Sahara — Merzouga & Erg Chebbi
3-Day Sahara Stargazing Tour to Merzouga from Marrakech
Telescopes, an astronomer and new-moon dark skies on the Erg Chebbi dunes.
- Duration
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Price
- From 175 EUR / 1850 MAD
- Group size
- Private or small group (2–10)
- Difficulty
- Easy to moderate — long drives, gentle camel ride, late nights
Reply within 2 hours · Private or shared · Pay after we confirm your spot
Overview
The Sahara at night is one of the last places on Earth with truly dark skies, and this tour is built around exactly that. Timed to the new moon and paired with a telescope and an astronomy-minded guide, it turns the standard Merzouga loop into a proper stargazing trip — the Milky Way overhead in a resolution most travellers have never seen, planets and star clusters picked out through the eyepiece, and two nights to make the most of it.
The route by day follows the familiar path over the Atlas — Aït Ben Haddou, the Dades Valley, the Todra Gorge — reaching Erg Chebbi in time for a sunset camel trek, exactly as on the classic tours. The difference begins after dark.
At camp, a telescope is set up away from the fire and any residual light, and a guide with a genuine interest in astronomy walks you through the constellations, points out planets when they're up, and helps you pick out the Milky Way's core arching over the dune silhouettes — genuinely one of the best naked-eye skies in the country. Departures are scheduled around the new moon specifically to maximise darkness.
Because the sky is the whole point, the schedule allows for a late night and a slower start the next morning, though sunrise over the dunes is still there for early risers. It suits photographers chasing star trails and Milky Way shots as much as anyone simply wanting to lie back on the sand and look up.
Highlights
- Telescope sessions with an astronomy guide on the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Departures timed to the new moon for the darkest possible skies
- The Milky Way arching over the dunes, visible to the naked eye
- The classic Aït Ben Haddou, Dades and Todra route by day
Your itinerary
This is a 3 days / 2 nights trip. Exact timings and overnight stops flex with the season, road conditions and whether you travel private or shared — here is the shape of the journey:
- Day 1
Marrakech → Dades Valley
Over the Tizi n'Tichka to Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, then the Dades Valley for the first overnight.
- Day 2
Todra Gorge → Merzouga → stargazing
Through the Todra Gorge to Erg Chebbi; sunset camel trek to camp, dinner, then a guided telescope session under new-moon skies.
- Day 3
Sunrise → back to Marrakech
An optional dune sunrise for early risers, breakfast, then the drive back across the Atlas to Marrakech.
What's included & what's not
Included
- Air-conditioned 4x4 or minibus with driver
- 2 nights' accommodation (kasbah hotel + desert camp)
- Sunset camel trek into Erg Chebbi
- Guided telescope stargazing session timed to the new moon
- Dinner and breakfast at the desert camp
- Hotel/riad pickup and drop-off in Marrakech
Not included
- Lunches and some drinks
- Entrance fees and local guides at monuments
- Tips for driver, guide and camp staff
- Camp upgrade to a luxury tent
What to bring
- A small overnight bag
- Very warm layers — clear desert nights are the coldest
- A red-light torch or headlamp (kinder to night vision)
- A camera and tripod if you want star or Milky Way shots
- Cash for lunches, drinks and tips
Who this tour suits
- Astronomy enthusiasts and stargazers
- Night photographers chasing the Milky Way
- Couples wanting a quieter, more contemplative desert night
- Anyone who has done a standard camp night and wants more of the sky
Maybe not for you if: Travellers wanting an early night — the stargazing session runs late, and skies are darkest away from the moon, so dates are fixed around the lunar calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the tour timed to the new moon?
Moonlight, even a bright crescent, washes out the fainter stars and the Milky Way's detail. Scheduling around the new moon window (a few nights either side) gives the darkest possible sky over Erg Chebbi, which is the whole point of a dedicated stargazing trip.
Do I need my own telescope?
No — a telescope and a guide who knows the sky are part of the tour. You don't need any equipment beyond a camera if you want to shoot the stars yourself; the astronomy side is fully guided.
Is the stargazing tour good for photography?
Very — Erg Chebbi's dark skies and dune silhouettes are a favourite subject for night photographers. Bring a tripod and a wide, fast lens if you want to shoot the Milky Way; the guide can suggest good vantage points away from camp lights.
How cold does it get during the stargazing session?
Clear, moonless desert skies mean cold nights, sometimes the coldest of the year for the same date, since cloud cover normally traps some warmth. Dress far warmer than you think you'll need, especially November to February.