Trip overview
A quad each, behind a local guide, over the dunes and black-stone hamada along the edge of Erg Chebbi. Pick-up in Merzouga or Hassilabied. 45 € per person.
- Duration1 day
- Starts inMerzouga
- GroupPrivate · 1–10 people
- DifficultyModerate
- LanguageEspañol
- DeparturesEvery day
Highlights
- A quad for each person, no sharing the handlebars
- A local guide in front setting the line and the speed
- Practice on flat ground before going into the sand
- A route along the edge of Erg Chebbi and the dark-stone hamada
- Passing areas with nomad tents, always at a distance
- Helmet and fuel included in the 45 €
- Longer routes towards Khamlia or Dayet Srji, quoted separately
- Can be requested as an extra on desert tours that stay overnight in Merzouga
- Seats
- One person per quad
- Level
- Moderate, more physical than the buggy
- Pick-up
- Merzouga and Hassilabied
- Includes
- Guide in front, helmet and fuel
When to go quad biking
Longer routes and private guide
The 45 € ride follows the edge of Erg Chebbi and the nearby hamada. If you want more distance, the guide can carry on south to Khamlia, home to Gnawa families, or towards Dayet Srji, the seasonal lake that holds water in some years and is dry in others. We also arrange rides with a guide just for your group. All of that is quoted separately: send us the number of riders, your arrival date and where you're staying in Merzouga, and we'll send you the price.
For anyone who doesn't want to drive, the two-seater buggy lets you ride as a passenger.
Desert tours where you can add the quad
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Pick-up in Merzouga or Hassilabied
We collect you from your accommodation at the agreed time and drive to where the quads are parked, next to the sand. If you're in a group, it's best for everyone to set off together, because the line forms behind the guide and nobody goes off on their own. Leave your big backpack at the hotel: anything you carry has to be well secured.
Day 1: Helmet, controls and practice on flat ground
Everyone gets a helmet and a quad. The guide shows you the brake, the throttle and the riding position for going up and down, and explains his hand signals. Then we do a few laps on a flat stretch until everyone starts and stops with confidence. If someone doesn't feel sure yet, they stay a bit longer practising before we head into the dunes.
Day 1: The edge of the erg and the dark-stone hamada
The route heads out through the sandy corridors along the edge of Erg Chebbi and crosses stretches of hamada where the ground turns black. We ride in single file, keeping a few metres from the quad in front. There are stops to drink water and take photos; if we pass near the tents of a nomad family, the guide slows down and we move away.
Day 1: One last dune and back to your accommodation
Before heading back we climb a medium-sized dune to see the erg from above, walking the last few metres if the sand is very soft. Back at the base you leave your helmet and the driver takes you to your hotel or camp. In the afternoon the return usually coincides with the low light, when the dunes take on the most colour.
What's included
Included (5)
- Single-rider quad with fuel
- Helmet
- Local guide on his own quad for the whole ride
- Instructions and practice on flat ground
- Pick-up and return to your accommodation in Merzouga or Hassilabied
Not included (6)
- Transport to Merzouga from other cities
- Goggles and a turban for the sand
- Food and drinks
- Routes to Khamlia, Dayet Srji or other areas (quoted separately)
- Tips
- Travel insurance
Important information (6)
- How long the 45 € ride lasts and the minimum riding age are confirmed in writing at the time of booking.
- Each quad carries one person. Anyone who'd rather not drive can ride as passenger in the two-seater buggy.
- Your arms and back do a fair bit of work; if you have an injury, let us know beforehand.
- Dayet Srji only has water in some years, after the rains. Don't count on seeing it full.
- Nobody rides after drinking alcohol, and the guide can end the ride if someone puts the group at risk.
- Leave several metres to the quad in front: you swallow less sand and won't run into it on a descent.
Prices per person
Quad ride in Erg Chebbi
Quad for one rider, local guide in front, helmet and fuel; we pick you up where you're staying
Price per person
Payment and cancellation
You pay a 15% deposit when you book. The rest is paid on the first day of the trip, in cash or by bank transfer. You can also pay it by PayPal or card, with a 5% surcharge.
Private: free up to 48 hours before the start. If you cancel in time, we refund the full deposit.
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Leave a reviewFrequently asked questions
Can I take someone on the back of the quad?
The 45 € ride is one quad per person, and that's how we run it. If two of you want to go together, one driving and one alongside, the two-seater buggy is what works, at 80 € per person.
What's the difference between the quad and the buggy?
On a quad you ride alone, with no roof or seatbelt, and your body works on every dune: it's more physical and feels like a motorbike. In a buggy you sit strapped in with someone beside you, and it climbs the big dunes better. The quad costs 45 € and the buggy 80 €, both per person.
Do I need to know how to ride a motorbike?
No. Most people get on a quad for the first time in Merzouga. That's what the practice on flat ground is for, and the guide adjusts the route to the slowest rider in the group. If you already ride a motorbike, you'll be comfortable from the start.
Can we ride as far as Khamlia or the lake?
Yes, but not on the 45 € ride, which follows the edge of the erg. Routes to Khamlia or Dayet Srji are longer and we quote them separately. Bear in mind the lake only has water in some years, after the rains.
And if the day turns out very hot or windy?
In summer we go out early or from mid-afternoon, never at midday. When the wind picks up sand, we move the time or the day; visibility in the desert drops very quickly and we'd rather not take the risk.
