Things to do in  Morocco Sahara

Merzouga is the door to Erg Chebbi, a sea of towering dunes about 5 miles (8 kilometers away, on the outer edges of the Sahara. With its sand-colored inns, the small town in southern Morocco looks like it might have sprouted organically from the desert. Most visitors stop by en route to adventures and camping trips in the dunes.

The UNESCO-listed Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou (Ksar of Ait Benhaddou) is one of Morocco’s most impressive historic landmarks and a popular film location for Hollywood movies. Sculpted from traditional mud bricks and fortified by walls of dark red pisé, this kasbah lies on the old trans-Saharan trade route, at the border of the High Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert.

The N9 road from Marrakech to Ouarzazate crosses the central High Atlas at the Tizi n’Tichka pass (Col du Tichka. Both that airy mountain crossing and the winding stretch of road around it are regulars on lists of the world’s best road trips. At 7,415 feet (2,260 meters above sea level, the high mountain views are spectacular.

The Erg Chebbi is a majestic sand sea in Morocco’s desert that spans about 17 miles (28 kilometers) and boasts dunes that reach heights of about 525 feet (160 meters). Conveniently near the town of Merzouga, this is the Moroccan Sahara’s most popular desert camping destination.

Stretching atop the Jebel Zerhoun plateau in northern Morocco, the Roman ruins of Volubilis are a striking sight, especially in summer when its abloom with wildflower Some of the best-preserved ruins in Northern Africa, this UNESCO World Heritage site offers a glimpse into ancient Morocco—and makes for a nice day trip from Fez or Meknes.

Few places on earth compare to the Sahara Desert, a natural wonder of sun-baked dunes that dominates the south and east of Morocco. The world’s largest hot desert, the Sahara stretches a staggering 3.6 million square miles (9 million square kilometers) over several countries, with its Moroccan edges some of the most accessible for tourists. The Saharan sands are one of Morocco’s highlights, despite the effort required to see them.

On the edge of the Sahara Desert in Ouarzazate, Atlas Film Studios is not only the center of Morocco’s film industry, but the largest film studio in the world. Founded in the early 1980s, the studios boast an impressive pedigree, having hosted iconic film sets such asGladiator andStar Wars, as well as scenes fromGame of Thrones.

Also known as Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, the little town of Moulay Idriss is Morocco’s spiritual capital and home to the nation’s most important pilgrimage site, the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss. It’s a traditional place, with whitewashed houses rolling over the hills and a relaxed vibe compared to hectic Fez or Marrakech.

Translating from Arabic as Field of Dunes, the rolling landscapes of Erg Chigaga are some of the Moroccan Sahara’s most beautiful. The camps nestled between the dunes feel particularly secluded, making Erg Chigaga a great place to enjoy the space and silence of the desert.

For those seeking an authentic kasbah experience, look no further than Amridil. This 17th-century destination is a well-preserved and expertly restored structure that provides beautiful vistas of the surrounding landscape, including the magnificent Skoura palm groves. It's a rare opportunity to step back in time and immerse oneself in a centuries-old way of life.

As you venture out to the Saharan town of Merzouga, surrounded by vast sandy desert and sweeping dunes, flamingos are probably far from your list of possible wildlife sightings. But in the winter, bird-watchers flock to the seasonal saltwater lake of Dayet Sriji just west of Merzouga to spot pink flamingos and other migratory birds.