Desert Experiences
A night in the Sahara, camel caravans at sunset, a camp between the dunes, dinner cooked over the fire.
- Nights
- 1 to 4
- From
- Marrakech or Fes
- Dunes
- Erg Chebbi · Erg Chigaga
- Best season
- Sep, May
Five Ways to Sleep in the Sahara
Each of these runs as a private trip with your own guide. Tap a card to see what the night actually involves.
Camel Trekking
Ride out when the dunes are cool and the light is best.
- Short rides of 1–2 hours near the camp
- Bedouin guide leads the caravan
- Longer half-day treks available
Desert Camps
Tents with real beds, hot showers and dinner by the fire.
- Shared comfort or fully private camp
- Dinner, water and a guide included
- Premium en-suite tents available
Sandboarding
Climb a dune and ride it down. Boards and a guide are provided.
- No experience needed
- Best in the cooler morning hours
- Combine with a camel ride
Stargazing
The night sky does the work out here. Guides explain what you are seeing.
- Clearest from September to May
- New-moon nights are darkest
- Bring a warm layer for after dark
Nomadic Encounters
Share mint tea and stories with families who still travel and herd here.
- Tea with families near Merzouga
- Music around the campfire
- Khamlia's Gnawa musicians nearby
Desert Routes
Two classic ways in, each with different scenery on the drive.
- Marrakech over the Tizi n'Tichka
- Fes through the Ziz Valley
- Four-day loops between both ergs
Every desert trip is private and can be folded into a longer tailor-made itinerary.
One Night, or Four
How long you need
A single night under the dunes suits most travellers. If you have the time, a four-day loop with 4x4 days between Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga shows you two very different deserts.
- One night, the classic Sahara stop
- Two nights, time to slow down
- Four days, both ergs and the valleys between
Getting there
Most trips leave from Marrakech over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, or from Fes through the Ziz Valley. The drive is long but the scenery changes with every valley.
- Marrakech to Merzouga is 2 days of driving
- Fes to Merzouga is shorter, about 1 day
- Overnight stops are built into the route
What the camp includes
Shared tents come with beds and hot showers; premium camps add en-suite bathrooms and private terraces. Dinner, drinking water and a guide are part of every camp we book.
- Beds and bedding in all tents
- Hot showers at standard camps
- En-suite tents at premium camps
What is included
Camel ride, camp, meals and transfers are handled for you. Permits, luggage and safety are covered, so the only thing you need to pack is a warm layer for the evening.
- Transfers from your riad
- Meals at camp
- Guide and permits
Practical Details
The questions that come up most when we plan a night in the desert.
September to May is the comfortable window. Mid-summer days in the Sahara regularly pass 40°C, so most travellers avoid June to August. Winter nights from December to February can drop close to freezing; camps provide heavy blankets, but you will want a warm jacket for the evening.
Yes. Shorter camel rides and standard camps work well for families, and the meals are simple enough for most children. Tell us the ages when you book so we can plan a ride length that suits them rather than a long trek.
No. The ride itself is passive and the guide walks alongside. What does take some effort is walking up the dunes on foot; the sand shifts under you, which is tiring but never technical. Sandboarding is more active but still gentle enough for beginners.
A warm layer for the evening, a head torch, sunscreen, and something to cover your head. Bring a scarf for the sand on windy days. A power bank is useful because charging points are limited at shared camps.
Yes, and most people do. The desert usually sits in the middle of a longer loop that takes in the Atlas passes, the Dades and Todra gorges, and the imperial cities on either side. We build the desert night into that route rather than treating it as a separate trip.
The Sahara, in Pictures
Begin Your Adventure
Book Your Desert Night
Tell us where you want to go, when, and at what pace, we'll craft a tailor-made itinerary with private transport, hand-picked riads and local guides.