Things to do in the Merzouga desert
Knowing the Sahara means more than looking at its dunes: it means crossing it, hearing its silence and meeting the people who live in it.
Nature, adventure and local culture
We have put together a set of experiences that combine nature, adventure and local culture, always at the pace of the desert.
From a camel ride at sunset to a 4x4 route through little-known places, an adventure across the dunes or a night under the stars: every traveller can choose their own way of living the Sahara.
Included in your stay
At no extra cost, for every guest.
Sunset camel ride
We head out to the dunes as the light softens and stop to watch the sun go down before riding on to the camp.
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Sandboarding on the dunes
Pick your slope and slide down the sand. Boards are free for guests throughout their stay.
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Sunrise over the dunes
Step out of your tent, walk a few minutes and watch the quietest moment of the day. Nothing to book.
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Berber nights under the stars
Traditional music by the fire after dinner, and a sky with no light pollution a few steps from camp.
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Activities we arrange separately
These are not part of the tent rate. Let us know when you book or when you arrive and we will have it ready.
Discovering the Sahara by 4x4
Three to four hours through an oasis, old fossil mines, nomad families and Khamlia, the village of gnawa music.
See the route →
Quad biking on the dunes
A guided route adapted to your level, whether it is your first time or you want something livelier.
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Buggy across the desert
The option for riding together in one vehicle: adventure and freedom, following an experienced guide.
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Experiences we arrange in advance
These need to be requested when you book, because they involve letting someone else know or setting the camp up differently.
Yoga in the desert
At dawn on the sand or at sunset from a dune. The camp also works as the base for a retreat.
See desert yoga →
Berber cooking class
Learn to make medfouna, the Berber pizza, at a family home in Khamlia. Booking ahead required.
See the cooking class →
Sahara honeymoon
A double tent, a private dinner in the dunes and two nights away from the other camps. What is included and what it costs.
See the honeymoon →
Proposals and celebrations
A private dinner on the sand, the tent decorated and Berber music, for anniversaries, proposals and birthdays.
See celebrations →-
New Year’s Eve in the desert
See out the year among the dunes, with a fire and Berber music, and watch the first sunrise from a dune.
See New Year’s Eve →
What is included and what costs extra
Worth knowing before you book, because camps do not all include the same things, and that is exactly where price comparisons mislead.
Inside the tent rate: the sunset camel ride, sandboarding with the camp’s boards, the evening of Berber music around the fire, and the 4x4 transfer both ways. They are not charged separately and they do not appear when you arrive.
Booked separately: the quad, the buggy, the 4x4 excursion around the area and the cooking class in Khamlia. These carry a real cost in fuel, a guide or letting another family know, and we would rather charge them on their own than raise the rate for everybody for something not everybody does.
Tell us what you fancy when you book and we will give you a firm price before you travel. Never on arrival.
Meeting the local culture
Getting to know a place also means getting to know its people. Tassili is run by Berber families from this region, with a deep connection to the land and its traditions.
Through these experiences we want to share not only the landscapes of the Sahara but also its hospitality, its customs and a way of life closely tied to the desert. The most memorable part of a trip rarely comes from the places alone, but from the people you meet along the way.
When each thing happens
The desert organises the day around light and heat, not around the clock. The good hours are the first and the last, and the middle of the day is spent in the shade.
Early morning: sunrise from a nearby dune, sandboarding, and the quad or buggy outings, which are no fun at midday. Mid-morning: the 4x4 excursion, three to four hours with plenty of stops.
Late afternoon: the camel ride, which leaves with enough time to reach the dunes before the sun drops and comes back in the dark. Then dinner, and the music by the fire. And when that dies down, the stars, which in this area look like something you do not quite believe until you are underneath them.
One night covers the sunset, dinner, the fire and the sunrise. Two nights give you room for everything else without rushing, which is why we recommend it.
Build your own Sahara
Every traveller pictures the desert differently. You can combine activities and shape the stay around how you travel:
- Adventure on the dunesQuad biking, buggies and sandboarding, for anyone who wants adrenaline and sand everywhere.
- Culture and landscapeA 4x4 trip to the oasis, the fossil mines, the nomad families and the Gnawa village of Khamlia.
- Quiet and disconnectionSunsets from the top of a dune, sunrises with nobody around, and nights of stars with not one light in sight.
- Special occasionsHoneymoons, anniversaries and proposals. Tell us in advance and we set it up.
Questions about the experiences
Which activities are included in the price?
The sunset camel ride, sandboarding, Berber music by the fire and the 4x4 transfer both ways. They are part of the tent rate, whichever tent you book.
Which ones are paid separately?
The quad, the buggy, the 4x4 excursion around the area and the Berber cooking class in Khamlia. Write to us with your dates and numbers and we will give you a firm price before you arrive.
Do activities need booking in advance?
The included ones do not: they are simply there. The paid ones are best mentioned when you book, and the cooking class has to be, because the family in Khamlia needs warning.
What if I do not want to ride a camel?
That is fine. We take you out to the dunes by 4x4 and you see the sunset just the same. Nobody has to get on anything they do not want to.
Do the activities work with children?
Sandboarding and the camel ride are what they remember most, and the 4x4 excursion works very well as a family because it keeps stopping. Younger children always ride with an adult and at walking pace.
Can everything be done in a single night?
No, and it does not need to be. One night covers the sunset camel ride, dinner, the music and the sunrise. The quad, the buggy and the 4x4 excursion need two.
What happens if the weather is bad?
If the wind is strong and going out to the dunes is not possible, we rearrange the plan inside the camp and head out as soon as it drops. It is uncommon, particularly outside spring.
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Tell us what you would like to do and we will have it ready when you arrive.
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Keep reading
- Sunset camel ride through the Merzouga dunes The reason most people come to the desert in the first place. It is included in your stay, at no extra cost.
- Starry nights in the Sahara No light pollution, and away from the camps with floodlights. The Milky Way is visible to the naked eye.
- Quad biking around the Merzouga dunes A guided route that covers in one morning what would take a full day on foot. Booked separately.