Merzouga · Half-day & full-day
4x4 Desert Excursions in Merzouga
Discover the world around the dunes with a local driver: nomad families, Berber villages, Gnawa music in Khamlia, fossils, old mines and the palm oasis of Safsaf.
- Private 4x4 with driver
- Nomads & villages
- Half-day or full day
1 hour to full day
Four options
From R790
Per person
Private 4x4
With local driver
From Merzouga
Pick-up at the camp
The experience
Beyond the dunes
Merzouga is much more than sand. With an experienced local driver in a comfortable 4×4, you discover the life and landscapes around Erg Chebbi – places you cannot reach on foot or by camel.
Visit a nomad family in their tent and share a glass of tea, listen to live Gnawa music in Khamlia, a village founded by descendants of people from sub-Saharan Africa, see ancient fossils and old lead mines, and drive across the black stone desert of the hamada. On the full-day trip to Safsaf Oasis you walk among palm trees and gardens irrigated by traditional channels.
Choose a short dune drive, a half-day tour or a full day – every trip is private.
- Private car and driver
- Flexible routes and stops
- Combine with a night in our camp
Highlights
What you will see
Nomad families
Tea and conversation in a traditional tent.
Gnawa music
Live music in the village of Khamlia.
Safsaf Oasis
Palm groves and gardens in the desert.
Fossils & mines
Ancient fossils and abandoned lead mines.
Dunes & hamada
From golden sand to black stone desert.
Desert lakes
Seasonal lakes with flamingos after rain.
Prices
4x4 excursion prices
Prices per person with a private 4×4 and driver.
| Excursion | Duration | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Dunes by 4×4 | 1 hour | R790 |
| Nomads & Berber villages | 3–4 hours | R890 |
| Full day: nomads & Berber villages | Full day | R1,090 |
| Full day: nomads & Safsaf Oasis | Full day | R1,680 |
Add 4×4 excursions to your camp booking, or contact us for excursions only.
Price & what’s included
What the price includes
Included
- Private 4x4 with driver
- Fuel
- Visits as per programme
- Tea with a nomad family
- Safe parking
Not included
- Lunch on full-day trips
- Entrance fees and music tips
- Tips (optional)
From €40
per person
Prices per person. Ask us for family and group prices.
Pay 15% deposit online – the rest on arrival. Or pay in full (+5% taxes/TVA).
Good to know
Practical information
- Pick-up from our camp or from your hotel in Merzouga
- Morning departures recommended in summer
- Seasonal lakes only appear after rain
- Excursions are added to your camp booking – or contact us for excursions only
What to bring
- Sunglasses, hat and sunscreen
- Comfortable shoes
- Water
- Some cash for music, tips and souvenirs
Suitable for
Everyone – families, older travellers and anyone who prefers comfort to riding.
Book online
Book your 4x4 excursion
Choose your date and start time, select your activity and the number of vehicles or people, then pay a 15% deposit (the rest on the day) or the full amount securely with PayPal or card. Staying at our camp? Add activities to your camp booking on the camp booking form.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can’t find your answer? Message us on WhatsApp at +212 673 555 408 – we usually reply within a few hours.
Yes – you have your own 4×4 and driver.
Lunch is not included, but your driver will stop at a local restaurant.
Yes – many guests do a 4×4 excursion in the morning and the camel trek to the camp in the afternoon.
Yes – contact us and we will arrange it.
4×4 excursion prices in South African rand
4×4 trips cost from R790 per hour in the big dunes, R890 for the nomads & Berber villages tour and R1,090 for a full day. It combines well with a night with a nomad family. Prices in South African rand are approximate – the 15% deposit is charged in euros by PayPal and the rest is paid at the camp.
Travelling to Merzouga from South Africa
Adding desert activities to a trip from South Africa? Here’s what South African visitors should know.
Getting here
Most South African visitors combine activities with a night at camp. Fly one-stop via Doha, Dubai, Istanbul or Addis Ababa to Casablanca or Marrakech.
South African passports
South African passport holders need a visa for Morocco. Apply at the Moroccan Embassy in Pretoria well ahead; if you hold a valid multiple-entry Schengen, UK or US visa, you may qualify for the 30-day eVisa instead. Your passport needs 6 months’ validity.
Prices and payment
Prices in rand are a guide; the 15% deposit is charged in euros by PayPal and the rest is paid in Merzouga. R1 ≈ 0.59 MAD.
Best time of day
Early morning and late afternoon. From May to September, avoid the midday heat.
What to bring
Sunglasses, a scarf or buff against the sand and closed shoes. Bring an adapter for Type M plugs; two-pin Type C plugs fit Moroccan sockets.
Good for every age
The 4×4 trip suits grandparents and young kids, with stops at a nomad camp and Khamlia village.
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Explore the desert in comfort
Nomads, villages, fossils and oases – book your 4×4 excursion today.