Discovering...
October to April is your window. Here is what the dunes actually feel like in each season — temperatures, crowd levels, what to pack and which weeks are worth booking well in advance.
Omar Benali· Sahara & Southern Routes Editor
A former desert driver turned writer, Omar has guided and travelled the routes from Ouarzazate to Merzouga and Zagora for years. He writes about the Sahara, kasbah roads and the Draa and Dades valleys. Ouarzazate · 14+ years covering Morocco
Published 25 October 2025 Last updated 28 February 2026
The single most important decision for a Sahara camel trek is not which camp you book or how many nights you stay — it is when you go. The Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga look identical in every photograph, but the experience of riding through them in October versus August is completely different: one is one of the great slow travel moments in Africa; the other is an endurance exercise in serious heat.
The short answer is October–November and March–April for the best conditions. Winter (December–February) is excellent if you accept cold nights. May is manageable with careful timing. June through September is genuinely inadvisable unless you have no other option. Below, the month-by-month breakdown covers daytime and nighttime temperatures, crowd levels, and what the experience actually feels like on the ground.
Temperatures are indicative averages for the Merzouga area; individual days vary. All times are local Morocco time (GMT+1).
| Period | Day temp | Night temp | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct – NovPeak Season | 26–32 °C | 8–14 °C | ★★★★★ | Ideal |
| Mar – AprSpring Sweet Spot | 25–34 °C | 10–16 °C | ★★★★★ | Ideal |
| Dec – FebWinter | 15–22 °C | 0–6 °C | ★★★★☆ | Good (cold nights) |
| MayLate Spring | 33–40 °C | 18–22 °C | ★★★☆☆ | Manageable if you trek at golden hour |
| Jun – SepSummer | 40–48 °C | 24–30 °C | ★☆☆☆☆ | Not recommended |
Oct – Nov · 26–32 °C days / 8–14 °C nights
Days are comfortably warm rather than scorching, and the low, raking light makes for extraordinary photography in the late afternoon. Nights drop sharply — a welcome contrast — and the sky is reliably clear. Book camps and private tours early as this is the busiest period.
Mar – Apr · 25–34 °C days / 10–16 °C nights
Spring brings wildflowers to the desert fringes and the sand stays cool enough to walk on barefoot at sunrise. Occasional sandstorms (chergui) are possible in April, but they are rare and usually short-lived. Crowds are slightly lighter than October, which can make negotiating a quieter camp easier.
Dec – Feb · 15–22 °C days / 0–6 °C nights
The camel ride itself is pleasant — clear skies and crisp air — but nights in the desert plunge close to freezing, and some budget camps are not well-insulated. Bring a serious sleeping layer. Crowds are thinnest in January and February, which can feel genuinely peaceful. Occasional rain is possible and can temporarily harden the dune surface.
May · 33–40 °C days / 18–22 °C nights
Daytime temperatures climb steeply in May. Trek at 5–6 pm (sunset) rather than mid-afternoon and you will be fine; the dunes are still beautiful and the camp nights are warm rather than cold. Avoid the midday window entirely.
Jun – Sep · 40–48 °C days / 24–30 °C nights
Peak desert heat. The sand surface can exceed 70 °C at midday, camels trek later and slower, and even sunset rides are uncomfortable. Dehydration risk is real. A few operators still run tours, but the experience is a fraction of what autumn or spring delivers. Unless your dates are truly fixed, consider rescheduling.
The dunes are always there. The light is only right for a few hours each day.
The list changes slightly by season, but these essentials apply year-round.
Loose, long-sleeved layers
Protects against sun, sand and camel hair. Light linen or merino works in all seasons.
Desert scarf (chèche)
Available at the Merzouga trailhead for around 50–80 MAD. Doubles as dust shield and head cover at cold camps.
Closed flat shoes
Sand burns at 60 °C+ in summer and gets painfully cold in January. Skip the sandals.
Warm layer for winter
Fleece or down jacket for October–February nights. Desert temperature drops fast once the sun is gone.
Sunscreen + sunglasses
The dune surface reflects UV intensely. Reapply after the camel ride; you'll sweat more than you expect.
Water — more than you think
Carry at least 1.5 litres per person for the trek itself. Camps provide water but trek logistics can run long.
