When people picture the Sahara Desert, they’re usually imagining something a lot like Erg Chebbi: towering dunes, red-orange sand, and silence broken only by the wind. Then there’s the thrill of carving through it all on two wheels or behind the wheel of a buggy!
At Motor Adventures, we’ve been riding through this region for years, and we never get bored of it. If you’re looking to book a Sahara Desert motorbike or buggy tour in Morocco, Erg Chebbi is a place you need to know about. It’s not just one of the most impressive dune systems in the country, it’s also one of the most accessible, making it a regular highlight of our tours that pass through Merzouga, the gateway to the desert.
Scroll down to find out more about visiting Morocco’s Erg Chebbi dunes! And if you think of any questions along the way, please just contact us for the answers you need.
What Makes Erg Chebbi So Special?
Rising up to 150 metres near Morocco’s border with Algeria, the Erg Chebbi dunes stretch for nearly 30 kilometres north to south and around seven kilometres east to west. The flowing shapes, shifting colours, and sheer scale of the landscape are hard to believe until you’re there in person. This is where the Sahara truly feels alive, and what makes exploring the best of Morocco by motorbike and buggy so rewarding.
Unlike other parts of the desert where the terrain is mostly flat or rocky, Erg Chebbi gives you that classic wave-like dune experience, with dramatic, jaw-dropping light at sunrise and sunset, endless photo opportunities, and the challenge of soft sand riding for those who want to test their skills.
Whether you’re on a bike or in a buggy, visiting Morocco’s Erg Chebbi sand dunes is an absolute must for enduro riders with a sense of adventure.
Best Way to Explore the Erg Chebbi Dunes: Bike and Buggy Tours with Motor Adventures!
Seeing the dunes is one thing, experiencing them is quite another. At Motor Adventures, some of our multi-day Morocco desert tours include overnight stops in or near Merzouga. This means you have the opportunity to conquer the mighty ‘cathedral dunes’, including the highest in the entire area. The view from the top is simply breathtaking.
Ready for the challenge? These off-road tours include time at Erg Chebbi:
- The High Peaks & Desert Morocco Motorcycle Tour (5 days riding) gives you a compact hit of desert riding with an overnight stop in Merzouga between days three and four.
- The Morocco Desert Quest (6 days riding) includes rides at three different ergs: Chebbi, Chigaga, and Ouzina. Of the three, Chebbi is home to Morocco’s highest dune.
- The Sahara Experience in Morocco (8 days riding) is our signature experience and includes a thrilling Erg Chebbi visit right in the middle of the itinerary.
These trips are designed for riders and drivers who want to disconnect and revel in total freedom. You’ll be picking your line through the sand, watching the horizon shift as the day goes on, and resting up in desert auberges with authentic local cuisine at the end of it all.
And with cultural experiences to complement the adrenaline-pumping adventures, we offer a complete Morocco experience unlike any other!
Erg Chebbi vs Erg Chigaga: What’s the Difference?
If you’ve discovered Erg Chebbi during your trip planning research, there’s a good chance you’ve found out about Erg Chigaga, too. So, it’s only natural to wonder if you should visit Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga.
The short answer: Erg Chebbi is better for most riders.
Erg Chigaga is also beautiful and challenging, but it’s more remote and harder to reach. This means it’s a lot harder to include in a circular Sahara tour. Of course, we have still made it a stop on some of our excursions, like the Morocco Desert Quest mentioned above, which allows you to visit both stunning ergs along with Erg Ouzina!
It’s all about finding the right fit for you. For most of our guests, Erg Chebbi hits the perfect balance of size, beauty, and access. That’s why it appears in more of our Morocco desert tours than Erg Chigaga!
Cultural Moments Around Merzouga and Erg Chebbi
A big part of any Motor Adventures tour is the chance to experience real Morocco; not just the landscapes, but the people and places that make it such a special place. Around Merzouga, you’ll find Berber villages, traditional Saharan auberges, and the rhythm of life that moves slower out here in the desert. Expect warm welcomes, simple comforts, and plenty of mint tea.
In the evenings, it’s not unusual to hear the hypnotic sounds of Gnawa music, or to sit around a fire with fellow riders watching the stars flood the night sky. During the day, you may see nomadic herders pass by or encounter a camel caravan, and you will have opportunities to pick up handmade local crafts that you won’t find anywhere else.
It’s this mix of adventure and cultural immersion that makes our Sahara tours different. Looking for even more travel inspiration? Read our reasons why you must take a tour of Morocco’s Sahara Desert!
When to Visit Erg Chebbi
Let’s keep it simple: avoid summer! That’s what we do. As explained in our blog When’s the Best Time to Visit the Sahara Desert in Morocco?, we don’t run tours here in June, July, or August. It’s simply too hot, uncomfortable, and potentially dangerous.
The best time to ride the dunes is from September to May, when we run all our Morocco tours. In these months, the temperatures are rideable, the skies are usually clear, and the sand isn’t scorching by mid-morning.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): An ideal mix of warm days and cool nights
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Cold nights and excellent, crisp riding conditions in the day
- Spring (Mar–May): Bright skies, warming air, and a hint of wildflowers in the valleys
What to Expect from Riding at Erg Chebbi
As you approach the dunes, the terrain shifts. There’s hard-packed sand and stone, gravelly corners, dry riverbeds, and, eventually, soft sand as you near Merzouga. The final stretches toward Erg Chebbi are fast and flowing, with panoramic views and the sense that the world is about to open up.
Riding in the sand can be a challenge, but that’s what makes it fun. You don’t need to be an expert rider to take on Erg Chebbi, but the more experience you have, the more you will enjoy your time here. What’s more, our tours are supported by experienced guides and 4×4 backup, and we allow individuals in our groups to ride at a level they feel comfortable with.
If you’re up for it, riding near Erg Chebbi is as good as it gets.
Discover Erg Chebbi on Our Morocco Motorcycle Tours
Visiting Morocco’s Erg Chebbi sand dunes isn’t something you tick off a list. It’s something you ride, feel, and remember. The vastness, silence, and challenge of the sand, not to mention the people you meet along the way, will stay with you forever.
Are you ready to throw yourself into this experience of a lifetime? Browse our range of Morocco motorbike and buggy tours to find the perfect fit for your needs.
Do you have any pre-booking questions for the Motor Adventures team? Please just get in touch! We’re here to help however we can.
