The short answer
Yes. Most camps at Erg Chebbi near Merzouga keep basic sandboards, and you can ride down a dune near camp in the late afternoon or the next morning. Do not expect a resort: there are no lifts, you walk back up in soft sand, and how well the boards run depends on the wind and the sand that day.
In more detail
Our desert guide lists sandboarding among the things to do at Merzouga, with a fair warning: the boards are basic and conditions vary with the wind. Some days the sand is firm and fast; on others it is soft and you barely move. A steep face near camp is usually where it happens.
The real work is the climb. Walking up a big dune in soft sand is slow and tiring, so most people manage a few runs rather than an afternoon of them. Go in the cooler hours, take water, and sit or kneel on the board if standing feels too much. Children usually love it.
If you want time for sandboarding, a second night at camp gives you a free day in the dunes. It is not part of the Agafay, which is a stone desert with no dunes; there the fun is a quad or a camel ride.
Good to know
- Ask your camp if it keeps boards before you arrive.
- Go early morning or late afternoon.
- Wear long trousers and closed shoes, and take water.