If you want to fulfill your expectations of what a true desert should be, you’re at the right place! 53km southeast of Erfoud the small Sahara Oasis of Merzouga, much damaged by floods in 2006, is famous for its location at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes. These giant and photogenic sand hills lining the Algerian border may not be as imposing nor as extensive as some in north Africa but come closer than anywhere else in the country to fulfill anyone's expectations of supremely satisfying sensation of existing in the midst of something that is absolute. These dunes that rise up out of the stony, sandy desert, extend for more than 30km and reach a maximum height of 250m. At sunrise or dusk, the half-light gives the sand a fascinating range of colors.