Getting there
How to get to Merzouga from Marrakech, Fes and beyond
Merzouga is far from everywhere, and that's part of its magic. Here is every way to get there, with honest driving times, and how to choose.
In short
- From Marrakech: 560 km, 9 to 10 hours of driving. Plan at least 3 days for a round trip, with a night on the way.
- From Fes: 470 km, 7 to 8 hours. You can reach the dunes the same day and still ride a camel at sunset.
- By bus: CTM and Supratours both serve Merzouga. Cheapest, but slow and with no stops on the way.
- By plane: the nearest airport is Errachidia, 2 hours away, with flights from Casablanca.
- Easiest: a private tour from Marrakech or Fes, with pick-up at your riad and the night in the dunes included.
Where Merzouga is, and why it takes so long
Merzouga is a small village in the far south-east of Morocco, in the Drâa-Tafilalet region, just a few kilometres from the Algerian border. It sits at the western edge of Erg Chebbi, a sea of sand about 22 kilometres long whose highest dunes rise around 150 metres above the stony desert. It's the most famous place in Morocco to see real Sahara dunes, and one of the easiest to reach, but "easy" is relative.
Between the big cities and Merzouga lie two mountain ranges, the High Atlas and the Middle Atlas, and hundreds of kilometres of valleys, plateaus and desert. There is no motorway and no railway. Every route is a long drive, and every route is beautiful. The question isn't really how to get there quickly, but how to make the journey part of the trip.
From Marrakech to Merzouga
Marrakech is where most visitors start. The distance is about 560 kilometres, and without stops the drive takes 9 to 10 hours. With stops, which you'll want, it's a full day and a half.
The route
The road leaves Marrakech heading south-east and climbs straight into the High Atlas. After about two hours you cross the Tizi n'Tichka, at 2,260 metres the highest road pass in Morocco. On the far side the landscape turns dry and red: a short detour takes you to Aït Benhaddou, the UNESCO-listed fortified village, then on to Ouarzazate, the palm grove of Skoura and the Dades valley, where most people spend the first night.
The next day continues past the Dades gorge and the Todra gorge near Tinghir, then east across the open desert to Erfoud, Rissani and finally Merzouga, which you reach in the afternoon. The dunes appear on the horizon long before you arrive, glowing orange above the black stony plain.
How many days you need
| Trip length | What it looks like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | Two driving days with one night in the dunes, then the long drive back | Travelers short on time |
| 4 days | The same route plus a full day around the dunes | Most first-time visitors |
| 5 days | Slower days, nights at Aït Benhaddou and in the gorges, two nights near the dunes | Families, photographers, slow travelers |
A two-day trip from Marrakech to Merzouga is technically possible, but it means about 20 hours in a car for one night in the desert. We don't recommend it, and neither will anyone who has done it. If you only have two days, consider a shorter trip to the small dunes near Zagora instead, or come to Merzouga another time. (We compare the two in Merzouga vs Zagora.)
Our tours from Marrakech: 3 days, 4 days and 5 days.
From Fes to Merzouga
Fes is closer: about 470 kilometres, or 7 to 8 hours with stops. That makes it possible to leave Fes in the morning and be on a camel in the dunes at sunset the same day.
The road heads south through the Middle Atlas. You pass Ifrane, a mountain town that looks more Alpine than Moroccan, and the cedar forests near Azrou, where wild Barbary macaques often wait by the road. Lunch is usually in Midelt, below the Jbel Ayachi. In the afternoon the road drops through the Ziz gorges and follows the Ziz valley, one of the longest palm groves in Morocco, to Errachidia, Erfoud and Merzouga.
Because it's shorter, the 3-day trip from Fes is much more relaxed than the 3-day trip from Marrakech: you arrive on day 1, spend day 2 around the dunes and drive back on day 3. See our 3-day tour from Fes.
Marrakech to Fes (or Fes to Marrakech) through the desert
If your trip includes both cities, the best plan is often to travel between them through the Sahara. Instead of taking the train via Casablanca, you drive south from Marrakech over the High Atlas, spend a night in the dunes, and continue north over the Middle Atlas to Fes. You see far more of the country, and you don't have to make a separate return trip to the desert.
