Visiting the Sahara Desert is a rite of passage tourist activity in Morocco. Unlike many such tourist activities, this one is well worth the time! About 40% of Morocco is considered to be part of the Sahara so there are a number of places to “visit the Sahara” while in Morocco. One of the popular spots to visit is Erg Chebbi near Merzouga. “Erg” means an area of dunes in Arabic and this is a strikingly beautiful area of sand dunes that are particularly stunning at sunrise and sunset.
The Camp
Camping, or really glamping, are popular options in the area, though I was surprised that there are also a number of hotels not far from the dunes. The camps are no longer allowed to be among the dunes so you will find numerous camps just outside the dune fields. The overnight camp I stayed at was arranged through my Morocco Uncovered tour with Intrepid Travel and was definitely fancier than any “camping” I had done before.
Here you can see the main “bedroom” area of the “tent”.
The tent also included a bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower (though we were discouraged from using the shower to conserve water).
The camp included a dining hall, fire ring, entertainment tent, and some outdoor chairs and tables. On arrival we were served Moroccan tea and snacks as is typical in most places in Morocco. Afterwards our luggage was dropped off to our tents and we had some time to explore before our camel ride into the desert.
Into The Desert
About an hour before sunset our tour group boarded a caravan of camels to travel into the dunes for sunset. Now, you might have heard that camels are ill tempered and may not have a desire to ride them. My experience didn’t mirror that at all and I definitely recommend this ride, The camels we had were generally well behaved and overall I actually found them easier to ride than a horse.
The ride itself lasted for a bit over 30 minutes and took us out into the middle of the dunes where we dismounted and then climbed to the top of one of the highest dunes in the area for an amazing view. From there we watched the sunset over the Sahara. After the sun set it was back on the camels and a return to camp.
The Sahara At Night
Another highlight of the stay in the Sahara for me were the dark skies. While there was some light pollution in certain spots the skies were still quite dark. We were there on a totally clear night and were treated to a marvelous tapestry of stars. There was also something otherworldly about walking out among the dunes at night. If you do go out into the dunes at night though make sure you know the way back as they very quickly begin to look similar at night.
Should You Go?
Yes! – This was one of my most memorable experiences during my trip to Morocco. Was it touristy? Yes. But despite being touristy it was a fun experience riding the camels, glamping, hanging out in the entertainment tent with the staff singing and dancing, and above all getting to experience the beauty of the dunes!
