Planning · Packing
What to pack for a Sahara desert tour from Marrakech
By Rachid — Owner and itinerary editor, Rachid Excursions
The desert plays a trick on first-timers: 40°C at noon, then near-freezing by 3 a.m. Packing for both is the whole game. Here's what we tell every guest before a Merzouga or Chegaga trip.
Clothing — the layer system
- Light, breathable long-sleeve shirts (sun protection + cool evenings)
- One warm fleece or jacket — essential even in summer for the night
- A hat or cap for the day, a beanie for the cold night
- A scarf or Berber cheche (we can provide one) for wind and sand
- Closed comfortable shoes for the camel trek — not flip-flops
- Thermal base layer if travelling December–February
Essentials
- Sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen — the glare off the sand is intense
- Power bank — camps run on generators/solar with limited hours
- Small daypack for your overnight things (leave the big bag in the van)
- Reusable water bottle - confirm current water stops and included drinks in writing
- Any personal medication + basic motion-sickness tablets for the switchbacks
What you do NOT need to bring
The camp provides heavy blankets, beds, dinner, breakfast and mint tea. You don't need a sleeping bag for a standard or luxury camp. You don't need a huge suitcase — you'll only carry a small bag into the dunes. And you don't need cash for the camp itself if your tour is pre-arranged (though carry some MAD for lunches, souvenirs and tips).
Sources and verification
These sources support destination, heritage, climate, health or travel-advice context. Prices and supplier details are confirmed in writing for each booking.
- Morocco destination health guidance
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Health preparation, sun, food, water and medical guidance.
- Morocco historical climate data
World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal
Long-term climate context; local conditions still need a current forecast.
Frequently asked
Tours mentioned above
Merzouga 3 Days — Shared
3 Days · 2 Nights · Normal / Standard / Luxury
A shared 3-day / 2-night desert tour from Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga, from €70 per person (Standard €95, Luxury €120), leaving at 07:30. The price covers transport, a hotel night in Dades and a night in a desert camp, 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners and a 1-hour camel ride; lunches are extra. The route: cross the High Atlas via Tizi n'Tichka to the UNESCO kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou and Kasbah Taourirt, then the Rose Valley and Dades. Day 2 drive to Merzouga for a camel ride at sunset and a Berber desert camp with drumming and dinner. Day 3 sunrise over the dunes, then return to Marrakech — or continue to Fes for +€25.
Chegaga 4-Day Private Trek
4 days · 3 nights · Mhamid loop · Camel-supported walking trek
A four-day private walking trek through the great Erg Chegaga — Morocco's wildest and most remote dune sea, far south of Zagora. Starting from Mhamid, you walk each day with a Berber guide while camels carry the water, food and camp gear. Nights are spent in nomadic bivouacs at Sidi Naji, the Ezzahar dunes and Kriaat Jmal — dinner cooked on the fire, stargazing and traditional music under the sky. A slow, immersive alternative to the classic Merzouga road trip.
Zagora 2 Days — Desert Tour
2 days · 1 night · Ait Ben Haddou · Ouarzazate · Camel ride · Desert camp
A shared 2-day / 1-night desert trip from Marrakech to Zagora for €60 / MAD 600 per person, leaving at 07:30. It includes transport, hotel pickup, a guide at Aït Ben Haddou, a 1-hour camel ride, a night in a Berber camp, dinner and breakfast; lunches are extra. Zagora is not Merzouga: its dunes are smaller than Erg Chebbi, and you trade dune size for one night instead of two. Climb the Tizi n'Tichka pass, spend the morning in UNESCO-listed Aït Ben Haddou with a local guide, visit Kasbah Taourirt in Ouarzazate, then continue south to Zagora for a sunset camel ride and a night in a Berber desert camp under the stars. Wake up to sunrise over the dunes and return to Marrakech via Ouarzazate.