Merzouga

October to April is the best period. Pleasant days (20-25°C), cool nights (5-12°C, bring a fleece). From May to September it's hell: 45°C minimum, burning sand, possible sandstorms in summer. Also avoid December-January if you don't tolerate cold nights: it can freeze at the bivouac. Ideal month is March: still cool in the morning, mild by day, perfectly clear sky.

One night minimum in the desert (bivouac by camel or 4x4). Two nights are better: the first night you arrive tired, you don't really enjoy. With two nights you have a full day in the dunes: sunrise, nap, walk, stargazing. Three nights if you also want to visit nearby villages (Khamlia, Hassi Labied, Dayet Srji lake). In a classic 3-day circuit from Marrakech: 1 night in Ouarzazate, 1 night in the desert, return.

Erg Chebbi at sunrise: the great moment. Get up an hour before to climb the dune closest to the bivouac. The light shifts from pink to orange in 30 minutes. Berber bivouac: night under a kaïdal tent with rugs, mattresses and a heavy blanket. Heating depends on the comfort level chosen. Khamlia: village of Gnawa inhabitants descended from sub-Saharan slaves. Traditional Gnawa music concerts, free (tip appreciated). Dayet Srji lake: 4 km north of Merzouga, hosts pink flamingos between January and May. Often dry in summer. Fossil mines: the region is rich in Devonian ammonites and trilobites. Workshop visits at nearby Erfoud.

Bivouac in the dunes: three comfort levels. Basic bivouac (shared tent, mattress, basic sanitation): 250-400 dirhams/person. Standard bivouac (private tent, bed, cold shower): 600-900 dirhams. Luxury bivouac (kaïdal tent, double bed, bathroom): 1500-3000 dirhams. Camel: 1h30 outbound, 1h30 return. Uncomfortable at first, the swaying leaves your back wrecked. Alternative: 4x4 to the bivouac (fast, but less authentic). Sandboarding: dune descent on a board. 50 dirhams rental, 30 minutes of fun. Evening at the bivouac: campfire, Berber dinner, music with drums and chants. Magical.

Berber tagine: cooked in the sand, goat or chicken meat, desert vegetables. Madfouna: 'Berber pizza', flatbread stuffed with onions, minced meat and herbs, cooked under ashes. Regional specialty. Mint tea at the bivouac: prepared on embers, served from high to foam. Essential ritual. Saharawi khlea: cured and confit meat in fat, drier than that of Fez. Mejhoul dates: the Tafilalet region (which includes Merzouga) is Morocco's date capital. Harvest from October to December, buy locally.

Tangier Med - Merzouga: 1,050 km, 11 to 12 hours on the road, not to be done in a day. Classic itinerary: Tangier Med → Fez (330 km, 3h30 by motorway) → night in Fez → Fez-Merzouga (470 km, 8h via Errachidia, scenic route). Shorter: Marrakech-Merzouga (550 km, 9h), it's the option chosen by 80% of our clients when combining desert + south. Three transport options: rental car, private 4x4 with driver (recommended for comfort and safety crossing the Atlas), or minibus in organized circuit. No train, no airport nearby (the closest is Errachidia, 130 km away).

Desert clothing: light t-shirt and long pants during the day (sand burns, UV intense), fleece or down jacket in the evening (day/night difference up to 25°C). Traditional cheche for the head, buy locally (50-100 dirhams). Footwear: closed sneakers in the dunes (no sandals: very hot sand). Water: plan for 3-4 liters per person per day. The bivouac provides, but often for a fee. Dust and photos: leave sensitive equipment at the fixed bivouac, sand is everywhere. Note that batteries discharge quickly with temperature variations. Phone: Maroc Telecom network only, intermittent. No wifi. Take the opportunity to disconnect. Money: no ATM in Merzouga. Fill up at Erfoud or Rissani beforehand.