★★★★★Viator review
A Tourist Dune Field, Not a Sahara Expedition
Bojan_R, October 2026
When I say “desert”, I mean a place where you can travel for kilometers and see nothing around you but sand. That is not the experience you get on these Merzouga tours.
What you are actually taken to is Erg Chebbi, a relatively compact field of sand dunes approximately 28 km long and 5–7 km wide, with dunes rising up to around 150 m above the surrounding terrain.
The whole area is heavily developed for tourism, with numerous camps, roads, tracks and other infrastructure around the dunes. You may ride a camel or take a 4x4 into the dunes, but you are never really far from this tourist infrastructure.
So if you are expecting to travel deep into the Sahara and spend the night surrounded by an endless empty desert, this is not that experience. What you are visiting is essentially the Erg Chebbi dune field near Merzouga.
Driving roughly 1,100 km round trip for this experience is simply not worth it.
The dunes themselves are impressive, but advertising this as a journey deep into the Sahara creates a very different expectation from what you actually experience.
Response from the operator · marrakechtourstrips
Even though you did not book or join our tour, we are still taking the time to respond to your comments and explain our experience professionally. We are under no obligation to defend a service you did not even experience with us, but we believe in transparency and are happy to clarify any misunderstandings about our tours.
We respect your opinion, but it is important to distinguish between personal expectations and the actual experience being offered. We are always open to constructive criticism, provided it is based on facts and a fair understanding of the service.
First, Merzouga and Erg Chebbi are not falsely advertised as the Sahara Desert. Erg Chebbi is one of Morocco’s most famous Saharan dune fields, and its geographical dimensions or the presence of tourism infrastructure do not make it any less part of the Sahara.
Second, the existence of desert camps and access tracks does not mean visitors cannot experience the desert. These facilities make it possible for travelers to explore the dunes safely, enjoy camel rides, watch the sunset and sunrise, and spend the night in a desert camp. The experience is not intended to be a multi-day expedition into completely uninhabited territory.
Regarding the 1,100 km round trip, this journey includes much more than the dunes themselves. Depending on the itinerary, travelers experience the High Atlas Mountains, traditional villages, valleys, historic kasbahs, spectacular landscapes, and the changing scenery of southern Morocco. Judging the entire journey solely by the distance from Marrakech to Merzouga overlooks much of what makes this route worthwhile.
Of course, if your personal expectation was to travel for days across completely empty sand with no roads, camps, or signs of tourism, then a standard Merzouga tour may not be the right product for you. That is a different type of expedition and requires a different itinerary.
However, presenting your personal expectations as proof that the destination is misleading or not worth visiting is a subjective judgment, not an objective fact. Erg Chebbi is a genuine Saharan dune landscape, and thousands of travelers visit it to experience its unique scenery and atmosphere.
We believe in being transparent about our tours, their routes, and the experiences they offer. We also believe that fair criticism should distinguish between what a tour actually promises and what an individual traveler personally expects.
★★★★★Viator review
Amazing experience, but seriously let down by the local operator
Paula_B, October 2026
The experience of discovering this region of Morocco and the Merzouga Desert was extraordinary. Unfortunately, the organisation and service provided by the local operator partnered with Viator fell far short of what we expected.
We travelled as a family, with our daughter, and encountered several issues that we feel we cannot leave unmentioned.
**Communication**
The day before the tour, we still had no confirmation of the pick-up location. Our calls and messages went unanswered, and it was only after contacting Viator ourselves that we finally received a response from the local operator — and the way it was handled was far from professional.
**Transportation**
There were six passengers travelling in a dented van that was clearly in much poorer condition than the other vehicles used by tours we encountered along the way.
On the way out of the desert, some of us were transported in an open-bed vehicle, without any prior warning or consent. This is particularly difficult to understand for an experience advertised as including a “Luxury Camp”.
**No Guide**
For the entire three days, we only had a driver. It was only later that we realised that we apparently belonged to a larger tour, travelling alongside a bigger and better-equipped van which had a guide. The guide was always friendly and helpful whenever we asked him questions, but he never actually accompanied our group.
**Restaurants**
Although lunch was not included in the tour, the operator chose the restaurants where we were expected to eat, usually in locations where there was no alternative. We were actually told by the operator that this was because it was more convenient for them.
I believe that speaks for itself in terms of how much consideration is given to the customer.
These meals cost around 130–140 MAD per person, without drinks, compared with around 50–60 MAD per person, including a drink, when we were given the opportunity to choose a different restaurant ourselves.
**Behaviour of the people responsible for the operator**
On the return journey to Marrakech, a couple got into the van without introducing themselves. It was only during a disagreement about the choice of restaurant that we discovered they were actually responsible for the local operator.
When we questioned why we were being taken to a particular restaurant when there was no alternative — especially since we were paying for our own meals — the couple escalated the situation completely unnecessarily and aggressively. The man even threatened to leave us there, hundreds of kilometres from Marrakech.
Later, the woman apologised to me, but added that we were “not their customers, but Viator’s customers”. We found this comment completely unacceptable and incomprehensible, given that the service was being provided precisely by their company on behalf of Viator.
**Driving**
There were also several moments when the driving made us feel unsafe. We were on holiday with our daughter and expected a relaxed and enjoyable journey, not moments of unnecessary tension and concern about our safety.
We absolutely loved the places we visited, the landscapes and the desert experience itself. It is genuinely a trip worth taking.
However, professionalism, safety, clear communication, respect for customers and appropriate transportation are basic requirements.
It is a real shame that such an extraordinary experience was undermined by so many avoidable shortcomings. I find it unacceptable that an international company such as Viator partners with local operators that do not meet reasonable standards of reliability, professionalism and customer service.
Response from the operator · marrakechtourstrips
We take customer feedback very seriously. However, we would like to clarify that this review does not correspond to any booking or trip operated by our company.
After checking our records, we cannot identify this person or family as having travelled with us, and the details described in this review do not match our operation. We therefore believe this review has been posted about the wrong operator or is not based on an actual experience with our company.
We are always open to genuine feedback from our customers and are happy to investigate any real complaint. However, we cannot accept or take responsibility for claims relating to a trip that we did not operate for the person concerned.
★★★★★Tripadvisor review
Amazing Merzouga Desert Experience with Hicham & Karim
jacopocW8668HF, September 2026
Amazing 3-day tour to the Merzouga desert with Hicham and Karim! Everything was well organized and the quality of the tour was excellent. They were both very kind, helpful and professional.
The desert and the camel ride were absolutely amazing and definitely an experience not to miss in Morocco.
We are very happy with the experience and hope to come back someday. Highly recommended to everyone! 🐪
★★★★★Tripadvisor review
Morocco for the second time
Daydream62910329989, September 2026
After a very positive first experience, I decided to travel to Morocco again with the same agency — and it was a choice that made perfect sense again.
It is very beautiful to see the evolution of the agency from one trip to the next, both in organization and attention to detail and in the concern to provide increasingly special experiences. The work, dedication, and will to continue growing and doing better are noticeable.
Morocco is a destination that had already left a mark on me, but returning through this agency allowed me to experience the country again in a special way, among the souks, the landscapes, the desert, the culture, and above all, the people.
A very special thank you to the entire team for the way you accompanied us and for continuing to make these trips moments to remember. ❤️
When an experience is good enough to make us come back, I think that says everything.
★★★★★Tripadvisor review
Unmissable tour for those going to Morocco
631jeniferf, September 2026
The tour was incredible, Hamid was an excellent guide! The communication was smooth, the agency is very organized, and the experience in the desert tents is unmissable