Adventure & outdoors
Ask first, keep away from military and border zones, and leave nothing behind. Here is where people camp, what to carry and what can go wrong.
An organised desert camp near Merzouga. A wild camp has none of this. Photograph: Isabeldianamadrid, CC BY-SA 4.0
Within a few days’ drive you pass Atlantic beaches, cedar forest, volcanic plateaus and Saharan sand seas. The climate is mild for much of the year and daily costs are low enough to stay on the road for weeks.
The surf coast between Essaouira and Sidi Ifni fills with vans from October to April. The Sahara draws campers for the silence and the stars, and the Atlas offers mountain camping with villages close by.
We know of no national rule that allows it everywhere. Treat it as something you do with permission.
When in doubt, ask. A simple “Momkin n-khayym hna?” (Can I camp here?) goes a long way.
Five landscapes, each a different kind of camp.
The stretch between Essaouira and Sidi Ifni is the busiest for campers, with beaches, flat ground and ocean views. Surf towns such as Taghazout, Imsouane and Mirleft have van life communities with water and supplies nearby.
The ergs near Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) and M’hamid (Erg Chigaga) are the classic dune landscapes. Rocky hamada gives firmer ground for vehicles. Nights are clear and temperatures drop sharply. A 4x4 is essential off-piste.
Mountain camping with snow-capped peaks behind you, along the Tizi n’Tichka or in the Ourika Valley. Higher ground is reachable from late spring to early autumn. Filter stream water before drinking.
Around Tafraoute, granite boulders, painted rocks and palm oases make a strange, quiet landscape with fewer visitors than the High Atlas. The main roads are paved but quiet.
Sheltered camping between canyon walls, with the Dadès road winding past kasbahs and rock formations. Riverside flats look inviting, but flash floods are a real risk: camp above the flood line.
Four routes, from an easy coastal drive to desert circuits. Our overlanding guide covers vehicles, fuel and border crossings.
Do not underestimate water and navigation gear.
Flash floods in wadis
Extreme temperatures
Wildlife
Vehicle preparation
Communication
Coastal winds and tides
Pack out all waste
Use existing fire rings
Camp on durable surfaces
Deal with human waste
Respect wildlife
Be considerate of locals
Carry at least 5 litres per person per day, double that in the Sahara. Refill at fuel stations, village fountains and municipal taps; many villages have free public taps. For long stretches, carry 20-litre jerrycans and a filter.
Mountain streams above 2,000 m are generally clean but should still be filtered. Never drink from lowland rivers or wadis without treatment; boiling or UV purification works alongside a filter.
We know of no national rule that makes wild camping legal everywhere, so treat it as something you do with permission. Ask the landowner or nearby villagers before you pitch, do not camp in or near towns, and keep well away from military installations and border zones. Toubkal National Park requires foreign hikers to go with a licensed guide.
For coastal and main-road camping, a standard vehicle or campervan is enough. For Sahara tracks, High Atlas pistes and remote Anti-Atlas trails, a 4x4 with good ground clearance is strongly recommended.
The main risks are environmental: flash floods in wadis, extreme heat in summer, cold nights in the mountains and strong coastal winds. Locals may come to check on you, often with an offer of tea. Tell someone your plans, avoid isolated spots near towns, and save the emergency numbers: police 19, Royal Gendarmerie 177 outside towns, ambulance 15, 112 from a mobile.
Wild camping itself is free; you pay for food, water and fuel. Diesel cost about 15.3 MAD per litre in early October 2026. Established campsites charge per night, so check current prices locally or on iOverlander and Park4Night.
October to April is ideal for the coast and desert. May to October is best for the Atlas Mountains, when the snow melts and passes open. Avoid the Sahara in July and August, when temperatures can exceed 45°C. The Atlantic coast is pleasant year-round but windiest from March to May.
