I can second that, very welcoming, great food and they can help you to arrange what you want. We went in December

erg chebbi
 

admanz, we were at erg chebbi about a week ago (now at chefchouen), merzouga is an easy drive with a surfaced road all the way. When you arrive at the town, drive through an arch across the road and into the area with a few cafes and shops to your left. Here you will be approached by touts, you can ignore them and drive straight on, the road at that point turns into a piste but it is easy to drive, after a few hundred meters there are signs for camping on the left hand side, the one we stayed at was called little prince and was very nice,then follow the track toward the campsites, just to the right of the camping is a parking area, you can wild camp there if you like. The dunes are right there ! We walked into the dunes and climbed the large dune you can see from the car park, not an easy task ! But the view from the top is fantastic. We also visited Mhamid and took a 4x4 to the dunes at erg chagaga, this was a full days outing as the large dunes are about 40k from the town,but it was a great day out.We were camped on a small site called camping la'boussole and the owner Kalifa, arranged the excursion...
Marty

Thanks for the Merzouga suggestions, but mileage will have to be limited so visiting both is not really an option. (First trip we take with our son, he also has to enjoy it) and I really have my sights set on the Erg Chegaga, mainly since it is a bit more remote than the Erg Chebbi at Merzouga.

Hi all,

Old thread, but I thought people might be interested in an update. I took the piste from M'Hamid to Foum Zguid as shown on the map below 4 weeks ago. Only one other car during the day / 145 km. Some parts with really deep sand, so slow going and with tires deflated to 60%. Many alternative tracks to choose from, but a reliable track on a GPS makes navigation easy. If you're looking for a campsite near M'Hamid, try the one just outside the village. No hassle and a magnificent view of the desert, sunset and camel caravans. No hot water/shower or electricity though.
If anyone wants the GPS track, send me a PM.

Click here for a short video impression.



http://www.geehurkmans.com/erg.jpg

Safe travels,

Gee

Hello,
How is the trail from M'Hamid to Erg Chegaga? Is it sand? I'd like to go there but I'll be on motorbike on my own and no experience of sand...

The soft sand begins just west of Mhamid and it'll be hard work on a heavy bike.

Much better to take the fast piste heading NW out of Tagounite as shown on the map above. After a few km it swings S through a small pass and then SW. This bit is bumpy! Follow for a few km until you cross the main piste near the Oasis Sacré. You can then head directly for Erg Chegaga dodging the soft sandy bits.

Let me know if you want co-ords.

Happy trails,

Peter

Thanks Peter,
It looks better, I saw the trail on Google Earth and Basecamp.
You think this is possible with an AfricaTwin 1000 loaded??

Frédéric

Hi Frédéric,

Yes, should be fine. There are several pistes to choose after the Oasis Sacré and then the ground is pretty firm all the way to the Erg.

We'll be there about 12 April.

Have a great trip,

Peter

Thanks,
Seems fine, I'll try anyway!
I should be there around 27 to 30 March...
And do you know how is the rest of this piste from Erg Chegaga to Foum-Zguid?

West from the Erg the piste is soft sand all the way to Lac Iriki. With a big bike, you’ll need to hack back to the main piste near Oasis Sacré and then head W to the Lac near the Titanic auberge. Call in to see Mustapha and the guys. It’s a cool place to hang out for a coca. Across the lake is hard surface as long as it’s dry. You can pick up speed but watch out for the odd rough bit. If wet, take the very rocky track to the north; it’s hard going! This piste and the lake post converge before the final corrugated run into FZ.

Peter

Thanks Peter for all the details!
I hope I'll be able to cross from Tagounite to Foum-Zguid


Frédéric

We did the piste through the pass to the junction with the Mhamid - FZ piste, and I must say I was surprised how sandy it got towards the junction at MS7KM111 – deep sandy ruts and scrub to dodge to either side.
Fun swerving around in a fourbie but I remember thinking I wouldn't fancy tackling that on a bike. Perhaps we went a bit wrong somewhere, or just a wide oued. Or perhaps I've gone soft.
Once on the main northern piste (MS7), an AT ought to eat up the notorious corrugations (unlike a car).

Looks like the sandy bit at MS77 km54, I followed that SW down to the dunes last October. Not a bad option in a 4x4

The track SW from Mhamid along the river is a quite pleasant (unless like my companion last year you drive through a Moroccans fence and then get into a heated argument about paying for it) bit sandy if you stay in the river

HI Peter
On second thought, I'd like to have your co-ords, I'll compare with the ones I picked on Basecamp with OSM map!!
Thanks

Frédéric