Riding a camel across the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert at sunset was a bucket list experience for me. Honestly, it wasn’t something I ever thought I would do, but in recent years, I’ve become fascinated by deserts and these seemingly “barren wastelands”. As I researched different trips and found none of the flights would work with my original plans, an idea popped into my head. Why not visit Morocco and go to the Sahara Desert? Well, that idea stuck and here we are.
I flew into Marrakesh, Morocco and spent the night before joining up with a three day, two night tour to the Sahara Desert near Merzouga and the Morocco-Algeria border. This post is all about my personal experience. I hope it helps to give you a better idea of what to expect for your own trip (because I had no idea what to expect for my own trip).
About My Tour Company
There are numerous tour companies that you can book a Sahara Desert tour with. Note that some tours will offer a “Desert Tour” but if it’s only a day trip, you won’t be visiting the Sahara Desert. It’s just too far. If you truly want to visit the Sahara Desert on a tour, you’ll want to look for a tour that goes to Merzouga. These tours will likely be three days and two nights, though you may be able to find a few longer tours.
I chose Intrepid Travel for my tour. Intrepid offers tours all over the world ranging from mini three day adventures to tours that can last two months and everything in between. They operate all over the world, but work with local guides and drivers to help you understand the culture of the place you are visiting.
I wanted to book my tour in advance, so it made sense to pick a larger company with an online presence. Additionally, I’ve had my eye on a few of their other, longer tours for locations that are more difficult for solo travelers. For me, this tour with Intrepid was a test run for future travel (and I was not the only person on my tour using this Sahara Desert tour as a test run before booking other trips with them).
But Intrepid is not the only company offering this type of tour. You’ll find tour agencies in Marrakesh advertising their own tours to Merzouga. Plus, when I booked my hotels in Marrakesh, I received messages from both advertising tours that they could help you arrange (and yes, the 3 day/2 night tour to Merzouga was included). So, the bottom line is that you’ll have your choice for companies and it’s up to you which you choose.
For me, I’m happy that I picked Intrepid because I could see the itinerary in advance and determine if it would be right for me. I’m sure you can ask questions of the other operators, but there is something so nice of having all of the information provided for you without having to request it.
That said, the tour with Intrepid was more expensive than what my hotel advertised. In fact, it was three times more expensive than what my hotel offered. It should be noted that I did not request additional information from my hotels (since I had booked my tour in Intrepid before I booked my hotels) so I don’t know what’s included with that tour. At least I knew that my accommodation, activities, and most of my meals would be included in my price with Intrepid.
An Overview of My Tour
My tour was a standard three day/two night tour to the Sahara Desert. However, we also included a stop at the Todra Gorge. While other tours may drive you straight out to Merzouga so you have a full day in the desert, Intrepid gave us a bit more variety. On day 1, we drove as far as the Todra Gorge. On day 2, we took a stroll in the morning before continuing on to the desert where we rode camels and enjoyed the panoramic views. Finally on day 3, we drove back to Marrakesh on one very long day.
But let’s give a little more detail about what to expect. Again, this is my particular tour and I’m sure that different companies offer slightly varied itineraries.
This was my experience on a three day tour to the Sahara Desert from Marrakesh.
Day 1 – Marrakesh to Todra Gorge
My tour instructions said we would leave promptly at 8:00 am, so we needed to arrive at our meeting location at 7:45 am. At 7:55 am, our tour guide and driver arrived and we started the check in process. While everyone from my group was prompt and on time, I don’t think any of us were surprised that we started a bit late. The check in took a bit as everyone needed to verify all of their information and we only had one device to do it. But we got everything loaded up and started our drive out of Marrakesh.
Our route took us east and through the Atlas Mountains. The initial part of the drive wasn’t very memorable but the further we got from Marrakesh, the better the views became. While we did stop for a quick bathroom break, we didn’t make our first major stop until lunch at Aït Benhaddou.
Lunch was included and was a traditional Moroccan meal full of bread, vegetables, and meat cooked in tagines. This was my first introduction to Moroccan food and everything was delicious. After we had our fill, we took an hour to explore the area. Our guide led us on a walk through the winding alleyways to a viewpoint overlooking the area.
