The Sahara Desert is located 561 km from Marrakech via N12 and 552 km via N10. Via N12 takes around 9 hours and about 10 hours via N10 from Marrakech.
Today I got a question from a friend asking how far is the Sahara desert from Marrakech. I decided to answer this question in a very short post and make a new tag “questions and answers“, maybe there are other people who have the same question.
Table of Contents
Marrakech is roughly 561 km from Merzouga, via the valley of Dades (N9 and N10) and 552 km through the valley of the Draa (via N9 and N12). The sand dunes are located near the town of Merzouga, this location is well known as Erg Chebbi.
The route from Marrakech to Erg Chebbi through the valley of the Dades (via N9 and N10)
From Marrakech, the closest sand dunes are located approximately 520 km, from Erg Chegaga. Erg Chegaga dunes are one of the highest dunes in Africa and lie about 60 km off-road from M’hamid.
Between Zagora and M’hamed (in N9) lies as well a number of small sand dunes.
How far is Marrakech from the Erg Chigaga desert?
Erg Chigaga is considered the largest and the wildest desert in Morocco. It is a sea of dunes of about 35km by 15km. Erg Chigaga desert is located about 520km from Marrakech (10 hours driving). The trip from Marrakech takes you to Ouarzazate, the Draa valley, Zagora, and then M’hamed El Ghizlan. From M’hamed, a 4×4 vehicle is necessary to cross a 60km off road.
How Far is Marrakech From the Erg Chebbi Desert?
Erg Chebbi dunes are considered to be an easy access desert in Morocco as it can be reached with a regular car. Erg Chebbi is 561 km via N9 and N12 routes (10 hours driving) and 552 km via N9 and N10 routes (9 hours driving). The N9 is the name given to the route between Marrakech and Ourzazate. N12 is the route between Ouarzazate and Zagora. And the N10 is the route that passes through the Valley of roses to Merzouga.
How Far is Marrakech From Erg Lihoudi dunes?
Erg Lihoudi dunes are 20km off-road from the village of Tagounite. This area has several dunes surrounded by mountains. Tagounite is about 419km away from Marrakech via N9. So the total destination, how far are the Erg Lihoudi dunes from Marrakech, is 439km (7 hours driving).
Activities to do in the Sahara desert
Even if it’s in the middle of the desert, there are many comfortable activities and things to do. There are many luxury desert camps where you can spend a night in a luxury tent with a bed and shower. People who have never had a desert experience may think that the desert is just another empty place where you can only walk when it’s not that hot. But this is not the case. Many companies have invested in the desert tourist sector and done development that meets the needs of their customers. There are even Europeans who have built their own guesthouses and integrated them into the Moroccan desert.
If you are traveling to the Sahara desert, I highly recommend the following activities:
- Spend a night in a desert camp
- Camel trekking
- Sit by the campfire
- Surf the sand
- Ride a quad
- Off-road driving test
Conclusion: How Far is the Sahara Desert from Marrakech
The Sahara Desert is 561 km far from Marrakech via the N12 (via Draa Valley) and 552 km via the N10 (Via Dades Valley). If you have any questions or comments about how far the sand dunes are from Marrakech or where you can camp safely in the Sahara desert, please email us
Join countless satisfied travelers who have experienced Morocco with us. We customize every detail to make your Moroccan adventure uniquely yours. Explore the Magic of Morocco with us!
