3 min read
The best time of day (and year) to see the Sahara dunes
Sunrise and sunset do most of the work: the calendar matters more for comfort than looks.
Written by Morocco Tailored Tours.
By time of day, sunrise and sunset are both genuinely better than midday for seeing the dunes at Erg Chebbi: the low-angle light brings out the ripple patterns in the sand and turns the dunes shades of orange and pink that flatten out completely under the midday sun.
Sunset is the more commonly chosen option, since it coincides naturally with arrival at camp; sunrise requires an early, cold start but rewards it with quieter dunes and a different colour palette as the light comes up.
By season, spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) offer the most comfortable temperatures for both timing: warm days without the extreme summer heat, and cold-but-manageable nights rather than the near-freezing lows of deep winter.
Full moon nights are worth asking about specifically if your dates are flexible: the dunes lit by moonlight, with minimal artificial light for miles, is a genuinely different experience from either sunrise or sunset, and one we can time a desert night around if it matters to you.
Want to see how this works on a real route? Our 9-Day Tangier to Marrakech Desert Tour via Fez and 4-Day Fez to Marrakech Desert Tour via the Sahara are private itineraries we can adjust to fit.
Planning around Sahara Desert? Read the Sahara Desert destination guide, or see 9-Day Tangier to Marrakech Desert Tour via Fez, a sample itinerary that includes it.
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9-Day Tangier to Marrakech Desert Tour via Fez
A private 9-day Tangier to Marrakech desert tour covering Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fez, Sahara and Marrakech. The full north-to-south crossing: Tangier is the furthest of our departure cities from the Sahara, so this route takes longer than the others, with real stops rather than a rushed dash south.
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Read articleTours for this trip
9-Day Tangier to Marrakech Desert Tour via Fez
A private 9-day Tangier to Marrakech desert tour covering Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fez, Sahara and Marrakech. The full north-to-south crossing: Tangier is the furthest of our departure cities from the Sahara, so this route takes longer than the others, with real stops rather than a rushed dash south.
Visits Tangier · Chefchaouen · Fez · Sahara Desert · Marrakech
From€2,293(≈ $2,560 USD)€2,698 (≈ $3,015 USD)15% off, reserve by 17 Feb 2027per person, double or twin room
4-Day Fez to Marrakech Desert Tour via the Sahara
A private 4-day Fez to Marrakech desert tour through Ifrane and Azrou, Merzouga, the Todra Gorge and Ait Ben Haddou. The shortest way from Fez to Marrakech through the Sahara: Ifrane and Azrou, a night at a desert hotel and a night in a luxury camp, Todra Gorge, Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou.
Visits Fez · Sahara Desert · Todra and Dades Gorges · Ouarzazate · Ait Benhaddou · Marrakech · +1 more
From€917(≈ $1,025 USD)€1,079 (≈ $1,205 USD)15% off, reserve by 17 Feb 2027per person, double or twin room
6-Day Marrakech to Fez Desert Tour via the Sahara
A private 6-day Marrakech to Fez desert tour via Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades and Todra gorges and two nights in the Erg Chebbi dunes. A private route over the Atlas passes and down into the Sahara, with a full day to sit still in the dunes instead of rushing through them. We end in Fez instead of backtracking to Marrakech, so every day moves forward.
Visits Marrakech · Ait Benhaddou · Todra and Dades Gorges · Sahara Desert · Fez
From€1,652(≈ $1,845 USD)€1,944 (≈ $2,170 USD)15% off, reserve by 17 Feb 2027per person, double or twin room