Knowing what to pack for a Morocco desert tour makes your night in the Sahara far more comfortable. The desert is hot in the day and surprisingly cold at night, the sand gets everywhere and you will ride a camel to camp – so pack light, in layers, and keep a small bag for the camp night.
Clothes
- Light, loose trousers or long skirts and breathable shirts
- A warm fleece or down jacket for the evening, in every season
- A hat and a large cotton scarf (you can buy a traditional shesh in Merzouga)
- Swimwear if your camp or hotel has a pool
Shoes
Sandals or light trainers are perfect on the dunes – many travellers walk barefoot on the soft sand. Avoid heavy boots: they fill with sand and are hard to empty.
For the camp night
- A small backpack: the main luggage stays in the vehicle when you ride the camels
- Toothbrush, wet wipes and a small towel
- Headlamp or torch
- Power bank – some camps have limited charging
- Any medication you need
Protect your camera and phone
Fine sand gets into everything. Keep your camera in a zip bag when you are not using it, avoid changing lenses in the wind, and bring a soft cloth to clean the screen.
Health and sun
Use high-factor sunscreen, sunglasses and lip balm, and drink plenty of water. Check any vaccination or health advice for your country before you travel – the NHS and similar national services publish advice for travellers.
What to pack for a Morocco desert tour in winter and summer
Winter (December–February): add a warm hat, gloves, thick socks and a down jacket. Nights in Merzouga can be close to freezing, even when the afternoon feels like spring. Camps provide heavy blankets, but your own layers make the evening by the fire much more pleasant.
Summer (June–August): pack the lightest clothes you have, a wide-brimmed hat, a refillable water bottle and electrolyte sachets. A light long-sleeved shirt protects you from the sun better than a T-shirt.
What not to bring
- Large hard suitcases on the camel ride – they stay in the vehicle
- Expensive jewellery or anything you would hate to lose in the sand
- Drones, unless you have checked the rules: drones are restricted in Morocco and may be held at customs
Still unsure what to pack for a Morocco desert tour in your month? Ask us on WhatsApp – we answer this question every day.
Ready for the dunes?
Now that you know what to pack for a Morocco desert tour, choose your route: the 4 Day Tour from Fes to Merzouga gives you two nights in the Sahara, and the 4 Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes crosses the whole south of Morocco.
Plan your private tour
Send us your dates – we reply with a route and a clear price within 24 hours.
