Erg Chebbi Quad Bike Tour

This quad bike tour is for travellers in Merzouga who want an hour or two of adrenaline on the dunes. No previous experience is needed: our guide rides ahead of you, picks lines that match your confidence and stops often for photos.

Riding the dunes of Erg Chebbi

We meet you at our quad base in Merzouga or pick you up from your accommodation in the village. You get a helmet, goggles and a scarf against the sand, and a short briefing on throttle, brakes and how to handle soft sand and slopes. Our bikes are automatic, so you only need to steer, accelerate and brake. After a few practice laps on flat ground, we head out into the dunes.

The one-hour ride takes you along the western edge of Erg Chebbi, over rolling smaller dunes and up to a viewpoint where the high dunes stretch out in front of you. Your guide adjusts the route to the group: gentle and wide for beginners, steeper and faster for confident riders. We always stay away from camel routes and camps, out of respect for the quiet of the desert.

Longer rides

With two hours, we can ride further around the dunes to a Berber tea stop and the dark volcanic plateau on the edge of the sand. The three-hour option reaches the area near Khamlia and the old lead-mining sites at Mifis, and it can be timed for sunset.

Safety and who can ride

Drivers need to be at least 16. Younger children can ride as passengers with a parent on a two-seater quad, or on smaller bikes on flat ground only. We keep groups small, ride at a pace that suits the slowest person and carry water on every ride. In summer we run quads early in the morning or after 17:00, because midday temperatures often pass 40°C.

Combine it with a night in the dunes

Many guests ride quads in the afternoon and then head straight into the desert for a night. Our sunset camel trek and overnight desert camp starts from the same base, so it is easy to do both in one day. Wear closed shoes and long trousers, and leave valuables in your room or with us.