Marrakesh Travel Forum

Where is the nearest decent area to Marrakesh to see the desert where there is large sand dunes and not just a barren landscape? Please advise approximate travel time also if you know. Thanks!

Hi, well it depends what you want to make do with - the best dunes and largest dunes in Morocco are at the Sahara around Merzouga - Erg Chebbi - which is about 10 hours drive away from Marrakech - but they are accessible from the road with ordinary car - and there are hotels in the desert there and some right up close to the dunes.
I have tips in my Rissani, Merzouga and Morocco pages for some info and contacts re visits there.

The other option is going via Zagora which is about 5 hours from Marrakech - there is a big dune all by itself on the side of the road called Tinfou - which is in one of my tips in my Zagora page - about 15 mins south of Zagora. but then to get to the desert/sahara is about another hour and a half from Zagora down to Mhamid - there are some deserty areas that tourists get taken close to Mhamid to visit and stay overnight and do camel trips - and can drive there if get directions in normal car but nowhere near as majestic and magical as the Merzouga area - but to get to the big dunes called Erg Chigaga of the sahara in that region it is 45 km by 4x4 only - which takes another hour or so from Mhamid - and even then those dunes are only half the size of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga. I have contacts at my Riad Malal tips and other tips in my Zagora page if you want to be taken on a trip into the desert of that area including overnight
the drive down to Zagora and to Mhamid is scenic and the area is interesting though.

Erg Chegaga and Erg Chebbi are the two closest desert to Marrakesh, Chigaga is about 90km rough road from Zagora; and Erg chebbi can be reashed by a rented car , the roads are in good shape,,,,

I would recommend doing the trip to Erg Chebbi, as it's one of the amazing desert in Morocco, Erg chegaga is kind of a larg Desert with small dunes.

Thanks!!!! I was planning a trip to see Ait Benhaddou from Marrakesh and am contemplating whether to go further and make it a two or three day side tour or just a day trip. Sounds like to see anything significant as far as "dunes" for desert that would be farther than what you can do in one day, right?

Thanks! I was planning a side trip to Ait Benhaddou from Marrakech and was just curious how much further it would take to see desert "dunes" like we think of here as the desert from that point. Sounds like it would be a two day plus trip to do that, right?

Yes it youre wanting to go to Ait Benhaddou then yes its worth going on further to the desert - I would definitely choose Merzouga as the desert to see and spend some time in plus do the road up to Dades Gorge and back along the way - and around Kelaa Mgouna valley of the roses roads with kasbahs if youve got time - youre definitely best doing with your own car or car and driver - and best done as a 3 day circuit which is a popular one - especially if you want to stay a night in the desert which is also worth it.

It is a great place to explore, that's all I can say...have fun...