We took in the Atlas Mountains, the village we just walked through, and the village across the road where most people live. As another fun fact, we could see film trucks. This area is has been used for big name films for decades and while we there Christopher Nolan was filming his latest movie (though we didn’t see any celebrities).
With our walk complete, we headed back to the van and continued our journey east. We stopped one more time, this time for a stop at a grocery store. Everyone picked up snacks and we grabbed several bottles of water to share (though we did not buy enough water) and then it was more driving.
That’s the big thing about trying to reach the Sahara Desert. It’s not close to Marrakesh or any other major towns, so if you want to visit, you need to be ready for a lot of time spent driving. For my group though, we spent time getting to know each other and taking in the scenery. Well, we took in the scenery until it got too dark to see anything out the window.
Eventually our driver pulled over on the side of the road and we were all very confused. Apparently this was our stop for the night, but if I’m honest, it looked like we were in the middle of nowhere. We had just driven through the city of Tinghir, but then seemingly just stopped on the side of a road where there was nothing around. There was a place off a bit in the distance, but that couldn’t be ours could it? The answer is yes. We unloaded the van, grabbed our things, and walked five minutes across the road, across a bridge, and up some stairs to reach our hotel.
Here was home for the night. We checked in, placed orders for dinner, and had time to take a shower. In the information provided by Intrepid, we were told that we needed to be prepared for cold showers. I’m sure that for most of the year, that’s not a problem as a cold shower could be refreshing on a hot day. But we were traveling in early March and it was quite chilly. We built up courage, got into the shower, and were absolutely thrilled to have hot water. That definitely helped to make up for the lack of heat in the room (though there were plenty of heavy, warm blankets).
Dinner was more delicious Moroccan food. This time, instead of shared plates, everyone ordered their own meal (though there a lot of sharing went on as people sampled other food). This meal was not included, which if you ask me was a bit strange since we ate at the hotel. There weren’t any other options, so we had no choice but to eat at this one restaurant.
The food was great and the meal was inexpensive (coming in at 80 dirhams on average), but I still wonder what the rationale is behind having us pay for this meal when nearly all of our other meals were included. It’s minor, but it did become a pain the next day when we needed to pay for our meals at check out and hardly anyone had small bills so the hotel struggled to get change for all of us.
After dinner, we settled into our rooms, burrowed deep under the blankets, and got a good night sleep.
Day 2 – Todra Gorge to Sahara Desert
Remember how I said we arrived in darkness and it felt like we were in the middle of nowhere? Well the next morning I woke up and looked out the hotel room window. Oh! Now that is a good view.
After a good breakfast, we left our bags to be loaded onto the van while we took a hike through the fields and into the Todra Gorge. Had I been thinking, I would have tracked it to see exactly how much we did. The route was mostly flat and based on the locations logged by my photos, it was only about 2.5 to 3 kilometers (though I feel it may have been a bit longer than that).
As we walked through farmland, I couldn’t help but look up at the mountains surrounding us. Granted, I live in Wisconsin so anytime I see mountains it feels really cool. The fields and crops eventually gave way to the towering walls of the Todra Gorge. This was the highlight of the visit because this was the best scenery. In the distance, we could see rock climbers heading up the walls of the gorge, but we stayed firmly on the ground. We took our photos and said goodbye to the gorge just as it started to rain.
Before we got too far, we stopped to learn about Moroccan carpets. This didn’t surprise me, but it was definitely more of a shopping experience than anything else. We learned a bit and saw some absolutely beautiful carpets, but shopping was the main priority. And while many of my group loved the rugs, we were all in our 20s and early 30s. Most of us still lived in small apartments and didn’t have room for these rugs. They did eventually get a few buyers from our group but our overall thought was “I love it, but I don’t have space for it”.
We stopped for lunch which was absolutely delicious. I wish I knew what we ate, because it was my favorite thing that I ate while in Morocco. As a self described picky eater, I was a little nervous about visiting Morocco, but I just went with it and made it a point to get out of my comfort zone and try everything. Luckily, most things were good, including this lunch. The best way I could describe it is a bread that was stuffed with vegetables and spices. Our entire group devoured what was placed in front of us. Again, I just wish I knew what exactly it was!
