The Legend of Merzouga

Merzouga

A small village near the desert, Merzouga owes its reputation to the high dunes of Erg Chebbi which extends to its edge. High place of adventure tourism in Morocco, the dunes of Merzouga are a popular destination for travelers seeking a complete immersion in the heart of a desert environment as impressive as breathtaking.

Located in the south-east of Morocco 50 km from Erfoud, the arrival in the village of Merzouga offers a nice surprise. After crossing beautiful landscapes, you are faced with an unforgettable panorama: the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Depending on the time of your arrival, they will be draped in a yellow or ocher color that will evolve throughout the day.

Since time immemorial, the elders of the region tell the legend of Merzouga and the formation of Erg Chebbi. There she is :

A long time ago, the rich families of the village of Merzouga lived in opulence and behaved amorally. They washed their hands with milk and played with food. One day at a village party, they refused to offer hospitality to a poor woman and her son.

Enraged by behavior, God himself unleashed his anger on these depraved families by unleashing violent sandstorms. This divine chastisement was of such force and ferocity that the village of Merzouga disappeared under high sand dunes. This is how the dunes complex of Erg Chebbi was born.