Offering guests Sahara-bound camel rides and unique blends of Berber and Arabian culture, Morocco travelers will find Merzouga to be a slice of arid heaven.
Rising to nearly 500 feet in spots, the Erg Chebbi just outside of Merzouga provides vivid desert treks among the finest in all of Morocco. Dunes composed of gold, red, and orange sand can be explored for hours on foot or by camelback, and are said to encompass what a true desert experience should entail. Guests who want to further enrich the trek can come to Erg Chebbi by way of the black hammada, a barren landscape covered in moon-like rocks.
Just west of town lies the Dayet Srji salt lake, home to an astonishing variety of localized bird species. Birdwatchers here catch glimpses of Egyptian nightjars, Arabian buzzards and impressive falcons as they zoom across the skies.
Travelers looking for a night out will find plenty of places to groove in the Merzouga region, albeit under unfamiliar tunes. Berber and Arabian cultural notes are all found in the nearby village of Khamlia, which has produced the unique music form of gnaoua. Strings, drums and voices combine to form this intriguing genre, and guests can listen and dance to live performances found here.
Intoxicating dunes in Merzouga
Posted on Thursday, Feb. 2nd, 2012
