Planning your stay
Almost everything in Merzouga sits within a few kilometres of the dunes, but the difference between sleeping in the village, on the dune edge or inside the erg changes your whole stay. Here is how the options really compare.
The village has the shops, the bank, the pharmacy and the bus stop. Hotels here are the cheapest and the easiest to reach late at night, and the dunes are a five to ten minute drive away.
It suits travellers on a budget, anyone arriving on the overnight coach, and anyone who wants to be able to walk to a cafe.
Hassilabied is the small village just north of Merzouga, right against the dunes. Guesthouses here are family-run, quiet and often the best value in the area, and many have a terrace looking straight at Erg Chebbi.
This is where we collect the largest share of our guests, and pickup is always included.
A line of hotels and kasbah-style properties sits directly on the sand at the western edge of the erg. You step out of your room onto the dunes, which is exactly what most people came for, and prices sit above the village.
If you only have one night and want the classic view at sunrise without moving, this is the choice.
Camps sit an hour by camel or twenty minutes by four-wheel drive inside the dunes. Standards run from simple Berber tents with shared bathrooms to luxury camps with private facilities and proper beds.
The night sky is the reason to go. The trade-off is that you are away from the road, so plan your quad ride for the morning you come out or the afternoon you go in.
Frequently asked questions
We collect from any hotel, riad, guesthouse or camp in Merzouga and Hassilabied at no extra charge. For places well outside that area, tell us where you are and we will confirm before you book.
If you have two nights, do one of each. If you only have one, a camp gives you the stars and a dune-edge hotel gives you comfort and an easier morning.
From November to February nights fall close to freezing, and even in spring and autumn the temperature drops sharply after sunset. Camps provide heavy blankets, but bring a warm layer.
Yes. Leave it at your hotel or with us at the meeting point. You ride with nothing but a camera.
Send us your date and group size on WhatsApp. We usually reply within a few minutes.
