Sandboarding on the dunes near Merzouga works much like snowboarding, minus the cold: a board strapped to your feet or held flat beneath you, and a run down one of the steeper dune faces close to the desert camps. Because the terrain is soft, falls are generally harmless, which makes it approachable for first-timers.
A short practice run and basic instruction are usually enough to get started, and most camps or guides can point out which nearby dune has the best conditions on a given day — generally the higher, looser sand rather than compacted areas.
Sandboarding is typically added as a short activity during a desert camp stay, either in the late afternoon before dinner or the following morning, rather than booked as a separate excursion.