Merzouga — the village at the foot of Erg Chebbi — sits roughly 560 km southeast of Marrakech and around 370 km southeast of Fes. There is no direct train; the options are a long public bus (CTM or Supratours, around 10–11 hours from Marrakech, indicative from ~160 MAD), a shared grand taxi via Errachidia, or a private vehicle with a driver-guide.
The practical advantage of a private tour is that the journey itself becomes part of the experience: you stop at Aït Benhaddou, the Dades Gorge, Todra Gorge and the Tafilalet palm oases without the bus schedule dictating your day. Most travellers combine the camel trek with an overnight stay in Marrakech or Fes at either end, turning the desert into a 2–3 night side trip rather than a rushed day excursion.
| Route | Distance | By private car | By public bus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrakech → Merzouga | ~560 km | 7–8 hrs (with stops) | 10–11 hrs (CTM) |
| Fes → Merzouga | ~370 km | 5–6 hrs (with stops) | 8–9 hrs (shared taxi/bus) |
| Ouarzazate → Merzouga | ~310 km | 4–5 hrs | Infrequent |
Yes, July is the least suitable month for a Sahara camel trek. Daytime temperatures in the Erg Chebbi area regularly reach 45–48 °C, and the sand surface temperature can exceed 70 °C, making it uncomfortable and potentially dangerous for both travellers and animals. Sunset treks are still possible in theory, but the ambient heat even at 7 pm is punishing. If July is your only option, choose a reputable camp with proper shade, carry at least three litres of water per person for the ride, and confirm the trek duration is capped at around 40 minutes each way.
October is widely considered the best month for a Sahara camel trek. Daytime temperatures around Merzouga and Erg Chebbi typically sit between 26 and 32 °C — warm, not brutal. Nights cool to 8–14 °C, cold enough to appreciate a blanket at the camp but nowhere near freezing. The light in late October turns golden and stays low all afternoon, which makes for spectacular dune photography. Add in reasonably clear skies and you have near-perfect conditions for the full desert-night experience: sunset ride, stargazing, and a sunrise climb.
A standard sunset camel trek at Erg Chebbi from the Merzouga edge takes around 45–60 minutes to reach the camp, sitting in the middle of the dune field. The return ride at sunrise is similar. You can also book shorter "taste" rides of 20–30 minutes that stay near the base of the dunes — these are popular with families or anyone who is unsure about the saddle comfort. The camels used at Erg Chebbi are dromedaries (one hump), and most people find the gait surprisingly smooth once you relax your hips and go with the sway.
Yes — January is perfectly viable and has real advantages: minimal crowds, the deepest silence in the dune field, and a clarity to the desert air that summer haze erases. The practical challenge is night temperature, which can drop to 0–4 °C in the Merzouga area and occasionally below freezing at elevation inside the dunes. A quality camp provides thick blankets and a proper tent, but pack thermals, a warm hat and gloves regardless. The camel ride itself in mid-morning (10–11 am, when the air has warmed) is actually one of the most pleasant experiences of the year.
Light, loose, long-sleeved clothing protects against sun, sand and camel hair regardless of season. A desert scarf (chèche) is close to essential — local guides sell them at the trailhead for around 50–80 MAD and they double as sun protection, dust protection and a head-covering for cooler nights. Closed, flat shoes are better than sandals; the sand can burn in summer and become very cold in winter. In cooler months (November to February), bring a mid-layer you can peel off during the ride and put back on at camp. Leave valuables in the vehicle — camps are secure but sand gets into everything.
May and September are both workable if you manage timing carefully. In May, the key is timing your trek for 5–6 pm to catch sunset light without the worst midday heat — daytime peaks around 38–40 °C but cools noticeably once the sun drops. September is actually underrated: heat still lingers but is retreating, crowds are sparse after the August school-holiday rush, and prices at camps are often lower. If you trek at golden hour and stay overnight, both months deliver the core Sahara experience. Just carry more water than you think you need and choose a camp with good ventilation.
For October, November and the March–April window, book your overnight camp and transport at least 4–8 weeks ahead, especially if you want a private vehicle from Marrakech or Fes rather than a shared group departure. The most sought-after mid-range and luxury camps at Erg Chebbi fill up 6–10 weeks out during peak weeks in late October and the Eid/spring-break periods. Budget bivouacs have more availability but book 2–3 weeks out to be safe. Last-minute arrivals in Merzouga can usually find something, but the better camps are gone.
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