Erfoud
Erfoud is the last town before the dunes on most routes. It's where people stop for fossils — the black marble here is full of them — and for dates straight from the palm groves.
What stands out
Why this place stays with people
- Fossil and marble workshops
- Date sellers and palm groves
- Autumn date festival
- Last proper stop before Merzouga
Best time to go
Autumn through spring. October brings the date harvest.
From the driver's seat
Worth an hour on the way to the dunes. I'll tell you which workshops are worth your time and which are just a sales pitch.
Visitor guide
Your guide to Erfoud
How long to stay
About an hour.
Getting there
About 60 km from Merzouga, on the way in.
Worth seeing
- Fossil and marble workshops
- The date market
- The view from Borj Est
Good to know
- The date festival is in October, after the harvest.
- If you buy fossils, buy from a workshop that shows you how they're cut and polished.
Routes through here
Ways to make it part of the trip
3 Days · 2 Nights3-Day Merzouga Desert Tour from Marrakech
Three Days to the Dunes$390–$530 per person · accommodation included
3 Days · 2 Nights3-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour via Merzouga
The High Atlas Crossing$420–$580 per person · accommodation included
10 Days · 9 Nights10-Day Morocco Tour: Tangier to Marrakech
North to South$1550–$2100 per person · accommodation includedErfoud, your way
Tell me when you're coming
Send your dates and who's travelling, and I'll suggest the best way to fit it into your trip.