Merzouga Sahara Desert

Travel To The Erg Chebbi Dunes in Morocco's Sahara Desert 

Moroccan legend says that the Erg Chebbi  sand dunes were sent by God as a punishment for turning away a weary traveler from Morocco's Sahara desert.  The Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga are indisputably one of the greatest sights of Morocco.

Bird lovers will enjoy looking for desert sparrows, Egyptian nightjars, desert wablers, fulvous babblers, and blue-cheeked bee-eaters. Also, pink flamingos and other water birds are sometimes spotted if the spring brings rain and creates a small lake northwest of Merzouga.

The Erg Chebbi dunes are located forty kilometers from Erfoud, near the town of Merzouga. Historically, getting to the dunes was a hardship on Moroccans and other traders passing through Erg Chebbi, as they followed the Saharan Caravan Route to carry salts, gold, slaves, and spices to Timbuktu. To arrive near the Erg Chebbi dunes, travelers had to pass through some of the flattest and barest areas imaginable.