Camel trekking
Ride a dromedary across the dunes of Erg Chebbi — the classic way to arrive at a desert camp, timed for the soft light of late afternoon.
Experiences
Gnawa music in Khamlia
Listen to Gnawa music in Khamlia, a village south of Merzouga whose community has kept this hypnotic tradition alive for generations.
Khamlia is a small village a few kilometres south of Merzouga, on the edge of Erg Chebbi. It is known across Morocco for its Gnawa community and their music.
About Gnawa music
Gnawa is a spiritual and musical tradition with roots in sub-Saharan Africa. It is built on repeating rhythms played on large iron castanets called qraqeb, drums, and the guembri, a three-stringed bass lute, with call-and-response singing. In 2019 Gnawa was inscribed on UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Visiting Khamlia
Groups of musicians in Khamlia welcome visitors for performances, usually with mint tea. A contribution is expected — your guide or driver can tell you what is customary. Visits are often combined with a 4x4 excursion around the dunes.
Good to know
Music evenings at desert camps are a different thing: many camps have staff who play drums around the fire after dinner. Package pages say when music is part of the evening.
Experiences
Sunset in the Sahara
Watch the dunes of Erg Chebbi change colour as the sun goes down — the moment most travellers remember long after their trip.
Sunrise in the dunes
Wake before dawn, climb a dune in the half-light and watch the first sun spill across the Sahara before breakfast at camp.
Sandboarding
Slide down the slopes of Erg Chebbi on a board — an easy, fun activity for families and groups, with no previous experience needed.