When a wealthy local family didn’t offer hospitality to a poor woman and her son, God was offended and buried them under the mounds of sand 50km south of Erfoud called Erg Chebbi.
So goes the legend of the dunes rising majestically above the twin towns of Merzouga. – But the reality is even more unbelievable. Shape-shifting to reach heights of 160m, Erg Chebbi glows a stunning shade of rose gold, until afternoon sunlight tints the dunes orange, pink and purple.