What to Wear in the Sahara Desert in Morocco
Quick answer
Dress in layers: loose, light, covering clothing and sun protection (hat, sunglasses, scarf) for the hot day, and warm layers (fleece, jacket, hat) for the surprisingly cold desert night. Add closed shoes for the dunes and a scarf for blowing sand.
The Sahara’s biggest surprise is the temperature swing — blazing by day, genuinely cold after dark, even in warmer months. Packing for both ends is the single most important thing for enjoying a desert overnight.
Here’s exactly what to wear and bring for a camel trek and a night at a desert camp.
Daytime: cover up and protect
Counterintuitively, loose long sleeves and trousers in light, breathable fabric keep you cooler and protect from the fierce sun better than shorts and a vest. Add a wide-brim hat or cap, good sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen.
A scarf (or the classic cheche/turban many camps offer) is genuinely useful — it shields your neck and face from sun and protects against blowing sand on windy days.
Night: layers for the cold
Desert nights drop sharply — cool in spring/autumn and near or below freezing in winter. Pack a warm fleece or jumper, a jacket, and a hat; long trousers and socks for the evening. Even in summer, evenings are much cooler than the day.
Camps provide thick blankets, but having your own warm layers makes stargazing and the evening around the fire much more comfortable.
Footwear and small essentials
Closed shoes (trainers or light boots) keep sand out better than sandals for the camel trek and dune walks, though many people enjoy going barefoot on the soft sand at camp. Bring a small daypack with water, a power bank (camp electricity is limited), a headtorch, lip balm and any medication.
Pack light for the overnight — most tours let you leave your main luggage and take just a small bag to the camp.
Key takeaways
- Layer up: light covering clothes by day, warm layers by night.
- Sun kit: hat, sunglasses, high-SPF, and a scarf for sand.
- Closed shoes for the trek; barefoot on camp sand is fine.
- Small daypack: water, power bank, headtorch, lip balm, meds.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sahara desert cold at night?
Yes — desert nights are much colder than the days, cool in spring/autumn and near or below freezing in winter. Always pack warm layers for the evening.
What shoes should I wear in the Sahara?
Closed shoes like trainers or light boots keep sand out for the camel trek and dune walks. Many people go barefoot on the soft sand around camp.
Should women cover up in the Sahara?
Loose, covering, light clothing suits everyone for sun protection and comfort, and is respectful. A scarf is useful for sun and blowing sand.
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