Morocco Desert Tour Packing List — What to Bring to the Sahara

The essentials (all seasons)

• Closed, comfortable shoes — trainers are perfect for the camel ride and dune walks. Skip flip-flops (hot sand, awkward camels).
• Sunglasses & sunscreen (SPF 50) — desert sun is fierce even in winter.
• A scarf or shemagh — protects against wind and sand; doubles as a great photo prop.
• Camera / phone + power bank — there is limited charging at some camps.
• Small backpack or duffel — one night's worth of gear only.
• Toiletries & any medication — the nearest pharmacy is an hour away.
• Cash (dirhams) — for drinks, tips and souvenirs in Merzouga village.

Winter packing (November – February): layers are everything

Desert days are gorgeous (18–24°C) but nights plunge to 0–5°C. This is the #1 thing travelers underestimate.

• Thermal base layer + fleece or down jacket
• Warm hat and gloves for the evening
• Long trousers (not shorts) for the camel trek
• Warm socks — tents have tile or carpet floors

Summer packing (June – September): beat the heat

• Light, loose, light-colored clothing (linen is ideal)
• Wide-brim hat and extra water (we provide plenty too)
• Swimwear — some luxury camps have pools in Merzouga village

What NOT to bring to the camp

• Your full suitcase — it stays in the vehicle
• Valuables you don't need — keep it simple
• A drone — restricted in many areas without permits
• Too many "just in case" outfits — one change is enough

Quick answer: do I need a sleeping bag?

No. Our luxury desert camps provide real beds with warm duvets and blankets year-round. Even in January, you'll sleep warm — the cold hits hardest during the evening campfire and the sunrise walk, which is what the layers are for.

The small things people always wish they had packed

Three items top every "wish I’d brought" list: a head torch for the camp (paths are lit, but your tent zip is not), a buff or light scarf you can pull over your face when the wind lifts the sand on the camel trek, and lip balm — desert air is drier than you expect and two days of it catches everyone out. Add a portable power bank, because camp sockets are limited and your phone is your camera, torch and star-map in one.

What to leave behind: big hard suitcases (they ride in the vehicle, but soft bags are kinder to camp logistics), white shoes (Erg Chebbi sand dyes everything a beautiful orange), and heavy hiking boots — trainers or walking sandals with closed toes handle dunes and kasbah steps perfectly well. Dress in layers you can peel: the same day can hold a frosty Atlas viewpoint at 9am and 30 degrees on the dunes by 4pm.

Packing for the journey, not just the camp

Remember that a desert tour is mostly a road trip through four climates: city heat, mountain chill, valley sun and desert cold. The travellers who pack best think in outfits per zone rather than per day — one warm system (jacket, layer, hat) that rides in your day bag, and one light system for the valleys. A small dry bag keeps sand out of camera gear and chargers; the dunes’ fine orange sand is beautiful and absolutely relentless.

Documents and money: carry a photo of your passport on your phone, keep a modest amount of dirham cash in small notes for lunches, tips and village stops (card machines thin out beyond Ouarzazate), and tell your bank you are in Morocco. Download offline maps for the Atlas and desert regions before you leave the city — signal is good on main roads and gloriously absent exactly where the views are best.