A Moroccan desert tour offers an unforgettable adventure as you travel through a dream world of stunning views and wide-open spaces.
There’s always the call of the mighty Sahara Desert on your doorstep, no matter which of Morocco’s wonderful cities you base yourself in for your stay — Marrakech, Fez, Casablanca, Agadir, and more amazingly vibrant and colourful places that excite the senses.
Morocco, a West African country of charm and magnificence that spellbinds tourists and keeps them coming back for more, is home to the world’s biggest scorching desert, which stretches through much of North Africa and all the way down the eastern edge of the country.
The contrast between bustling Moroccan cities and the utter silence of the desert is so striking that you must seen to believe. And going out into the wide fields of luminous sand, where there’s nothing but towering dunes stretching to the horizon, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Because the Sahara is so different from what most people are used to— buildings, roads, vehicles, people — and because it can be harsh and have few or no landmarks, it’s not surprising that many people are unsure where to begin their Morocco Desert Tour. Here’s a quick rundown.
WHAT IS A GOOD TIME TO VISIT MOROCCO SAHARA DESERT?
While temperatures in Morocco soar throughout the summer, they soar even higher — and lower — in the Sahara, due to a lack of cloud cover to keep the day’s heat as night falls. Some individuals may find desert tours uncomfortable as a result of this, so it’s best to go when the weather isn’t too hot.
We advise guests who are sensitive to extremes of temperature to avoid visiting during the summer months, when temperatures can reach 40°C and more. This is usually from late June through August, when the weather is very hot.
It can get below freezing in the Sahara at the end of the year and at the beginning of the year, but it’s a fantastic and popular time to visit, especially around Christmas and New Year.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR MOROCCO DESERT TOUR?
So, what might you expect to see on a Moroccan desert tour? There’ll be plenty of sand, but for a truly unforgettable experience, you’ll need to see some of the world’s most spectacular dunes.
Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga (“erg” means “field of dunes” in Arabic) are two of the most popular, and you can trek around on foot or ride a camel up, down, and along the massive dunes. However, we do not recommend going on desert trips alone, or even with a group of family or friends.
You can easily become disoriented — and lost — in this environment. Always take desert tours led by a Moroccan desert tour company with expert local guides who are well versed in the desert and its ways.
They’ll also be able to arrange for your group to stay in a luxury desert camp— your very own desert oasis where you’ll be treated like royalty and dine on sumptuous meals prepared just for you while relaxing under a canopy of stunning starlight.
WHAT TO WEAR ON A MOROCCAN DESERT TRIP?
The presence of sand in the desert does not imply that it will be a day at the beach – far from it. You must arrive prepared, or you risk suffering and ruining this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Instead than exposing a lot of flesh and trying to achieve a tan in the scorching heat, loose pants and long-sleeved shirts are recommended. Shorts and t-shirts are OK, as is plenty of high-factor sunscreen — but not if you’re riding a camel, since the coarse hair would chafe your legs. Bring a scarf or other kind of facial protection in case the wind whips up the sand into a full-fledged desert storm.
Alternatively, you may ask your Marrakech to Merzouga tour driver to take you to a local market where you can get a wonderful turban that will do the job for a reasonable price – plus, you’ll have a great memento to take home.
Check out our helpful Morocco desert Packing List for further information on what to bring on desert tours. When you’re well prepared for your Moroccan desert tour, you’re sure to enjoy the time of your life.
Marrakech Desert Trips has put up some fantastic desert tours that you can book right now and enjoy for yourself. Spend a 3 days or longer in this fascinating region of the world for a tour that will leave you speechless and wanting more. Now is the time to book your Morocco desert tour!
