The Ultimate Sahara Desert Camp Guide for 2026

A night in the Sahara is the experience travellers remember longest. You leave the last paved road behind, ride a camel over the dunes as the light turns orange, and eat tagine around a fire while Gnaoua drums roll across the sand.

Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) is the easier option — around 9 hours from Marrakech or 7 from Fes, with the dunes right at the edge of the village. Erg Chigaga, reached via Zagora and M'Hamid, is wilder and quieter, but needs a 4x4 transfer of about two hours over open desert.

Camps range from simple Berber tents with shared bathrooms to luxury pods with proper beds, rugs, en-suite showers and hot water. Whichever you choose, take a warm layer: desert nights drop sharply, even in summer.

Our desert trips include hotel pickup, an air-conditioned 4x4, an English or French speaking driver, camel trek at sunset, dinner, breakfast and sunrise over the dunes. Two nights is ideal if you want time in the Draa Valley and Ait Benhaddou on the way.