This takes 3 days at a brisk pace, or 4 days with a day around Merzouga. See Marrakech to Fes in 3 days and Fes to Marrakech in 4 days.
By bus
Morocco's two main long-distance bus companies, CTM and Supratours, both run services to Merzouga. They're comfortable, air-conditioned and cheap, and they're a good choice if you're travelling on a budget or on your own.
- From Fes: there is usually an overnight bus that arrives in Merzouga early in the morning. You can rest, then join a sunset camel trek the same day.
- From Marrakech: buses go via Ouarzazate and Tinghir and take most of the day, or run overnight.
- From other towns: there are connections from Errachidia, Erfoud, Rissani and Ouarzazate.
Timetables change with the seasons, so check them on the companies' websites or at the bus station, and book a day or two ahead in spring, autumn and the holidays. If you're joining one of our treks, tell us your bus and we'll meet you at the stop. The downside of the bus is that you don't stop anywhere on the way: the High Atlas, Aït Benhaddou and the gorges go past the window.
By car
Driving yourself is entirely possible. The roads are paved all the way to Merzouga, well signposted, and quiet once you're past the big cities. A few tips from people who drive them every week:
- Drive in daylight. At night, unlit trucks, bicycles, animals and people on the road make driving tiring and risky.
- The Tizi n'Tichka is slow: allow time for bends, trucks and photo stops. After snow it can close for a few hours in winter.
- Speed limits are enforced, and police checks are common. Keep your licence, passport and rental papers at hand.
- Fill up whenever you can between Midelt or Tinghir and Merzouga. Stations exist, but are further apart.
- Don't drive onto the sand. Rental cars get stuck in seconds. Park at your hotel or our guesthouse and go into the dunes by camel or with a local 4x4 driver.
Combine a self-drive trip with a camel trek and a night at camp: our sunset camel trek starts at our guesthouse in Merzouga, where your car stays safe overnight.
By plane
The nearest airport is Errachidia (Moulay Ali Cherif airport), about 130 kilometres or 2 hours from Merzouga by road, with flights from Casablanca. From Errachidia you can take a taxi, rent a car, or be picked up by us. Ouarzazate airport is further, about 5 hours by road, but has more connections.
Flying saves time if you're very short of it, but you miss the landscapes that make the journey special. Some travelers fly in and drive out, which gives them the best of both.
On a private tour
For most first-time visitors, the simplest option is a private tour: a driver picks you up at your riad in Marrakech or Fes, stops wherever is worth stopping, and the hotel, the camel trek and the night at the camp are all arranged. You don't have to plan the route, navigate the mountains or worry about where to sleep.
With a private tour you also get a local driver who can explain what you're seeing, suggest good places for lunch and adapt the day if the weather changes. On our tours, the camp in the dunes is our own, so the people who greet you in Merzouga are the same people you've been talking to while planning.
Which option is right for you?
| Option | Time from Marrakech | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private tour | 3 to 5 days round trip | First-timers, families, anyone who wants it easy | More expensive than the bus for solo travelers |
| Self-drive | 2 days each way | Confident drivers who want freedom | Long days, mountain roads, no driving on sand |
| Bus | A day or a night each way | Budget and solo travelers | No stops on the way, fixed times |
| Plane to Errachidia | A connection via Casablanca | Very short trips | You miss the Atlas and the gorges |
Whatever you choose, give the desert at least one night. The sunset, the stars and the sunrise are the reason to come, and you need to be in the dunes for all three. If you're not sure which route suits your dates, send us a message: we'll give you an honest answer, even if it's not a tour with us.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to get from Marrakech to Merzouga?
About 9 to 10 hours of driving for 560 km. Most people split it over two days with a night in the Dades valley.
How long does it take to get from Fes to Merzouga?
About 7 to 8 hours for 470 km. You can do it in one day and still arrive for the sunset camel trek.
Is there a bus to Merzouga?
Yes, with CTM and Supratours, including overnight services from Fes and day services from Marrakech. Check current timetables before you travel.
What is the closest airport?
Errachidia, about 2 hours away, with flights from Casablanca. Ouarzazate is about 5 hours away.
Can I visit Merzouga on a day trip from Marrakech?
No. It's too far. Plan at least three days, or visit the smaller dunes near Zagora if you only have two.
