Wandering through the endless dunes of the Sahara desert in Morocco will mesmerize even the most adventurous of spirits.

A place full of mystery, beauty and unbroken silence that stretches over 11 countries. For many travellers who plan to visit Morocco, the Sahara desert is on top of their bucket list.

In this guide, you can read the ins and outs of planning a trip to the Sahara Desert.

If you choose to use any of the links on this page, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. By using these links, you’ll have a direct impact on WTSW and my ability to continue to create free insightful travel content for you. If you find any of my tips useful, you can support me by buying a virtual coffee here.

An in-depth guide to the Sahara desert in Morocco

What Sahara Desert tour should you choose?

When you search the internet you will find out that there are many companies organizing desert tours. To make sure it fits in your travel itinerary we would recommend you to book your tour a few weeks in advance. Most tour companies start in Fez or Marrakech.

We planned our desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga with GetYourGuide and the trip took us three days.

One of the reasons why we would recommend planning your tour in advance is because a tour to the desert will take you three days of your itinerary. Keep in mind that there will be a lot of driving involved, but the amazing sceneries and dynamic landscapes will make it worth it.

What to pack for the Sahara Desert in Morocco

The circumstances in the Sahara can vary a lot. The best way to prepare yourself for a trip to the dunes of Erg Chebbi is to wear layers. Choose comfortable clothes with loose-fit and don’t forget to bring a scarf and a hat.

Tip | Don’t mind taking an extra sweater or jacket, when the sun sets the temperature drops rapidly. That extra piece of clothing could be just what you needed for the night.

Take sunglasses to protect your eyes from potential sand stirring up from a breeze.

The road to the Sahara Desert in Morocco | Marrakech to Merzouga

As mentioned above most tours will take around three days of travelling. Gladly the road to the dunes of Erg Chebbi will bring you along with many fascinating sceneries. See our route for the places where we stopped.

The sceneries

Once you see the road signs change to a camel instead of a car, you know it is almost time to start your desert adventure.

Why should you visit the Sahara Desert in Morocco

The Calmness of the desert

We live in a world where we get distracted almost all of the time. A trip to the Sahara can be a little getaway escape and gives you the opportunity to experience calmness you never did before. With a surface of 9.4 million square kilometres and a sea of sand surrounding you, you will feel peace and experience complete silence.

A Social Media detox

While experiencing this beautiful landscape you will have a strong connection with nature. Leave your phone in the bedouin camp and spend time with the people around you. It can feel so good walking the dunes while having no sense of time.

TIP | don’t go too far away from your camp.

Chasing the sunset

Once the sun is below the horizon, you will be treated with a broad palette of colours. With the light changing, look for a dune and let the beauty soak in. The scenery will charm you, even more, when the dunes turn warmer and warmer.

Sleep in a traditional Bedouin Camp in the Sahara desert

After a day of exploring the magical dunes of the Sahara, it is great to experience staying at a traditional Bedouin camp. Just like with the desert tours, there are endless possibilities. We preferred traditional over luxury to look and feel how the nomads live.

Once the sun went down we got treated to a tasteful tajine while enjoying the local Berber drums.

While the drums continued in the tent we walked barefoot among the desert dunes to find a spot to sit down. With sand covering our feet, insignificant in the universe, we were surrounded by the brightest sky we ever experienced. In almost complete silence we witnessed a sea of bright stars in the night sky.

An out-of-this-world experience.

BOOK | hotels in the Sahara

Sunrise in the desert dunes

Once you see the golden light reflect on the beautiful desert landscape you realize that waking up early isn’t that bad. Heading back to the civilized world by camel while enjoying your last glimpse of Sahara beauty is an experience worth waking up early for.

After experiencing the magical Sahara, you are ready to find out the rest of the beauty Morocco has to offer. And don’t forget to let us know what you think in the comments.

Safety in Morocco | Travel insurance

When travelling this big wide world, I never go on an adventure without my essential travel insurance sorted out, and though I felt safe in Morocco, I recommend anyone travelling here to do the same.

Though you rather don’t think about the things that could go wrong, there’s always a chance that something will happen, and when that’s the case, it is better to be safe than sorry.

To help you find the right policy, I’ve listed two of my favourite options below:

Heymondo | Whether you’re going on a 3-week backpacking trip, or planning a long stay somewhere abroad, Heymondo has excellent insurance options either way – plus full COVID-19 coverage and a handy app with 24-hour medical assistance. Readers of WTSW receive 5% off any insurance policy, more information here.