Merzouga 4x4 Day Around Erg Chebbi: Nomads, Khamlia, Mfis and Dayet Srji
Tour at a glance
- Duration
- Full day
- Start
- Merzouga (pick-up at your hotel or riad)
- End
- Merzouga
- Group size
- 1 to 12 travellers
- Languages
- English, French, Arabic, Tamazight
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Best time
- October–April; nights are cold from December to February.
- Vehicle
- Air-conditioned 4x4, minivan or minibus by group size
About the Merzouga 4x4 desert day
Most visitors see Erg Chebbi only from a camel. This full-day 4x4 tour shows you everything around it: the people who live in the desert, the old mining villages near the Algerian border and the strange landscapes south of the dunes.
You drink tea with a nomad family in their tent and see how they live with their goats and camels. In Khamlia you listen to Gnawa musicians, then continue to Mfis, an old mining village where abandoned buildings still stand in the sand. In wet years the seasonal lake of Dayet Srji fills up and flamingos arrive.
Lunch is in a family house in Khamlia or a small café in the desert. The vehicle is yours for the day, so you can stop wherever you like for photos.
Highlights
- Tea with a nomad family in their tent
- Gnawa music in the village of Khamlia
- Abandoned mining village of Mfis
- Dayet Srji seasonal lake (flamingos in wet years)
- Fossil beds and black stone desert
- Private Toyota Land Cruiser with driver-guide
Route map of the Merzouga 4x4 desert day
- 1Merzouga
- 2Dayet Srji
- 3Nomad camp
- 4Khamlia
- 5Mfis
- ↩Back to Merzouga
The golden dunes of Erg Chebbi: camel treks at sunset, nights under the stars and Berber music by the fire. All tours in Merzouga
Itinerary for the day
-
09:00 Leave Merzouga
Drive north along the dunes to Dayet Srji. After rain the lake fills and attracts flamingos and other birds.
-
10:30 Nomad family
Tea, bread baked in the sand and a chat (translated by your guide) with a family who still moves with the seasons.
-
12:00 Khamlia
Gnawa music session and lunch in a village house.
-
14:00 Mfis and the fossil desert
Walk around the abandoned mining village, then look for fossils in the black stone desert.
-
16:30 Sunset point
Finish on a dune for the last light, then back to your hotel.
Times and driving durations are approximate and can be adapted. It is a private tour, so you can change stops with your driver-guide.
Prices for the Merzouga 4x4 desert day
Your private tour, with prices per group size. All prices are in euros and include everything listed under “What’s included”.
| Travellers | Total | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | €190 | €190 |
| 2 | €190 | €95 |
| 3 | €190 | €63 |
| 4 | €190 | €48 |
| 6 | €190 | €32 |
| 8 | €190 | €24 |
The more you are, the less you pay per person. Children count as travellers when they need a bed.
What's included
Included
- Private 4x4 with driver-guide for the day
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Merzouga
- Tea with a nomad family
- Gnawa music session
- Bottled water
Not included
- Lunch
- Tips for the musicians and the family
Good to know before you go
What to bring
Comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.
A warm layer: nights in the desert and the mountains are cold, even in spring.
Best time for this tour
October–April; nights are cold from December to February.
The tour runs every day of the year. Start dates are flexible.
Payment & cancellation
Pay online with PayPal or a debit or credit card. Free cancellation with full refund up to 48 hours before the start.
Read the full policyFrequently asked questions
How much does the merzouga 4x4 desert day cost?
For 2 travellers the private day trip costs €95 per person (€190 in total), and for 4 travellers €48 per person. The price is for your own vehicle and driver, so it goes down as your group grows.
Is this suitable for children?
Yes, it is one of the best family days in the desert. The drives are short and there is a lot to see.
When is Dayet Srji full of water?
Usually after the autumn and winter rains, but some years it stays dry. Flamingos are not guaranteed.
Can we visit Rissani too?
Yes, add the Rissani market in the morning (market days are Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday). Write it in the notes.
How many people fit in the 4x4?
Up to 6 travellers per vehicle; larger groups get a second car at the same daily rate per vehicle.
How do I pay and when is my booking confirmed?
You pay online with PayPal or a debit or credit card through PayPal’s secure checkout, and you receive a receipt by email. If online payment is not available, you can send a booking request instead: we confirm it and send you a secure payment link. After booking, and Youssef or our team contacts you on WhatsApp to arrange the pick-up. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure.
Are your tours private or shared?
All our tours are private: only you and your travel companions, with your own vehicle and driver-guide.
Can you build a custom itinerary?
Yes. Tell us your dates, interests and budget, and a local travel designer will plan a tailor-made route across Morocco with clear, all-inclusive prices.
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