Merzouga starlit desert camp

Built among the Erg Chebbi dunes on the Hassilabied fringe of Merzouga, this five-star desert camp places guests within walking distance of Morocco's tallest sand sea — dunes that peak above 150 metres and shift colour from gold to deep amber at dusk. Errachidia airport is roughly 55 km northwest; the camp runs an airport shuttle for arrivals crossing the Tafilalt plain.

Tents and rooms carry tea and coffee makers as standard, and room service operates around the clock under a 24-hour check-in policy that suits travellers arriving after long desert crossings. A bar and full restaurant draw on Moroccan tagine and couscous traditions rather than a generic international menu.

Erg Chebbi rewards early risers: camel trekkers leave before sunrise to catch the dune crests in low light, and the camp's remote position — well beyond Merzouga village light pollution — makes it one of the few Saharan addresses where Milky Way photography needs no filter.