Morocco
Desert journeys
The ergs of southern Morocco, at Merzouga or Chegaga, and the Lahbab dunes at the edge of Dubai.
Two dune fields account for most desert trips in Morocco: Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga, and Erg Chegaga, south of Zagora. The first is the more accessible; the second needs a four-wheel drive.
From Marrakesh, the road to Merzouga crosses the Tizi n'Tichka pass, goes by Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate, then the Todra gorges. The distance is what makes the drive more interesting than the arrival.
In Dubai the desert is forty minutes from the centre: the Lahbab dunes and the Al Marmoom reserve allow a 4x4 outing and dinner under canvas without leaving the city for more than an evening.
In both cases the nights are cool for much of the year and cold in winter, including after a hot day.
Where
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time for the Moroccan desert?
October to April. In summer, daytime temperatures in the south regularly pass 45 °C.
Merzouga or Chegaga?
Merzouga is easier to reach and the dunes of Erg Chebbi are the highest. Chegaga is more remote and reached by four-wheel drive, which keeps the numbers down.
Quad bike or camel?
Both, and not at the same time of day: the quad in the middle of the day on the tracks around the erg, the camel caravan in late afternoon to reach the camp at sunset.