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Morocco Tours - Merzouga - Travel experiences in Morocco

Merzouga

Merzouga village in Morocco

Merzouga, a meeting of the dunes, and an open door to the Saharan adventure

In the region of Drâa – Tafilalet, 560 km east of Marrakech, near the Algerian border, until recently, the village of Merzouga was known for the impressive sand dunes of Erg Chebbi which are the highest in Morocco (160 meters), for its rocky mountains, and especially for its beneficial natural therapies known by various names including sand bath, sandtherapy, or arena therapy practiced against pathologies related to osteoarthritis, rheumatism, lumbago and other dermatological diseases (skin). Over the years, it has become clear that Merzouga was one of the main Moroccan gateways to adventure in the Great Sahara; and in 2002, the construction of a tarmac road was completed which allowed a greater flow of tourists in love with adventure and change of scenery in an environment as captivating as mysterious which is the desert.


This influx of visitors has led to the creation of substantial accommodation structures in Merzouga, and in the immediate vicinity, accompanying them with various trek, mechanical sports, cultural, health and well-being activities – and even excursions to oases, historical sites and cities such as the city of Rissani, cradle of the Alaouite dynasty. So Merzouga has been transformed into more than just a tourist stopover.


However, whatever the length of the stay, Merzouga welcomes all its visitors, and, as an open door to the great adventure, offers them a foretaste of its grandiose spaces bathed in serenity, its bright lights, its colours with such particular tones, its green oases, its vast undulating dunes, the hospitality and the age-old culture of the nomads of Tafilalet, the experience of traditional dinners under the stars near a fire, music and songs that seem to arise from ancient ages, and peaceful nights under a sky illuminated by thousands of stars. Moments and images that will never leave you again.



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Accommodation – Catering:
Although long considered a stage, nowadays, Merzouga has developed its accommodation structure. Hotels, guest houses, camps equipped with bivouacs, etc... Comfortably welcome the visitors for short, as long stays. On the catering side, as in the whole country, in Merzouga, we always taste good dishes of regional or international gastronomy in a local and friendly atmosphere. At the antipodes of modern life, Merzouga is the ideal place for a unique experience for lovers of change of scenery, complete disconnection, adventures in the picturesque spaces of deserts, cultural enrichment and great discoveries.
Population - Geographic location - Climate:
The village of Merzouga has about 500 inhabitants and is located in the region of Drâa – Tafilalet, in the south - east of Morocco. Merzouga is located in a desert region with arid, dry and hot climate. Temperatures in summer can reach 45 degrees during the day and 0 degrees at night, as they can reach 25 degrees in winter.

What to visit and do in Merzouga?

Camel riding

Camel riding

Enjoy a camel ride on the dunes of erg Chebbi with a length of more than 20 km long and 5km wide and at a height of 160 meters to admire a panorama, and encounter a sunset or sunrise with unique reflections on the sand dunes.
Sand therapy (sand bath)

Sand therapy (sand bath)

Natural therapy known by different names: Area therapy, psammatotherapy, is practiced against rheumatism, polyarthritis, lumbago and other dermatological (skin) problems. It would be a source of well-being and fitness.
Excursion to Rissani

Excursion to Rissani

Ancient capital of the Tafilalet, City of history and cradle of the Alaouite dynasty installed in the Tafilalet since the 13th century. The Alaouites are descendants of the prophet Muhammad, and current ruling dynasty in Morocco. Visit the historical buildings of Ksar El Fida, Ksar Ouighlan and Ksar Abber, the mausoleum Moulay Ali Chérif.
Visit nomadic families.

Visit nomadic families.

Cultural visit to learn about the austere lifestyle of nomads passed down from one generation to the next.
Visit the salt lake and the fossil and mineral quarries.

Visit the salt lake and the fossil and mineral quarries.

To the west is Dayet Srji, a seasonal salt lake, often dry in summer. When it fills up again, it attracts a wide variety of migratory and desert birds. Fossils dating back millions of years when the region was a sea have been discovered in the quarries.
Visit from Erfoud

Visit from Erfoud

Very large oasis of which some dwellings in adobe preserve the traditional Saharan architecture. The presence of fossils testifies that the area was under water millions of years ago, hence this wealth of fossils, including skeletons of fossilized dinosaurs. Also to be noted is the presence of a Jewish cemetery, which testifies that part of the population in the past was of Jewish confession. Erfoud, the date capital, has been organising the annual international dates fair in October since 2010.

Activities in and around Merzouga

  • Dune Tour 4X4
  • Salt lake tour
  • Visit to mineral quarries
  • Tour of nearby oases and ksars
  • Excursion to Rissani
  • Excursion to Erfoud
  • Excursion destination Marrakech
  • Excursion to the Sahara
  • Other destinations

Merzouga History

Etymology: Origin of name unknown. According to one source, it could come from the Arabic “merzuk” which means wealthy, lucky.

The true history of Merzouga begins with the installation of French troops from 1916 after their victory at Tafilalet, and thus control the region of Tafilalet, especially the city of Rissani, cradle of the Alaouite dynasty (Moulay Ali Cherif). In the vicinity, Rissani was an important centre of trans-Saharan trade, the caravans traded gold, salt, ivory, slaves. Later, the region’s goat leather was traded, followed by minerals and fossils. In recent decades, the main economic activity in Merzouga has focused on tourism.

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