A local cameleer leads his camel across the sand near Merzouga.
Trekkers climbing the crest of a tall Sahara dune near Merzouga
Climbing a dune crest on foot near Merzouga.
Luxury desert camp tents glowing at sunset among the dunes of Merzouga
A luxury camp glowing at sunset in the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Saharan bivouac lounge with lanterns, carpets and a thatched canopy at dusk near Merzouga
A lantern-lit bivouac in the Erg Chebbi sands at dusk.

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