Sahara travel blog
Practical, honest answers to the questions people actually ask before a desert trip.
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.
Standard 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.
Best 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.
What 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.
Is 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.