The Unique Charm of The Sahara Desert
"Sahara" is a transliteration of Arabic, a name introduced from the language of the local nomadic Tuareg people, and means "emptiness" and "nothing". This desert is located in northern Africa and was formed about 2.5 million years ago. Its total area is more of the same as the United States. It is the largest sandy desert in the world and the second largest desert in the world, second only to the Antarctic and the Arctic. The desert extends east to the Red Sea, west to the Atlantic Ocean, and its southern boundary is marked by the Sahel and the northernmost regions of central and western sub-Saharan Africa.
Golden sand dunes, vast sand seas, Arabian castles, camel caravans from One Thousand and One Nights, and picturesque oasis wonderland, Sahara Desert attracts many people with its unique charm. Currently, some parts of the Sahara Desert are off-limits to tourists, but in some open areas in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt, tourists can experience it in depth through activities such as campfire parties, camel rides, four-wheel drive adventures. The charm of the desert makes people feel like they have traveled back to the dreamy scene of One Thousand and One Nights.
Best time to travel to the Sahara Desert
Spring and Autumn (March to May, September to November)
Because sand has a large specific heat capacity, the Sahara Desert experiences significant temperature differences between day and night. The summer in the Sahara Desert is hot, and the daytime temperature reaches as high as 40-50 degrees, making it unsuitable for entering the desert. In the winter of the Sahara Desert, t nighttime temperatures drop sharply, sometimes approaching 0°C. People who are not accustomed to extreme temperature differences may feel uncomfortable. Therefore, the transitional seasons are the most ideal time to visit the Sahara Desert to avoid the scorching summer heat and severe winter cold.
New Year Time
Sahara Desert The daytime in winter is warm and comfortable (20°C~25°C), making it suitable for daytime travel. Although it is cold at night, the luxury tent camps are all air-conditioned to ensure a certain level of comfort. And at this time, the weather in the Sahara Desert is clear and the air is dry, making it more ideal for stargazing. Imagine how wonderful it would be to celebrate the New Year with the people you cherish in the desert, watching the sky full of stars!
Where to Stay after Arriving in the Sahara Desert?
The most recommended experience when visiting the Sahara Desert is to spend a night in a tent camp in the desert to immerse yourself in the unique ambiance of the Sahara Desert. Ordinary campsites usually feature shared bedrooms and public bathroom facilities. If you want a more comfortable experience, you can opt for a luxury camp that provides hot water and private bathrooms, and higher-end tents are also equipped with air conditioning to ensure warmth at night. If you prefer to stay in a hotel, you can also choose to stay in a hotel or a traditional riad (Moroccan-style courtyard hotel) near the Sahara Desert to experience a different desert atmosphere.
Join our private tour and you will enjoy full luxury camp accommodation, and tent room types can be arranged according to your needs. The tour fee includes a rich breakfast and dinner, a camel riding experience and a Berber bonfire party. The suitcases will be transported to the desert by car, so you won’t need to worry about the inconvenience of carrying them.
How To Plan a Trip to the Sahara Desert?
Among the several open Sahara Desert areas in Morocco, Merzouga Desert has the most perfect facilities and is also the most popular. The Erg Chebbi sand dunes here are towering and continuous, reaching a maximum of 150 metres. They are called "golden sand dunes" and are very suitable for watching sunrise and sunset and the desert starry sky.
You can choose to travel to Merzouga from other cities in the north, but we usually recommend Marrakesh or Fez as your starting point. Because the Merzouga Desert belongs to the western part of the entire Sahara Desert, the distance from Marrakesh or Fes is not too far. You usually enter from Marrakesh and exit from Fes, or vice versa. For the route here, you can also take the round-trip route from Marrakesh or Fez, which takes about three days and two nights, or four days and three nights.
If you choose the four-day, three-night itinerary, you can spend an extra half-day at the camp, take more travel photos, and participate in more optional desert activities such as sand boarding, quad biking, and visiting the homes of the indigenous Berber people to experience more of the wonders of Sahara Desert.
Classic Desert Route
3-Day Sahara Adventure: Marrakesh to Fes
Day 1: Marrakesh - Ait Ben Haddou - Dades Gorge
Day 2: Dades Gorge – Todra Gorge - Erfoud - Merzouga Sahara Desert
Day 3: Merzouga Sahara Desert - Ifrane - Fes
3-Day Sahara Desert Adventure: Round trip from Marrakech
Day 1: Marrakesh - Ait Ben Haddou - Dades Gorge
Day 2: Dades Gorge – Todra Gorge - Erfoud - Merzouga Sahara Desert
Day 3: Merzouga Sahara Desert - Marrakesh
3-Day Sahara Desert Adventure: Round trip from Fes
Day 1: Fes – Ifrane – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Sahara
Day 2: Merzouga – Rissani – Erfoud – Ziz Valley – Ifrane – Fes
Although visiting the Sahara Desert involves enduring a hot and long journey, once you arrive, you will definitely feel that everything is worth it. After arriving at the camel station on the edge of the Sahara Desert, you can switch to riding a camel to venture deeper into the desert and enjoy the stunning sunset on the back of the camel.
