Morocco Camel Riding Guide 2026

On an overnight stay you usually get both: in at sunset, out at sunrise. On a single ride, choose by light, temperature and company.

Sunrise

Cool, often cold in winter. Soft pink-to-gold light and long shadows, and few people about. Best for photographers and anyone after quiet. Dress warmly: desert mornings are cold, and gloves help from October to March.

Sunset

Warmer, and the classic ride: deep orange light on the dunes and the postcard silhouette. Busier near the big camps. Best for first-timers, families and groups. Bring water and sunglasses; the sand reflects a lot of light.

1. 1

   Short ride

   A short loop at Agafay, Essaouira or the edge of Marrakech: mounting, riding and dismounting, with time for photos. A taste of riding rather than of the desert. Good for families with small children and tight schedules.
2. 2

   Sunset or sunrise ride, about an hour

   The most popular format, and the ride that comes with most overnight camp stays. Long enough to settle into the camel’s rhythm, short enough to avoid soreness.
3. 3

   Half-day trek

   Covers far more ground, usually with a tea stop. You get away from the main camps. Some soreness is normal for first-timers at this length. Possible from Merzouga, Zagora and M’Hamid.
4. 4

   Multi-day trek

   A different camp each night, with meals cooked over the fire. You reach parts of the desert that day visitors never see. Needs reasonable fitness and planning well ahead; routes run from Merzouga and from Zagora and M’Hamid in the Draa Valley.

The usual format: ride from the edge of the dunes to camp at sunset, eat dinner by lantern light, often with drumming around the fire, sleep under a dark sky, then ride back at sunrise.

Basic camp

Simple fabric tents with mattresses, shared toilets and a communal dining tent. Dinner is tagine or couscous. Bring a headtorch, warm layers and earplugs.

Mid-range camp

Larger tents with real beds and bedding, sometimes electricity from solar or a generator, and private or shared bathrooms. A good balance of comfort and simplicity.

Glamping

Large tents with proper beds, en-suite bathrooms with hot showers, electricity and charging points, and a multi-course dinner. Book well ahead for peak season.

1. 1

   Long, lightweight trousers

   They protect your inner thighs from saddle chafing. Cotton or linen works best.
2. 2

   Closed-toe shoes or sturdy sandals

   The sand is hot in the afternoon and you will walk short stretches. Avoid flip-flops.
3. 3

   A headscarf or shesh

   It keeps sun and sand off your face and neck. Your guide can show you how to tie it.
4. 4

   Sunglasses on a strap

   Sand glare is harsh, and a strap stops them flying off when the camel stands up.
5. 5

   A light long-sleeved shirt

   Sun protection by day, and a layer over a T-shirt after sunset.
6. 6

   A warm fleece or jacket for overnight

   Desert nights are cold, even in spring.
7. 7

   A buff or bandana

   Pull it over your nose and mouth if the wind lifts the sand, as it often does in spring.

Welfare varies a great deal between operators, and the best judge on the day is you. Look at the camel before you get on. These checks follow RSPCA Australia's advice and the guidance of working-animal charities such as SPANA.

1. 1

   The camel looks fit and healthy

   You should not be able to see prominent hips or backbone, and it should walk comfortably, without limping.
2. 2

   Its skin is whole

   Avoid camels with patchy or bald skin, which can be a sign of mange.
3. 3

   No signs of diarrhoea

   Don’t ride a camel with obvious signs of diarrhoea around the tail and back legs.
4. 4

   No wounds on the legs

   Scars or wounds around the legs show where a camel has been tied too tightly. Check under the saddle for sores too.
5. 5

   One rider per camel

   Don’t share a camel to save money. Ask the operator whether it has a weight limit.
6. 6

   The operator answers your questions

   Ask before you book: how the camels rest between rides, whether they get shade and water, and who looks after them when they are sick. Evasive answers are a reason to go elsewhere.

Morocco’s camels are dromedaries, with one hump; the two-humped Bactrian camel lives in Central Asia. The hump stores fat, not water. A camel walks by moving both legs on one side together, which gives the ride its side-to-side sway. It feels strange at first: relax your hips, keep your back straight and go with it. Camels have their own characters, and they groan and grumble. Your guide will match you with a suitable animal.

1. 1

   Mounting and dismounting

   The camel kneels for you to climb on. Hold the saddle handle firmly with both hands. It stands rear-first, pitching you forward, then front-up, pushing you back: lean back for the first lurch and forward for the second. Your guide will talk you through it.
2. 2

   Soreness

   Your inner thighs do most of the work. Expect some soreness on longer rides. Long trousers prevent chafing; padded cycling shorts underneath help on longer treks. Stretch whenever you stop.
3. 3

   Heat

   Summer afternoons in the Sahara are dangerously hot, so ride early or late and carry plenty of water. Dizziness, nausea and headache are signs of heat exhaustion: get into shade, drink and rest.
4. 4

   Health conditions

   If you have back pain, sciatica or a recent knee operation, talk to the operator before booking; some offer shorter routes. If you are pregnant, ask your doctor first. If you get motion sick, the sway may bother you.

October–April

The main season. Days are comfortable for riding and nights are cold enough for the campfire. Camps are busiest and fill over Christmas, New Year and Easter, so book ahead.

May and September

Warm, with fewer visitors. Ride early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

June–August

Very hot in the desert. Ride only at sunrise and after sunset, start early and carry extra water. Some operators cut back their schedules. Essaouira beach rides stay comfortable thanks to the sea breeze.

• Shoot in the half-hour after sunrise and before sunset, when the dune light is best. Midday light is flat.
• Keep your phone or camera in a zip-lock bag between shots: fine sand gets into everything. Carry a lens cloth and avoid changing lenses in the wind.
• For the classic caravan silhouette, stand at the base of a dune and shoot up towards the ridge at sunset.
• Put a person or a single camel against a big dune to show scale. A telephoto lens compresses the view and makes dunes look taller than a wide-angle does.
• For the night sky, use a tripod, a high ISO, a wide aperture and exposures of 15–25 seconds, with a tent or the campfire in the foreground.
• Ask before you photograph guides or camp staff.