Then it was time to continue driving. We made one more stop to buy more water, but then it was on to the Sahara Desert. The drive was mostly uneventful though we found a bit of irony in the fact we were driving out to the Sahara Desert and it was pouring rain. The rain did eventually let up and the sunshine came out, but the weather was not what any of us expected.
The mountains gave way to barren landscapes and finally after hours of driving, we finally arrived at our desert camp with the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert. This was the image I had been waiting for and it was absolutely what I had pictured.
We had a just a little bit of time to get settled in our tents before our camel ride. I use the word “tent” because that’s technically what it was, but it was a lot more glamorous than you may be picturing. The tents were massive. We didn’t crawl through an opening and instead walked right in.
There were four beds in each tent with extra blankets provided on the shelves lining one side. There was also electricity, which is something none of us expected to have that night. And while our tent didn’t have a bathroom, there was a bathroom (complete with a western style flush toilet and showers) right nearby. This is not what I was picturing when I heard “tent in the desert”, but I definitely wasn’t complaining.
Soon after it was time for what would be the highlight of the trip. Before we knew it, we were climbing aboard camels and riding out into the sand dunes.
So how does one board a camel? The camels sit on the ground and you climb on top. Then you hold on as tight as you can, leaning with the camel as it stands to its full height. I have never felt anything like it, but once you’re on the camel, that’s a long way down!
The camel ride was not long and after maybe 20 or 30 minutes, we came to a stop. The camels sat and we got off. It was just about sunset and wow was it beautiful. We all took photos and sat and watched as the sun set against the sand dunes of the Sahara. It was something that I never thought I’d be able to do and it lived up to everything I had hoped it would be. Then, it was back on the camels for our ride back to camp.
By this point I should have known that everything in Morocco comes with a shopping opportunity, but I wasn’t expecting it immediately after our camel ride. The man leading our camels pulled out his bag and offered small bits of pottery, quartz, and some jars to collect sand from the Sahara Desert. I bought the quartz because it was too beautiful not to and the price was great. My point in telling you this is to be prepared and always have just a little bit of cash on you. Yes, even when you take your camel ride.
Dinner that night was a feast with so much delicious food. Chicken kebabs, so many vegetables, potatoes, and breads. Everything was delicious!
After dinner a few of us walked out onto the dunes because when else can you take in the stars of the Sahara Desert. It was cool, but this is the one part that didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Maybe if I had walked out further it would have been cooler, but I was hoping to see just a bit more of the stars and galaxies than I did. Still it was cool and I do recommend taking advantage of it if you are ever in the Sahara Desert overnight.
Day 3 – Sahara Desert to Marrakesh
The next morning we got up early. Before breakfast, our guide lead us out into the sand dunes where we found a spot to watch the sunrise. I didn’t realize it at the time but we were only 20 kilometers from the Algerian border. So we actually watched the sunrise over Algeria while sitting on a sand dune in the Sahara Desert. It was another great moment.
After breakfast, we loaded up into the van and started the very long drive back to Marrakesh. We stayed near Merzouga and to get back to Marrakesh was a nearly ten hour drive. Unlike our drive out to the desert, we didn’t make many stops. We all got so accustomed to stopping every hour or so, so it was a bit of a shock when this changed to every three to four hours.
We did stop for lunch, but this was at our own cost. But again, we didn’t have a choice. We stopped at one restaurant and everyone had to eat there. I understand that this one was more difficult because as a group we were given the option to stop for lunch now or drive another hour before stopping (we opted to drive one more hour), but I still feel like something could be arranged.
The drive back was long but after two full days, we’d become friends. We played car games and just chatted all the way back to Marrakesh. By that point we were all pretty tired, but we still said our goodbyes with lots of hugs before heading off to our own hotels. Our Sahara Desert adventure was officially over.
Is a Sahara Desert Tour Worth It?
In my opinion, absolutely. Yes, there is a lot of driving, but it’s so cool to see the landscape change as you make your way out of the city, through the mountains, and out to the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert. And riding a camel across the sand dunes at sunset? It was one of the best experiences I’ve had while traveling.
What Went Well
We’ll talk about where I think improvements could be made in a minute, but let’s talk about what I think went well.
I loved the inclusion of the Todra Gorge. Yes, my main goal was to get out to the Sahara Desert, but I think including the stop at the gorge gave this trip a bit more variety and allowed us to see just a bit more of Morocco. I’m thankful for that.