Due to the relatively complex journey in and out of the Sahara Desert, which involves crossing multiple canyon areas, independent travelers may face various challenges, and self-driving visitors might miss many scenic spots worth stopping at for photos. Therefore, we highly recommend joining a private desert tour for a hassle-free Sahara Desert experience. You can choose the classic routes we recommend, or flexibly customize the itinerary according to your personal preferences. Whether it is the number of people in the group, the number of travel days, or the specific activity arrangements, everything can be freely adjusted to suit your schedule and preferences.
Must Try Experience
Camel Ride through the Desert
Riding a camel is a very unique experience. The camel guide will help you hang your belongings on the back of the camel. You only need to sit securely on the saddle, hold the onto the handlebars of the camel with both hands. The guide will then gently direct the camel to stand up, and the entire process is very safe! If it is the first time when you ride a camel, you may be a little worried because of the unfamiliar balance, but the guide will patiently guide you to adjust your posture while guiding the camel forward and helping you take photos. Once you get used to it, you'll be able to enjoy the beautiful sunset of the Sahara Desert with ease.
Accompanied by the afterglow of the setting sun and the gradually cooling desert atmosphere, the camel caravans connected with each other, slowly making its way into the sand dunes, reminiscent of One Thousand and One Nights. As far as the eye can see, there are rolling golden sand dunes and endless blue sky. The only sounds are the gentle breeze sweeping across the desert and the slow breathing of camels, creating a sense of tranquil isolation and awe.
Enjoy the Desert Sunrise and Sunset
Standing on the top of the dunes, you will experience the extraordinary charm of sunrise and sunset. At dusk, the setting sun dyes the golden desert into rose red, and the light and shadow interweave, making people immersed in the tenderness and romance of the desert. When the first ray of sunlight rises in the morning, the desert is covered with a layer of golden light, showing a completely different kind of beauty.
Desert Camping
The Sahara Desert at night is another ultimate experience. You will live in a Berber-style tent under the stars and experience the unique tranquility and splendor of the desert. Listen to the sound of the wind blowing through the sand dunes, taste the original tagine and mint tea, and completely immerse yourself in the cultural atmosphere of the desert.
Sand Boarding
Sandboarding is one of the most exciting recreational activities in the desert! On the soft sand dunes, you can slide down quickly from high places on a skateboard and feel the pleasure of sand flying at your fingertips, adding more fun to your Sahara desert tour.
Quad Drive
If you like adventure, you can choose to cross the desert in a quad drive, drive an off-road vehicle among the rolling sand dunes, and enjoy the adrenaline-filled experience brought by speed and power.
Berber Cultural Experience
The Sahara Desert not only has natural beauty, but also carries the beauty of humanity. By visiting a Berber tribe, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the local lifestyle and traditional crafts.
Preparation before Traveling
1. Essential items list
Sun protection equipment: sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, long-sleeved clothing
Warm items: night warm clothing, sleeping bag
Outdoor supplies: hiking shoes, water bottle, headscarf
Emergency supplies: medicines, first aid kits
2. Visas and Security
Visa requirements for entering Morocco
Choose a reliable tour group or guide to ensure safety
Notes and Tips
1) In desert areas, unstable water pressure or power tripping may occasionally occur. These are normal phenomena. After all, the infrastructure conditions in desert areas are relatively rudimentary.
2) Unexpected sandstorms may occasionally occur in the desert. Wear protective clothing such as jackets and headscarves to protect your skin and face from the sun overhead and sandstorms.
3) The Sahara Desert has a large temperature difference between day and night, and the temperature may drop suddenly at night. Remember to prepare enough warm clothes.
We provide professional Morocco travel planning and dedicated travel services, including private charters, Sahara Desert tours and private customized itineraries, with no limit on the number of days and number of people. We have a dedicated Chinese customer service team to provide the most considerate and convenient services to Chinese-speaking guests. Our popular private group itineraries include 10-Day Morocco Tour from Marrakesh to Sahara & Imperial Cities and 13-Day Moroccan Tour from Casablanca, and you can choose from multiple cities such as Casablanca, Tangier, Fez or Marrakesh. Join one of our private tours and you'll experience luxury camp accommodations!
