4 min read
What to pack for a Sahara desert trip
The desert is hot by day and genuinely cold by night: pack for both.
Written by Morocco Tailored Tours.
The biggest packing mistake for a Sahara trip is planning only for heat. Daytime temperatures at Erg Chebbi are high for most of the year, but desert nights, especially outside summer, regularly drop below 10°C, and camps, while comfortable, aren't heated beyond blankets and braziers.
Layers matter more than any single item: a light long-sleeve shirt and trousers for sun protection during the day (better than shorts, which the sand and sun both punish), a warm layer for the evening, and a proper jacket for the hour around sunset and sunrise, when the temperature drop is fastest.
A scarf or shesh, often provided or sold locally, does real work against blowing sand during a camel trek or 4x4 ride, not just as a souvenir. Closed shoes you don't mind getting sandy are better than sandals for walking the dunes.
Beyond clothing: a headlamp or torch (camps are dark once the generator's off), a portable charger (power is limited), sunscreen and sunglasses, and any medication you need. The nearest pharmacy is a genuine drive away from most camps.
Want to see how this works on a real route? Our 6-Day Marrakech to Fez Desert Tour via the Sahara and 8-Day Marrakech Loop Tour via the Sahara, Fez and Chefchaouen are private itineraries we can adjust to fit.
Planning around Sahara Desert? Read the Sahara Desert destination guide, or see 6-Day Marrakech to Fez Desert Tour via the Sahara, a sample itinerary that includes it.
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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.
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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.
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The Sahara Desert in Morocco: the complete practical guide
Everything worth knowing before a desert trip, gathered in one place rather than five.
Read articleTours for this trip
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
8-Day Marrakech Loop Tour via the Sahara, Fez and Chefchaouen
A private 8-day loop from Marrakech that goes straight into the Atlas and the Sahara, swings north through Fez and Chefchaouen, and returns down the Atlantic coast through Rabat and Casablanca. It spends two nights at Erg Chebbi and a full day in Fez, and the last day brings you back to Marrakech for your flight or onward trip.
Visits Marrakech · Ait Benhaddou · Todra and Dades Gorges · Sahara Desert · Fez · Chefchaouen · +5 more
From€2,205(≈ $2,465 USD)€2,594 (≈ $2,900 USD)15% off, reserve by 17 Feb 2027per person, double or twin room
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