Sahara Desert

Exploring the wild plains and rolling dunes of the vast Sahara Desert is a highlight of many trips to Morocco and few places on earth can compare to the natural wonder. The world’s largest desert, stretching a staggering 9,000,000 sq km over several countries, the Saharan sands dominate the south and east of Morocco, hemmed in by the Atlas mountain range.  
From trekking across the dunes on a camel, following ancient Sahara trade routes, to sleeping out under the stars in a traditional Bedouin encampment, then rising at the break of dawn to watch the sun rise over the desert plains; visiting the Sahara desert will likely check a few things off your bucket list. Multi-day tours from Marrakech are the most popular way to experience the desert and most trips pass through the gateway town of Merzouga, before continuing on to the dunes of Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga. 
With seemingly endless swathes of untamed terrain, there are also ample opportunities to get off-the-beaten-track and enjoy longer treks through the Sahara, but don’t be tempted to go it alone – the scalding hot climate, ferocious sand storms and vast uninhabited plains mean tackling the desert is a task best entrusted to seasoned guides.