Menu
The desert of Ouzina and the Erg of the same name do not enjoy the fame of Merzouga (Erg Chebbi).
Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)
o
Zagora (Erg Chebbi) or Zagora (Erg Chegaga).
but that has its advantages. On this page we tell you about them and give you useful information that you should know if you want to organize an unforgettable trip to the far south of Morocco, where the Sahara embraces us with all its warmth. And we advance you that this is a destination rarely offered by other agencies but that Chic Morocco knows well and has made it a differentiating element of its catalog of services in the desert.
Ouzina is located in the extreme southeast of Morocco, beyond Merzouga, about 70 km from Merzouga. Its location is remote, not only because it is only 20 km away in a straight line from the Algerian border, but also because it is a tiny village that cannot be reached by paved road: to get here you have to use a 4×4 vehicle, along with guides and professionals who know the terrain.
The region to which Ouzina belongs is Draa-Tafilalet and the population living here on a permanent basis is limited to a few dozen families. However, as paradoxical as it may seem, the area is very well endowed in terms of accommodation, in some cases of real luxury.
The Ouzina desert refers, therefore, to the area surrounding this small town, whose interest lies mainly in the presence of the Erg Ouzina dunes, one of the few of its kind in Moroccan territory.
To reach Ouzina, the solution is simple: the 4×4 vehicle. Not even a conventional car will do, since the access to the village is by unpaved road. The distances that separate this locality from other nearby and distant destinations in Morocco are:
If your idea is to get to Ouzina as directly and quickly as possible, you should be aware that the nearest commercial airport is in Ouarzazate. Zagora airport is even closer, but its activity is reduced and it is practically only valid for private and charter flights, as well as for regular flights from Casablanca (although depending on the season, they can make a stopover in Ouarzazate).
Very little is known about the history of Ouzina, given its small size and its remoteness from the main population centers. But undoubtedly, the activity of its few families has always been related to primary and subsistence activities, as well as service to caravan routes of the past, which passed through Merzouga from Timbuktu to Fez.
The life habits of the local Berber population are still very much alive, and this is one of the attractions of a trip to the Ouzina desert. And for this to continue, it is necessary to develop sustainable tourism that respects the local population, as Chic Morocco does.
In any case, in the surroundings of the Ouzina dunes, new campsites and permanent constructions have emerged as charming accommodations, which have helped to revitalize the area in recent decades.
The attraction of the desert of Ouzina is not of monumental or historical-artistic character, because it lacks constructions such as fortresses or medinas. Instead, the interest is experiential: there are some things you can do here that you practically won’t be able to do anywhere else, so you shouldn’t miss the chance to do them:
We do not exaggerate if we say that Ouzina is one of the most humble places in Morocco, where its inhabitants have led and continue to lead a simple life without luxuries. But at the same time, such an environment allows for an experience of true exclusivity: staying in an atmosphere of extreme comfort and enjoying professional, personalized services that meet the highest standards. These are some of them:
In Ouzina:
In Merzouga (near the dunes of Erg Chebbi):
To book these and other premium services, you can contact Chic Morocco: we are one of the few agencies in the country that is established in this small corner of the Moroccan desert. We have been working with reliable suppliers for many years and we can organize any detail related to the trip, in this destination as in any other.
Fill out the form below to receive a free, no-obligation, tailor-made quote from an agency specialized in Morocco.
Travel agency and DMC specialized in private and tailor-made trips to Morocco.
Mandala Tours, S.L, NIF: B51037471
License: C.I.AN-187782-3
