--- title: Sunrise Camel Trek to Erg Chebbi's Highest Dune, Merzouga url: https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/sunrise-camel-trek/ description: Start around 5 a.m. and ride and climb to the top of Erg Chebbi's highest dune for sunrise over the Sahara. Back in Merzouga for breakfast. --- # Sunrise Camel Trek to the Highest Dune An early start and the whole sand sea turning gold below you. - Duration: About 3 hours - Starts: Merzouga - Ends: Merzouga - Best for: Early risers, photographers, active travelers ## In short A three-hour morning trek from Merzouga: about 45 minutes by camel in the dark to the foot of one of Erg Chebbi's highest dunes, a 30-minute climb on foot to the crest, and sunrise with tea at the top before riding back for breakfast. Best for early risers, photographers and anyone reasonably fit. - **Duration:** About 3 hours - **Route:** In and around Merzouga - **Price:** Price on request - **Run by:** Merzouga Online, a local team in Merzouga ## Overview Erg Chebbi's tallest dunes rise around 150 metres above the desert floor, and from the top you can see the whole sand sea and, on a clear morning, the hills on the Algerian border. This trek gets you there for the first light. We start around 5 a.m. (later in winter) by camel, then climb the final ridge on foot, about 30 minutes up the soft sand. Sit on the crest, watch the shadows of the dunes shorten and the colours change, then slide and walk back down to the camels. ## Highlights - The highest dune in Erg Chebbi - Sunrise over the Sahara - A short camel ride in the cool of the morning - Tea at the top - Back for breakfast ## Step by step ### Early pick-up We collect you from your Merzouga hotel in the dark, around 5 a.m. in summer and 6:30 a.m. in winter. ### Camel ride About 45 minutes by camel to the foot of the big dune. ### The climb Walk up the ridge with your guide, about 30 minutes. It's steep and the sand is soft, so go at your own pace. ### Sunrise and return Watch the sun come up, have tea, then head back down and ride to Merzouga for breakfast. ## Included - Camel ride with a guide - Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Merzouga - Tea at the top ## Not included - Breakfast (included at most hotels) - Tips ## Why the morning is special Most visitors see the dunes in the evening. The morning belongs to the few who get up early. When we leave Merzouga it is still dark, the air is cool and the sand is firm and smooth, without a footprint on it. The stars fade slowly as you ride, and the eastern sky starts to glow behind the big dunes. Sunrise in Erg Chebbi is quieter than sunset and, many photographers say, more beautiful. The light comes in low and clean, the shadows are sharp, and the crests look like they were drawn with a knife. From the top of the high dune you watch the light move across the whole sand sea, then down onto the stony plain and the village below. ## The climb to the top The last part is on foot. Your guide leads you up the ridge of the dune, where the sand is firmest, at your own pace. It takes about 30 minutes and it is steep in places: soft sand is hard work, so take small steps, stop when you need to, and put your feet in your guide's footprints. There is no rush; we leave early enough for you to reach the top before the sun appears. At the crest you sit down in the cool sand, catch your breath, and your guide makes tea. Coming down is the fun part: you can run, slide or simply walk down the soft side of the dune in a few minutes, a journey that took half an hour on the way up. - Wear closed shoes or go barefoot: the sand is cool in the morning - Bring a warm layer for the ride; you'll take it off on the climb - A small backpack keeps your hands free for the steep part - If you'd rather not climb, you can watch sunrise from a lower dune ## A gift for photographers If you take photos seriously, this is the trek to do. The first and last half hour of light give you the long shadows and the warm-to-blue colours that make the dunes look three-dimensional. Your guide knows where to stand to catch the sun rising behind a crest, and where the camels make the best silhouettes against the bright sky. Bring a lens cloth and keep your camera in a bag while you ride: fine sand gets everywhere. A wide angle lens shows the scale of the dunes; a short telephoto picks out the patterns and the lines of the crests in the distance. Phones do very well too, especially if you lower the exposure a little for sunrise. ## How fit do you need to be? The camel part is easy for anyone. The climb is what decides whether this trek is right for you. If you can walk up several flights of stairs without stopping, you'll be fine, just slower on the steep bits. Children of about eight and older usually enjoy the challenge, and younger ones can ride on the camel a little further and watch from a lower crest. If you have knee, hip or heart problems, tell us when you book. We can choose a lower dune that still has a beautiful view, or bring you closer by 4x4 so the climb is short. ## Combine it with a night in the dunes You can do this trek from your hotel in Merzouga, or combine it with a night at our camp. Guests on the Sunset Camel Trek & Night in a Berber Camp can ask to climb one of the high dunes near camp at sunrise instead of the small one behind the tents, which makes for an unforgettable morning. After the trek, you are back in Merzouga for breakfast by around 8:30 in summer or 9:30 in winter, with the rest of the day free for a 4x4 tour, a visit to Rissani market or the drive on to the gorges. ## The dunes after sunrise Once the sun is up the desert wakes quickly. On the way back you'll often see the tracks left in the night by