Every meal that was included was absolutely delicious. While the breakfasts were the least extravagant, everything I ate at lunch at dinner was fantastic. There was plenty of food and all of it was delicious.
The accommodations were better than I expected. For both nights, I expected more basic accommodations, but our hotel at the Todra Gorge was lovely (even if the heat in our room didn’t work) and the tent in the Sahara Desert was much nicer than I expected.
The actual tour group was great as well. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was lucky to find that it was a group of people in their 20s to mid 30s. While there were two couples and a group of four friends traveling together, there were plenty of solo travelers. Every was open and became friends for the entirety of the trip. This is the hardest thing to plan for, but I definitely think I got a good group of people.
What Could Have Been Improved
My complaints for this trip are small and I don’t think are reasons to stop anyone from taking a trip to the Sahara Desert.
My biggest complaint is the tipping situation. Morocco is a country where tipping is a large part of traveling. You’ll tip at meals, hotels, your guides, and plenty of other times that you may not expect. When I booked this trip, I was provided information about money to bring for tips. That wasn’t the problem.
The problem was our guide wasn’t as helpful as I would have liked when it came to tipping. This was something that my group grumbled about amongst ourselves for the three days of our tour. We all had money set aside, but we never knew how much to tip and when to tip. We did our best, but I’m sure we never tipped the right amount or just flat out didn’t leave a tip. It wasn’t because we were trying to be cheap, but because we genuinely didn’t know. Add on to this that we all had larger bills so trying to get the correct tip amount was also a challenge.
There were two meals not included with our trip. That’s all good and fine, but we didn’t have a choice for where we ate. It would have just made so much more sense to include these with our fee. I find it hard to believe that a company who runs this tour twice a week would struggle to come up with permanent arrangements. Again, this isn’t a huge deal, but everyone only had larger bills so getting change for everyone was a challenge.
I would have loved more time in the desert itself. We arrived to camp at around 4:00 pm and by 9:00 am the next morning, we were pulling out and heading back for Marrakesh. I realize that the trade off is time at the Todra Gorge, but after so much driving to get to and from Merzouga, it would have been nice to have some more time in the desert. I think what could make this a truly excellent tour is 4 days and 3 nights. Follow the same itinerary to include a stop at the Todra Gorge, but then give one full day in the Sahara Desert.
Tips for Your Sahara Tour
So are you convinced to take your own tour to the Sahara Desert? Here’s my top tips for your trip.
- Pack in layers. Many people are inclined to believe that the Sahara Desert is always hot. Well, during my trip in early March, I spent the entire time in long pants and long sleeves. For our camel ride into the desert and our sunrise stroll, I put a pair of leggings on under my pants and wore long sleeves, a fleece, and a jacket. In general, the days can be warm but it can cool off dramatically at night.
- Bring small bills. You’ll need cash for most things in Morocco, but if you have smaller bills, you’ll be in a lot better shape. Plus if you’re on a tour, you’ll be everyone’s friend because everyone is looking for small bills.
- Be prepared for long drives. This is a great time to get to know your fellow travelers, but I’d also recommend having some music or an audiobook to pass the time. The roads can be bumpy so a real book (or eReader) is not super ideal.
- Be prepared to rough it. This means cold showers or no showers at all (at least for the overnight in the desert). Yes, I had hot water and even a shower option at our desert camp, but I was prepared to have neither of those things. Additionally, I was prepared to not have electricity at our camp and brought a battery bank to charge my phone. I didn’t end up needing it, but I think it’s better to be prepared.
- Bring plenty of bottled water. You’ll likely stop along the way to purchase bottled water, but I’d recommend bringing more than you think you need. We bought water to share as a group and thought we bought plenty, but we ran out on day 2 and had to stop for more.
Final Thoughts
A trip to the Sahara Desert is an incredible experience it’s one of my favorite trips I’ve ever done. And even though I’ve been, this is a place that I would return to. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend a tour to the Sahara Desert.
Continue Your Adventure
Spain: While technically a different continent, Spain is just a short flight from Morocco. Take in the architecture of Barcelona, the Alhambra of Granada, the relaxed vibe of Sevilla, or one of the great day trips from Madrid.