Visit The Nomads, Gnawa Music, Rally In Dunes, Berber Pizza

A wonderful experience—driving through the dunes is highly recommended. The team was super friendly, and the trip was very well organized, with a delicious lunch included. Ahmed shared great knowledge, expertly guided us through the dunes, and showed us the most amazing views and places. We had a really great time! We highly recommend it.

When I came to Merzouga I was looking for a desert tour which was not only aesthetic but also involved learning about Amazigh/Berber culture directly from a local. I also wanted a tour which was locally run. I was so happy when I found this tour- as it checked all the boxes. To start with we met with Ahmed at a local restaurant as our meeting point. We introduced ourselves and we were given some water. Then we left in a 4x4 with Ahmed and Hamid and started off with off roading on the sand dunes- bumpy fun! We visited the desert nomads and we learned a lot about the Amazigh/Berber language, how it is written, how the nomadic children are taught, how they cook, their wedding traditions etc. I had not realised how much the summers getting hotter has been affecting the nomads way of life- there have been big changes in recent years due to the hotter summers making the desert more arid. It was really fascinating and we had some interesting cultural things in common (between native Irish and Amazigh). We then had tea at the camp. My only regret is that I did not bring a little bag of sweets for the children- they were very cute and shy ! After that we went to get some great photos under the Acacia tree. Hamid took photos of us- he is an excellent photographer, with an artistic eye for the best lighting conditions! Then we went searching for fossils in a volcanic part of the desert! And we found so many of them, and one or two crystals also. Then we went to the local Gnawa music and watched a performance. Usually I am not one for dancing but it was actually really easy to get involved, the men show you how to do the dance and the whole room is involved in a dance circle- everyone was shy at first but then laughing and enjoying it at the end! Lastly we went and had a nice meal at a restaurant, all included before being brought back to the meet up point. The price of this tour was very competitive- I really don't think you can find one that is cheaper but of the same quality. It is all inclusive, there are no hidden charges. Ahmeds English is fluent and you can ask him anything- he is Amazigh and so knows about the culture. We also loved his philosophy of life and he seems like a really genuine person, with a good sense of humour too. I would 100% recommend this tour. In the 4 hours you yet so much done but it is not rushed, you learn about the culture, with two laid back and friendly guides. (32 yo F Irish)