Sahara travel blog
Practical, honest answers to the questions people actually ask before a desert trip.
Should You Book a Sahara Desert Tour in July or August?
A summer trip to Erg Chebbi is possible, but extreme heat, long drives and hot sleeping conditions make it a conditional choice. Here is what to confirm before booking—and when a different itinerary makes more sense.
Sahara in Winter: December–February in Merzouga
Winter at Erg Chebbi can mean pleasantly warm afternoons and nights close to freezing, sometimes below it. Compare camp heating, allow enough time from Marrakech and look beyond holiday dates if quieter dunes matter to you.
Merzouga Weather: Sandstorms, Rain and Tour Changes
Blowing sand, rain and strong wind can change a Merzouga tour without affecting every departure in the same way. Learn what to check, what to pack and which booking terms matter before traveling from Marrakech.
Sahara Photography Tips: Golden Hour, Stars and Camera Care
Photographing Erg Chebbi means planning for low light, long road journeys and windblown sand. This guide covers practical camera and phone settings, moon-aware night photography and the camp questions worth asking before booking.
Fes or Marrakech: Best Start for a Merzouga Desert Tour?
Fes usually offers the shorter drive to Merzouga, while Marrakech adds the High Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou and southern valleys. Compare both routes by travel time, nights near the dunes and where you want to finish.
Offer pictured: Marrakech to Fes: 3-day Sahara tour with camel ride and camp · GetYourGuideWhat to Eat on a Sahara Desert Tour: Meals and Diets
Many Marrakech–Merzouga tours include accommodation breakfasts and dinners, but lunches and drinks often cost extra. Learn what camp meals may involve and which questions to ask about vegan food, gluten-free preparation and allergies.
Sahara Stargazing in Merzouga: Milky Way and Camp Nights
Merzouga’s bright Milky Way core is generally observable from roughly February to October, but darkness matters more than a desert-camp label. Understand seasonal viewing windows, moonlight, camp routines and the travel time needed for a realistic stargazing stay.
Sahara Tour from Marrakech with Kids: Ages, Route, What to Skip
Most children aged roughly six and up handle the standard 3-day Merzouga tour well; under-4s usually do not, because the route means about 560 km and 9-10 hours of driving each way. Here is the age-band verdict, the hour-by-hour itinerary from a child's point of view, and what to skip.
Offer pictured: Marrakech: 3-day Sahara tour with private tent and meals · GetYourGuide2-Day Sahara Tour Marrakech to Zagora: Honest Review
A 2-day tour from Marrakech to Zagora covers about 360 km each way on the N9, of which 13–14 hours are spent in a vehicle. You get the Tizi n'Tichka pass, Aït Benhaddou, the Draa Valley, a short camel ride and one night under canvas — but not the big dunes of Erg Chebbi. Here is the hour-by-hour breakdown before you book.
Offer pictured: Marrakech: 2-day Zagora and Ait Ben Haddou tour · GetYourGuideIs the Sahara Safe for Solo Female Travellers?
Thousands of solo women complete the Marrakech-Merzouga desert trip every year. Here is an honest look at the real risks, from long drives and heat to unwanted attention, and how organised and private tours change the picture.
Offer pictured: Marrakech: 3-day Sahara tour with private tent and meals · GetYourGuideAit Ben Haddou & Draa Valley: The Road to Merzouga
The classic 3-day desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga crosses the High Atlas at Tizi n'Tichka, stops at the UNESCO ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, and follows the Draa valley palm groves. Here is exactly what lies along the way, leg by leg.
Camel Ride in Merzouga: What It's Really Like + Alternatives
A Merzouga camel ride is a slow, swaying walk on a led dromedary — usually about an hour to reach a desert camp, not a gallop. Here is what it's really like, plus 4x4, quad, sandboard and walking alternatives if you'd rather not ride.
Offer pictured: Marrakech: 3-day Merzouga desert tour · GetYourGuideStandard vs Luxury Desert Camp in Erg Chebbi: A Night
Every Erg Chebbi camp shares the same sunset, dinner and sunrise. What changes between a standard and a luxury camp is the tent, the bathroom and the warmth. Here is an honest, side-by-side guide to help you choose.
Offer pictured: Marrakech: 3-day Sahara tour with private tent and meals · GetYourGuideBest Time to Visit the Sahara Desert in Morocco
The best months for the classic 3-day Marrakech–Merzouga tour are March–May and September–November, with warm days and mild nights. Summer heat and cold winter nights are trade-offs, not deal-breakers.
Marrakech to Merzouga: How to Reach the Sahara Desert
Merzouga is about 560 km and 9–10 hours of driving from Marrakech, with no train reaching the desert. Here is an honest comparison of every way to get there — tour, rental car, coach and flight — and what each one actually costs you in time, money and scenery.
Offer pictured: Marrakech: 3-day Merzouga desert tour · GetYourGuideWhat to Pack for a Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech
A practical, season-by-season packing list for a Sahara desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga. What to wear on the dunes, what keeps you warm at the camp, and what to leave behind in your riad.
Erg Chebbi vs Erg Chigaga: Which Erg to Choose
Erg Chebbi near Merzouga is the accessible, tarmac-to-the-dunes choice with the tallest peaks; Erg Chigaga near M'Hamid is the remote, 4x4-only alternative. Here is how the two Moroccan sand seas really compare on access, dune size, camps and crowds.
Offer pictured: Marrakech: 3-day Merzouga desert tour · GetYourGuideIs the 3-Day Sahara Tour From Marrakech Worth It?
For most first-time visitors the 3-day Sahara tour from Marrakech is worth it — it is the only realistic way to reach the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga and sleep in the deep desert. But it involves two long transit days, so it isn't for everyone. Here are the honest pros, cons and alternatives.
Offer pictured: Marrakech: 3-day Merzouga desert tour · GetYourGuide