foxes, jerboas and the little black beetles that cross the sand at dawn. Nomad children may be out with the goats, and the camels, rested and cool, walk a little faster towards home. This is also the best time to see the shapes of the dunes. The low sun picks out every ripple and crest, and the contrast between the bright faces and the shaded slopes is at its strongest. If you didn't get the photos you wanted at the top, the ride back gives you a second chance. ## Sunrise times through the year In midsummer the sun rises over Erg Chebbi around 6:20, so we leave Merzouga at about 5:00. In December and January it rises around 7:45 and we leave at about 6:30. Spring and autumn fall in between. We always confirm the pick-up time for your date, using the exact sunrise time for Merzouga. Winter mornings are cold, close to freezing before dawn, so dress in layers: a fleece or down jacket for the ride, which you can take off for the climb, and a hat and gloves. In summer a light long-sleeved top is enough, and the cool morning air is a pleasure after the heat of the day before. ## What to expect at the top The crest of a high dune is narrower than you'd think: a sharp edge of sand with a gentle slope on one side and a steep, soft face on the other. Your guide will find a flat spot for you to sit, facing east, and pour tea from a small pot he carries up in his bag. As the sun rises you'll see the colours change on the dunes around you, from grey-blue to pink to bright gold in a few minutes. To the west, the shadow of the dune you are sitting on stretches far across the sand. It's a quiet moment, and most guests simply sit and watch. When you're ready, the run down the soft side of the dune takes only a couple of minutes and is the part children love most. ## Why the camel part matters You could walk to the big dune, but riding in the dark is half the magic. The camels know the way, you can look up at the stars as they fade, and you arrive at the foot of the climb with fresh legs. On the way back, with the sun up and the sand turning gold, the ride feels completely different: a slow, swaying walk through a landscape that seems to have been made overnight. If you'd rather not ride at all, tell us and we'll bring you to the foot of the dune by 4x4 instead. ## What to bring - Warm layers: early mornings are cold - A head torch - Good shoes for the climb - Water ## Good to know - The final climb is steep. You need average fitness. - You can stay on the camels and watch from a lower dune instead. ## Best time to go Any month works in Merzouga. Spring (March to May) and autumn (October and November) are the most comfortable. In summer we start camel rides late in the afternoon and quad rides early in the morning, and in winter the evenings are cold, so bring a warm layer. Use the month guide and live weather on our home page to see what to expect. [Live weather & month guide ](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/#plan) ## Photos Erg Chebbi, late afternoon Resting before the ride Tea, always ## Questions about this tour **How fit do I need to be?** If you can walk uphill for 30 minutes with breaks, you'll be fine. **Can I combine this with a night at camp?** Yes. Guests at our camp can do the climb from camp before breakfast. **Is sunrise better than sunset?** Both are beautiful. Sunrise is quieter and cooler, with sharper shadows on the dunes. **How early is the pick-up?** Around 5:00 in summer and 6:30 in winter, about an hour and a quarter before sunrise. We confirm the exact time for your date. **Which dune do we climb?** One of the high dunes of Erg Chebbi, chosen for the view and the conditions that day. The very highest crests rise about 150 metres above the stony desert. **Is breakfast included?** Tea at the top is included. Breakfast is at your hotel when you get back, or at our camp if you combine the trek with a night in the dunes. **Can children do the sunrise trek?** Yes, from about eight years old for the full climb. Younger children can ride a little further and watch from a lower dune with a parent. **Can we do the sunrise trek and the sunset ride on the same day?** Yes, and many guests do: sunrise in the morning, a rest through the day, and the sunset ride or a 4x4 tour in the afternoon. **What if it's cloudy?** Clouds are rare in Merzouga, and a few clouds often make the sunrise more colourful. If the sky is fully overcast, we'll tell you the evening before and you can choose another morning. [More answers on our FAQ page ](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/faq/) ## Ready when you are Send us your dates and how many you are. We reply with availability and one clear price, usually within a few hours. **Price on request** One clear quote, usually within hours ## Book or ask a question Your request comes to us by email. We reply with availability and a clear price. Prefer to chat? [Ask about this tour on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/212679216663) ## You might also like About 2 hours ### [Sunset Camel Ride in Erg Chebbi](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/sunset-camel-ride/) **Price on request** One clear quote, usually within hours 1 night (about 16 hours) ### [Sunset Camel Trek & Night in a Berber Camp](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/sunset-camel-trek-desert-camp/) **Price on request** One clear quote, usually within hours 2 days, 1 night (or longer) ### [Private Photography Tour of Erg Chebbi](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/private-photography-tour/) **Price on request** One clear quote, usually within hours [All desert experiences ](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/merzouga-desert-experiences/)