Going on the Sahara desert trip to ride camels and sleep under the stars in a luxury tent in the Sahara Desert is an amazing experience that is on everyone’s bucket list. many travelers visit Morocco with a specific intention to visit the Sahara desert and spend a night or two under the magical stars.
Running along Morocco’s eastern border with Algeria, the Moroccan Sahara is the largest hot desert in the whole world, covering about 4800km of the continent of Africa. On our blog, we will cover the best 10 things you should know before going on a Sahara desert trip.
1- How Many Days You Should Spend On Your Sahara Desert Tour?
Well, if you are on a limited budget or time, in this case, the best option will be to spend one night in the desert in a three days desert tour from Marrakech or Fes. Otherwise, the ideal option that we recommend will be to spend just two nights in the Sahara Desert.
With two nights, you will be able to explore most of the desert at a relaxed pace and fully immerse yourself in the nomadic tradition and the tribes’ lifestyle. Spend your days enjoy sand-boarding, camel trekking, climb the dunes, and visit the nomad in their local house and have a cup of tea with them. Enjoy an incredible entertainment evening of music and dance to Berber drumming under the shiny stars, and sleep in a luxury tent at the foot of the dunes. You can spend two nights in the desert in one of our Private Marrakech desert tours either to the famous Erg Chebbi Dunes or the wild Erg Chigaga Dunes in the remote Sahara Desert in Merzouga.
2- Erg Chegaga Dunes Or Erg Chebbi Merzouga?
Morocco is home to four main desert dunes, namely, Erg Chebbi Dunes, Erg Lihoudi Dunes, Zagora Dunes, and Erg Chigaga, the two main dunes that most travelers visit the most are Erg Chebbi Dunes and Erg Chegaga. The most famous and touristic destination is the Erg Chebbi Dunes as it is easily accessible with a 20 min camel ride into the main desert camps and well-equipped with modern hotels and luxury desert camps as well.
On the other hand, the Erg Chigaga Dunes offer more exciting adventures and are ideal for those who wish to visit the wild Great Sahara desert. Located 64 km from the nearest paved road, there is a 2h off-road drive in 4×4 through the Sahara Desert to get to these massive dunes.
3- You Can’t Do A Sahara Desert Tour In One Day Trip.
The distance from Marrakesh to Merzouga desert, the gate of the desert, is about 580km and from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga Dunes is 260km. Driving through the Atlas Mountains you won’t reach the Sahara desert in a one-driving day trip from Marrakech city.
To go on a Marrakech desert tour to the Sahara Desert, you will need at least 3 days. Here is our 3 Days Private Desert Tour Start And Ends In Marrakech Via Merzouga and 3 Days Sahara Desert Tour From Marrakech To Fes Via Merzouga. For the traveler with very limited time, who wishes to ride camels, enjot the sunset view and sleep in a nomad desert tent, you can go for 2 Days Private Tour From Marrakech To Zagora Desert, which is a perfect option.
4- What Do I Need To Prepare For My Sahra Desert Trip?
If you are willing to do the Sahara desert tour, there are some desert trip essentials stuff that you need to have in your packing list These are the following:
- Appropriate shoes for hiking in the gorges and the mountains, for the desert you can go barefooted if you want to.
- A warm jacket to keep you warm in the cooler nights and mornings of the desert, so you can catch the sunrise and the sunset.
- Sunglasses and headscarves to protect your eyes from the strong sun in the regions of the south and the dust and sun of the Sahara desert.
- Comfortable pants to make sure you can ride a camel and climb the dunes freely.
- Enough medications that can cover an extra day or two. As you know, pharmacies are far from the desert.
- A flashlight to use at night at your campsite.
5- Get Ready For Long Hours Drives.
As the Moroccan desert runs along the border with Algeria, you should be aware that you are traveling from the center of the country to the eastern side of the desert. You will drive for about 7 hours to get there. most of the drive hours are spent ascending and descending the Atlas Mountains where the road is quite difficult.
There will be many stops along the way for taking photos, visits, breaks, and toilets. In the Atas Mountains and the Dades Gorges, the views are quite beautiful and breathtaking, so keep your camera ready to snap some shots, as you will stop at some stunning panoramic viewpoints.
6- What Can You Do In The Sahara Desert?
Even though most travelers visit the Sahara Desert just to experience the ride camels and sleep in nomad tents, but you will be surprised at how many activities and entertainments are waiting for you when you go on a Sahara Desert trip. Other than riding camels as your means of transportation to explore the magnificent Sahara Desert, ATV Quad-biking can be a good choice for mechanic sports enthusiasts. This is a great way to dive deep into the dunes of the Sahara desert.
The regions of the south are rich in fossils as there are plenty of areas such as Rissani and Erika Lake that are quite famous for fossils enthusiasts in the region. also visiting Khamlia and listen to Gnawa music. Although Gnawa is more famous in Essaouira, the desert is also home to that type of music. later you can explore the golden dunes. whether taking a walk, riding camels, or taking a ride around the dunes in a 4×4 jeep car, the dunes are such a wonderful setting that is waiting for you to discover.
7- Should You Go On A Group Or A Private Sahara Desert Tour.
The choice to travel in a shared or a private tour is based on your personal preference. If you wish to travel with a group, many travel agencies organize group tours like that. However, you should note that the trip is usually done in a mini-van with only a driver and no guide included.
You won’t get any opportunities for off-road driving and you can not drive straight to the camp, but instead, you will be taken by a camel caravan. The stops along the way are scheduled in advance and very limited. The pros are that traveling in a group tour can be more affordable and more suitable especially for solo travelers. Traveling on a private desert tour, on the other hand, are a little bit costly.
The pros are that you can stop along the way whenever – wherever you wish for photos and visits and do off-road driving. You can go to the camp in a 4×4 jeep car. Of course, a private trip is more personal and more intimate. It is the best choice for couples and families.
8- What Is The Best Time To Do The Sahara Desert Tour?
The best time to do the Sahara desert tours depends on many factors. As far as the temperature is concerned the most, The best time to visit the desert will be anytime between May and October. This is the best time of the year when the daytime temperature is convenient. During December and January, the temperature drops below freezing. Between June and August, the weather can be hot with July and August daytime being the highest often crossing 49 degrees celsius.
From a high season and low season perspective, the high seasons are from late March to late May and from September to late December after new year’s eve. If you wish to come to Morocco in the low season, you can choose any month but not these.
9- Book Your Sahara Desert Tour With A Well-Experienced Tour Agency:
A common mistake is that some travelers do that instead of booking their desert trip in advance online with a reputable travel agency, they wait to receive offers in the souks (local markets) to get a cheaper price. Well, the thing is, you might get a cheaper price, but that does not mean you will get a better experience. You are more likely to make up for that price difference somewhere, either with poor services, through many scams, upsells, or forced shopping along the tour. Rather, I would highly recommend booking your Sahara desert tour in advance with a trustworthy and reputable travel company.
Simply, a travel agency, with a strong reputation will be more professional, cut the middle man, and in case anything wrong happens, you have someone to blame. As a legitimate tour company with licensed guides and drivers and expertise of a decade.
10- Does Morocco Vacation Travel Guide Organize Desert Tours ?
The answer is yes, we do! We offer a variety of private tours that can be customized to fit your needs and special points of interest. Our tour a carefully crafted to fit almost any traveler’s style. They are organized into categories starting from each of the major cities.
