Why start a tour in Errachidia
Tours from Errachidia exist for one reason above all others: this is the closest town of any size to the Erg Chebbi dunes. Merzouga is roughly two hours south. From Marrakech the same dunes are nine hours away, and from Fes around eight. If the Sahara is what you came for, starting here removes two long driving days from your trip.
Errachidia itself is a calm administrative town on the Ziz river, not a tourist destination, and most visitors pass through rather than linger. What is worth seeing lies just outside it: the Ziz gorges to the north, and the Ziz valley to the south, where a continuous belt of date palms runs for kilometres between bare red cliffs. The viewpoint above the valley is one of the great roadside stops in Morocco.
What leaves from here
- Two days to Merzouga. South down the Ziz valley, a camel trek into the dunes at sunset, a night in a desert camp, and back the following day. The shortest genuine Sahara trip available anywhere in Morocco.
- Three days with the gorges. The same dunes plus Todra and Dades, the two great canyons of the south, which is the route to choose if you want landscape as well as sand.
- A day in the Ziz valley. The gorges, the palm belt, the viewpoint and the ksars along the old caravan road, for anyone with a single day to spare.
All of these are private tours with your own driver-guide. Our Morocco tours page has the routes that start from other cities.
When to come
This is the desert, and the seasons are pronounced. October to April is comfortable: warm days, cold nights, clear skies and the best light on the dunes. March, April, October and November are the sweet spot.
Summer is severe. July and August regularly exceed 45°C, camel treks are pushed to first and last light, and camps are only bearable after sunset. Winter nights fall close to zero in the open desert; camps provide blankets and fires, but a proper warm layer is not optional.
Sandstorms are possible in spring, and are usually a matter of a few hours rather than a lost day.
Getting here
Moulay Ali Cherif Airport (ERH) sits just outside town with domestic flights from Casablanca, and it is by far the fastest way to reach the dunes from anywhere in Morocco. By road, Errachidia is about four hours from Fes and five from Ouarzazate. We collect from the airport, from hotels in town, and from Rissani and Erfoud further south.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Errachidia from Merzouga?
About 130 kilometres, roughly two hours by road through Erfoud and Rissani. It is the shortest approach to the Erg Chebbi dunes from any town with an airport, which is the main reason to start a desert tour here.
Is one night in the desert enough?
From Errachidia, yes. A two-day trip gives you a sunset camel trek, a night in a camp and sunrise over the dunes, which is the part everyone remembers. Add a third day only if you want the Todra and Dades gorges as well.
What is the Ziz valley?
A belt of date palms running for kilometres along the Ziz river between red cliffs, south of Errachidia. It is one of the largest continuous palm groves in Morocco and the viewpoint above it is a standard stop on the way to Merzouga.
Are the desert camps comfortable?
They range from basic to genuinely luxurious. Standard camps give you a private tent, shared bathrooms, dinner and music around a fire. Luxury camps have proper beds, en-suite bathrooms with hot water and flushing toilets, and solar lighting. We confirm which category you are booked into in writing.
Can I fly into Errachidia and start a tour the same day?
Yes. Flights from Casablanca arrive in the morning, and the drive to Merzouga takes about two hours, which leaves time for a sunset camel trek on your first day. We meet arrivals at the airport.
