Erg Chebbi
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is Erg Chebbi and how high are the dunes here?
This is a real sea of sand on the western edge of the Sahara, near the border with Algeria. The dunes are driven by the wind, and the highest of them rise up to 150 meters above the surrounding rocky plain. This sandy massif stretches for about 28 km from north to south.
How to get here?
The landmark is the village of Merzouga, the main tourist hub at the foot of the dunes (because of this, the erg itself is often called simply 'the dunes of Merzouga'). The nearest towns are Rissani 40 km away and Erfud 60 km to the north.
When is the best time to come?
From October to April - then the heat lets up and you can enjoy the desert without the risk of being boiled alive. In the summer, the Sahara is here in all its merciless beauty.
What to do here?
The classic is a camel trek with an overnight stay in a tented camp among the dunes, with immersion in the life of Berber nomads. And the locals practice treating rheumatism by burying themselves up to the neck in hot sand - there is a place for those who want to test it for themselves.
What interesting facts should you know?
Nearby, near Rissani, once stood Sijilmasa - a medieval city that from the 8th to the 14th century controlled the trans-Saharan caravan routes. That is, tourists go to the places where trade caravans have been going for centuries.
