What to Pack for a Merzouga Desert Tour

Even in summer, Erg Chebbi nights can fall to 15–20°C; in December and January the mercury can dip below 5°C. Wear long trousers, a mid-layer fleece or down jacket, and a wool or thermal base layer between October and March. The temperature drop is abrupt — it can feel warm at sunset and genuinely cold two hours later around the camp fire. Camps provide blankets, but they are often thin, so having your own warm layer makes a real difference to how well you sleep.

Absolutely yes. Morocco sits at 31°N latitude and the Sahara sits at altitude (roughly 900 m above sea level), which means UV radiation is high even in December and January when temperatures feel cool. The sand also reflects UV back at you from below. SPF 50 applied to your face, neck, hands, and any exposed skin is the minimum. Reapply every 90–120 minutes on the dunes, where you will be directly in the sun with no shade whatsoever.

Yes — plan to arrive with enough dirhams for the full duration of your camp stay. Most Merzouga desert camps and village shops accept only cash; card machines are rare to nonexistent. The closest reliable ATM is in Rissani, about 30 km north. Indicative daily spend at a camp: 50–150 MAD for drinks and extras, plus 50–100 MAD per person as a camel-guide tip. If you are joining a private guided tour, meals and the camel trek are usually included in your package — but tipping and personal purchases always need cash.

At the edge of the dunes closest to the village there is typically some Maroc Telecom or Orange 4G coverage, but once you are 1–2 km into Erg Chebbi the signal drops significantly. Expect limited or no data at the camp. Download your offline maps, music playlists, e-books, and the WhatsApp messages you need to reply to before you leave the main road. This is one of the genuinely great things about a Sahara night — the disconnection is part of the experience.

Closed-toe shoes or lightweight hiking boots are the most practical option. The sand is fine and gets into everything, so a tighter collar around the ankle helps. Thick socks inside will add a layer of protection. For climbing to a sunrise viewpoint, you will essentially be walking barefoot in sand at your own pace — many people simply remove their shoes and carry them for the dune climb, which is actually easier and feels more natural. Avoid flip-flops for the camel trek itself, as they catch on the saddle and slip off in loose sand.

Your main bags stay locked in your guide's 4x4 or parked transport. For the camel trek you carry only a small day pack or tote — think one change of clothes, warm layer, charger, wash kit, and your valuables. Camel packs have a limited safe weight per side (roughly 4–5 kg each), and overloading is uncomfortable for the animal and can unbalance the saddle. Camps provide bedding, towels (sometimes), and dinner and breakfast in most packages, so you genuinely do not need much.

Full sandstorms in Erg Chebbi are not a daily occurrence, but wind-blown sand certainly is. A large cotton scarf (the local chèche worn by Tuareg guides) is your single most useful piece of gear — it protects your face, neck, and eyes from blown sand without trapping heat. A buff or balaclava works as a backup. For your camera and phone, zip-lock bags and a dry bag provide inexpensive insurance. If a proper gale does pick up, your guide will bring you into the tent; the camps are designed for exactly this.