Merzouga, Morocco

Merzouga is where the road runs out and the Sahara begins. Towering apricot-coloured dunes rise straight from the edge of this small village, and most visitors come for a night in the desert: a camel ride as the heat fades, dinner by a fire, drumming beneath a sky crowded with stars, and an early start to see first light spill across the sand.

Mobile coverage in Merzouga

Merzouga is a small, remote village, but it is not cut off. Maroc Telecom, Orange and inwi all reach the area, and in the village itself and at many of the hotels and guesthouses lining the edge of the dunes you can usually get a mobile signal, often with 4G, though it may be slower and less steady than in the big cities. It is enough for messages, maps and checking in with home before you head into the sand.

Out in the dunes, the picture changes quickly. Signal becomes weak, intermittent or absent as you move deeper into the sand sea, and many desert camps sit in hollows between the dunes where reception is limited. Some camps offer Wi-Fi, but it can be slow and is not something to rely on. Where signal does reach, the top of a dune is often your best chance. If the network a plan uses matters to you, each plan's page shows which network it uses.

Getting around Merzouga

Reaching Merzouga is part of the adventure. By road from Marrakech or Fes the journey takes most of a day, and many tours split it over two days with an overnight stop on the way, crossing mountain passes and long stretches of empty desert road. The nearest airport is Errachidia (ERH), still a drive of a few hours away, while Ouarzazate (OZZ) is further still. Long-distance coaches, private drivers and organised tours are the usual ways in, and the nearby towns of Rissani and Erfoud are handy staging posts.

On the long drive in, signal is generally available around towns and larger villages but comes and goes in between, with some lengthy gaps across remote country. Download your route, music and anything else you want for the journey before you set off. Once you arrive, getting around is by 4x4, on foot or on a camel, and your connection depends almost entirely on how far into the dunes you go.

Where you'll use data most in Merzouga

The great dunes of Erg Chebbi are the reason everyone comes, rising high above the flat stony desert around them. The classic experience is a camel trek out to a desert camp in the late afternoon, timed to watch the sun go down from the crest of a dune, followed by a night under the stars and a walk back at dawn. These are the moments everyone wants to share, but you will often be out of range, so take your photos and videos and upload them later from the village or your hotel.

Around the edge of the dunes, there is plenty more to explore. The village of Khamlia is known for its traditional Gnawa music, and 4x4 tours loop through the surrounding desert to oases, palm groves and nomad encampments, with signal varying widely along the way. In Rissani, the busy market town nearby, coverage is generally reliable and it is a good chance to catch up on messages. Sandboarding on the dunes and quad bike rides are popular too, ideally with your phone zipped away.

Tips for staying connected in Merzouga

• Install your eSIM before you travel and switch it on when you land in Morocco, so it is ready long before the drive into the desert.
• Download offline maps and plenty of entertainment for the journey, as there are long stretches of road with little or no signal.
• Fine sand gets everywhere, so keep your phone in a sealed bag or zipped pocket on camel treks and dune excursions.
• Desert camps may have limited charging, so bring a fully charged power bank for your night in the dunes.
• Don't assume your UK roaming will be covered: the European allowance on most UK plans stops short of Morocco, and worldwide roaming rates are usually higher. Check your network's charges before relying on it.
• Let your camp or guide know how to reach you, and keep Morocco's emergency numbers saved: 19 (police) and 15 (ambulance and fire).

Start with our Morocco eSIM page, or plan the rest of your route with eSIM for Marrakech, eSIM for Fes and eSIM for the Atlas Mountains.