One of the most fascinating experiences I've ever had was spending the night in the desert and, above all, seeing the amazing sunrise above the dunes and how the sun warmed the sand and its shapes and colors shifted every second. It's also amazing to go and see the sky so full of stars in absolute silence. What else do you need to be happy?
Near Merzouga, you have the Kasbah Les Dunes d'Or, the gateway to the interminable dunes of the Erg Chebbi desert. It's an idyllic place where you can head out to explore the desert, whether by four-wheeler, on food, in a 4x4, or on those most indispensable of desert transports: camel.
There's a paved road which leads to the hotel, which has good rooms, good food, and even a pool. trust me, taking a refreshing dip in the middle of the desert is a true luxury. I should also say that waking up first thing in the morning to scale the "Grand Dune" and seeing the sunrise is a really unique experience. As is seeing the sky light up at night with stars as bright and clear as few other places on Earth.
Arriving in the desert by Jeep was one of the best experiences of my life. We went from seeing fertile land full of crops and flowers to the driest place imaginable, full of sand, dunes, and camels.
