Days in the dunes,
nights under the stars.

The desert is at its most comfortable from October through April, when daytime temperatures are warm rather than punishing and the nights, though cold, are ideal for stargazing wrapped in blankets around a fire. July and August bring intense heat across the southern routes, particularly through the Draa Valley, though early morning and evening activities remain pleasant. Whichever month you travel, layers matter more than any single garment, since the temperature swing between midday and midnight in the dunes can exceed twenty degrees.

A standard camp offers shared or private canvas tents with proper beds, shared washing facilities, and a communal dinner around the fire — comfortable, sociable, and true to the traditional Berber camp experience. A luxury camp adds ensuite bathrooms inside each tent, private terraces facing the dunes, a la carte dining, and often a separate lounge tent for tea and music in the evening. Both options include the camel trek in and out, so the choice really comes down to how much privacy and comfort you'd like once the sun goes down.

Yes — the trek into Erg Chebbi is gentle, led at walking pace by an experienced handler, and typically lasts around forty-five minutes to an hour each way. Most camps welcome children from around six years old, and travellers with limited mobility or back sensitivity can usually arrange a 4x4 transfer to the camp instead of riding, without missing any part of the desert stay. If you have specific concerns, it's worth mentioning them when you enquire so the right arrangement can be made in advance.

A private tour means your own vehicle, driver-guide, and a schedule that bends to you — longer at a viewpoint that catches your eye, an earlier start to beat the heat, a different lunch stop altogether. A shared tour is a fixed itinerary travelling with a small group of other travellers, generally at a lower cost, well suited to solo travellers who enjoy company along the way. Both follow the same routes and camp partners; the difference is entirely about pace, flexibility, and who else is in the vehicle.

Layers are the key rule: a light breathable top for the day, a warm fleece or jacket for the night, and a scarf or shesh that doubles as sun protection and windbreak on the dunes. Closed, comfortable shoes suit the drive days and gorge walks, while sandals are useful around camp. A headlamp or torch, a portable charger, sunscreen, and a reusable water bottle round out the essentials — and a small daypack is more useful than a large suitcase once you're transferring between vehicle and camel.

Every itinerary includes pickup directly from your riad or hotel in the Marrakech medina or Gueliz, and the same vehicle brings you back at the end of the tour. Airport transfers on arrival or departure day can be arranged alongside your tour booking, so the whole trip is covered door to door. Just share your flight details and accommodation when you get in touch and it will be built into the plan.