We could smell the tagine cooking from the top of the sand dune, and we were eager to put some food into our cold tummies. We sat cross-legged on the ground, eating tagine, couscous, veggies, and drinking sweet mint tea. “Mom, this isn’t very posh” – JulianWe closed the ‘door’ to our tent in the hopes of keeping warmth inside, but it was absolutely freezing.
Merzouga is a small Moroccan town in the Sahara Desert, it is a gateway to Erg Chebbi, a huge expanse of sand dunes north of town. With our years of experience we learned what are the most lucrative destinations Morocco offers and the best on-site spots to fully enjoy them and take mesmerizing pictures. You should also bring a light scarf to cover your morocco desert camp near Marrakech face and hair. The desert can get very windy, so the scarf will prevent you from getting sand in your mouth and your hair. Bring your sunglasses with you as well to protect your eyes. This way, you can spend the rest of your trip just relaxing and enjoying this beautiful country from places like Marrakesh and Essaouira, both of which are wonderful.



Compost is used to fertilize the garden that is abundant with fruits and vegetables, despite being in the desert. Even the almonds and olives served as snacks are picked from trees on site. They’re a delicious reminder that nature’s gifts are indeed the richest. It’s hard to believe the Agafay Desert is just a one-hour taxi ride away from the bustle of Marrakech’s medina. The moon-like landscape is made of small stones and hills the color of bone and parchment.
The Erg Chebbi’s tallest dune is a 70-minute round-trip walk from the desert camp and a great site to view the sunset. Almost every hotel or hostel in Merzouga offers and organizes their own camel tours in the desert and overnight stays at their own private desert camps. We recommend taking a camel ride in order to get to the Erg Chebbi sand dunes camp.

I had a similar experience in Jaisalmer, India and was lucky enough to be one of two people at the camp. We didn’t even have a tent, though, we each had blankets and a pillow and slept on the sand! A holiday in the desert is not complete without some Saharan adventures and activities. Close to the well-known town of Merzouga and the oasis village of Hassilabied is Erg Chebbi.
All of their tents are modular, which means they can be opened from all sides, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of sleeping outside. In the center of the Agafay desert, the Agafay Desert Luxury Camp provides a soothing natural experience. This is also a trip where a drugstore isn’t going to be just around the corner, especially if you stay in a camp like Desert Luxury Camp. So, come prepared with the essentials like a first aid kit and any medications you may need or want for a little extra security.
Historically, camel trains would leave from the Erg’s for the trans-Saharan trade route. Historical tour with guide of the UNESCO Heritage Site in Ait Ben Haddou. An activity full of fun, illusion, emotion and dexterity. The sand bath is a Berber treatment used since ancient times to relieve rheumatism.

Camping in this Moroccan desert is a really fun experience but it does require a bit of planning. Make sure you have a good tent, a thick floor mattress and a warm sleeping bag. Here is a small list of super fun activities you can do in Merzouga, whether you are a budget traveler like us or whether you prefer to travel a bit more luxuriously. Since Merzouga is the perfect place to do many free activities, I really encourage you to try these first. Regardless of the time of the year you visit Merzouga, always cover your head to avoid getting sunstroke. Merzouga is a calm and quiet town in the Sahara, yet it offers a surprisingly big amount of cool fun activities.
At that time, we switch to the noblest means of transportation of the nomads and a faithful traveling companion, that is, a camel. It’s a way of travel that, although recommendable and immersive usually makes a certain impression. It never hurts to spend a little more specific reading time on each one. In this article, I talk about Erg Chebbi, and this is my partner Rafael’s article about the Erg Chigaga desert. We also describe in more detail how to get there, the landscapes along the way, etc. How sad it is to think that this stunning night sky hovers over the whole world, but we can only see it when we leave all other humans behind.

There is a huge difference in the temperature when the sun is out vs. when it sets. The nighttime is extremely cold while the day time is bearable. The reverse is true in the summer when the nighttime is bearable and the day time is scorching hot.
On your final morning, wake up in the desert (I recommend waking up early enough to catch the sunrise again!), eat breakfast, and get ready to leave the Sahara. You have the option to go into the camp by 4×4 jeep or by camel ($20 per person) and you simply must do the camels! The camp is on the far side of the dunes and takes about 20 minutes by 4×4 jeep or 1.5 hours by camel. I’m glad we did the two nights in the Sahara as part of our 10 days in Morocco, and I would highly recommend you do too. It takes between 8-9 hours to drive from Marrakech or Fes to the Merzouga Sahara camps, so it’s a big commitment to come out here! However, it’s totally worth it, and there are a lot of interesting things to see on the way out to the Sahara that break up the drive.
There were a few people offering 2 day/1 night tours from Marrakech, but that is the only one other than the 3/2 that I remember. Our tour company didn’t have us bring anything except a small bag with a camera/contact case/jacket/water in it for the overnight part of the trip. The water was especially important, because there was no water source at the camp. Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp was such a great surprise during my time in Morocco. I didn’t know what to expect going into the experience, but I loved it!