Glamping in the Erg Chebbi dunes
Luxury Desert Camps in Morocco’s Sahara
En-suite tents, dinner by the fire and sunrise over Erg Chebbi. How to choose a camp, and what each tier gives you.
A camp at Merzouga, below the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Photograph: Isabeldianamadrid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Location
- Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga
- Best season
- Oct–Apr (cool nights)
- Getting there
- Private tour or 4x4
- Don’t miss
- The pre-dawn dune climb
By City Tours Morocco Editorial Team
Published 17 June 2026 Last updated 29 October 2026
Which Level of Comfort Suits You
The gap between a basic tourist camp and a proper glamping camp in the Sahara is large. Staying in the dunes is the easy decision; the real question is which level of comfort makes sense for you.
The camps cluster around Erg Chebbi near Merzouga, in the far southeast of Morocco close to the Algerian border. Erg Chebbi is a sand sea: golden dunes up to about 150 metres high, quite unlike the rocky hammada (stone desert) you cross to reach it. The camps sit at the foot of the dunes, a short camel ride or 4x4 drive from the nearest village.
A luxury camp differs from a standard one in three ways: where it sits (further from the road, and quieter), whether the bathroom is private or shared, and whether dinner is served or laid out as a buffet. Once you are there, the silence matters more than the amenities.
Sahara Camp Tiers at a Glance
What each level usually includes. Rates vary by season, group size and operator, so ask for a quote for your dates.
| Tier | Tent and bathroom | Meals | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard camp | Basic furnished tent, shared bathroom | Buffet dinner and breakfast | Camel ride, drumming |
| Mid-range camp | Double bed, private toilet, electricity | Set dinner and breakfast | Camel ride, stargazing |
| Luxury camp (glamping) | King bed, en-suite shower, sitting area | Served dinner, mint tea | Private camel trek; often a telescope and quad bikes |
What a Night in a Luxury Camp Actually Looks Like
The evening follows the same rhythm, from late afternoon to sunrise, whatever the tier.
Late afternoon
You arrive by 4x4, or after a 40–60 minute camel trek from the edge of the village. Staff serve mint tea and show you to your tent. The low light on the dunes is good for photographs.Sunset
Climb the nearest dune ridge on foot, or ride a camel to a viewpoint the guides know. The highest dunes of Erg Chebbi reach about 150 m. When the wind drops, it is very quiet.Evening
Dinner around a fire. Higher-end camps serve tagine, grilled meats and salads, and many end the evening with drumming. The air cools fast once the sun is down, so bring a jacket in any season.Night
From autumn to spring the nights are cold. Luxury camps supply good bedding; at standard camps, bring an extra layer. On a clear, moonless night the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye.Sunrise
Get up before dawn and climb a dune while the camp sleeps. The sky shifts from mauve to orange to gold in about 20 minutes. Breakfast follows, and most camps check out by 8–9 a.m.
Practical Logistics: Getting There
Merzouga is about 9–10 hours by road from Marrakech, via Ouarzazate and the Dades Valley, and about 7 hours from Fes, via Midelt and Errachidia. There is no train, and public buses go no further than Merzouga village: the last stretch to the camps is desert track. Most people arrive with a private tour or in a rental car.
Private tours usually stop along the way, at Aït Benhaddou, the Todra Gorge or the rose town of Kelaat M’gouna, which makes the journey part of the trip. The road crosses the High Atlas, drops into the Draa and Dades valleys, and the land turns from green to ochre to red as you near Erg Chebbi.
If you book a camp yourself, note that GPS is unreliable on the final tracks. A driver who knows the route and has the camp’s coordinates saves a lot of stress.
- From Marrakech
- About 9–10 hours by road, via Ouarzazate and the Dades Valley
- From Fes
- About 7 hours by road, via Midelt and Errachidia
- Nearest town
- Merzouga; Rissani is about 35 km away
- Last stretch
- Desert track, by 4x4 or camel
What to Bring and What to Leave in the Vehicle
Bring in a daypack
- A warm layer: the desert cools sharply after dark
- A scarf or shemagh against blowing sand
- Closed shoes for the camel trek
- A head torch, as camp lighting can be dim
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- A camera that copes with low light
- Some cash for add-on activities
Leave in the 4x4
- Your main luggage or suitcase
- A sleeping bag (luxury camps provide bedding)
- A laptop or fragile electronics
- Anything you cannot afford to get sandy
Questions
Luxury Desert Camp FAQs
What is the best luxury desert camp in Morocco?
There is no single "best": it depends on budget and style. Luxury camps cluster around Erg Chebbi near Merzouga and offer king-size beds, en-suite showers and served dinners in Berber-style tents. Look for a camp that offers a private camel trek rather than a shared group ride, and check whether sandboarding or stargazing is included or charged separately. A private tour operator can match you to a camp for your group size and budget.
How much does a night in a luxury Sahara camp cost?
Rates change with the season, the camp, your group size and what is included, so ask for a quote for your dates. A night in a luxury camp usually includes dinner and breakfast; some camps add the camel trek and evening music, others charge for them. Booking the camp as part of a private tour from Marrakech or Fes also covers the transfer and the logistics of finding the camp.
What is the difference between a standard and luxury desert camp in Morocco?
The biggest differences are bathroom privacy, bed quality and food. Standard camps have shared toilet blocks and simple mattresses; luxury camps have en-suite showers, proper beds with good linen and separate sitting areas. Meals move from a communal buffet to a served dinner of Moroccan salads, tagine and sometimes grilled meats. Luxury camps also tend to sit further from the road and from other camps, which makes them quieter.
How do you get to a luxury desert camp in Merzouga?
Most camps are reached in one of two ways: a 40–60 minute camel trek from the edge of Merzouga village, or by 4x4 straight to the camp. Many luxury camps use the 4x4 and then offer a shorter, optional sunset ride. Merzouga is about 35 km from Rissani and roughly 9–10 hours of driving from Marrakech, including stops. Almost everyone arrives as part of a longer tour rather than independently.
Are luxury desert camps in Morocco worth it?
For most travellers, yes, if the Sahara is a centrepiece of the trip rather than a box to tick. Sleeping well, showering in the morning and eating a proper dinner change the experience considerably. Even a mid-range camp still gives you the dunes, the stars and the silence; if budget is tight, a clean mid-range camp with a private bathroom is a sensible middle ground.
What activities are included in a luxury Sahara camp stay?
Typical inclusions at a luxury camp: a private sunset camel trek, dinner and breakfast, music around the fire and sometimes a stargazing session with a telescope. Add-ons usually charged extra include quad biking on the dunes, sandboarding and dawn 4x4 excursions. Confirm what is included before you book, as inclusions vary between camps.
When is the best time to stay at a Sahara luxury camp?
October to April gives bearable daytime heat and cold, clear nights for stargazing. March and October are a good balance: warm days, cool evenings and fewer people than over Christmas and New Year. Avoid June to August if you are sensitive to heat; midday temperatures can pass 45°C, which makes the camel trek uncomfortable even at sunset. Winter nights in December and January can drop below 5°C, so pack for it.
Related Guides
Planning the dates? See the best time to visit Merzouga.