A desert trip is simple if you pack for three things: sun in the day, cold at night and sand everywhere. You do not need special equipment. You need the right layers, a few small items and a soft bag. Here is the list we give our travellers, including what to wear on a camel ride.
Clothes for the day
Choose light, loose clothes that cover your arms and legs: long trousers and a long-sleeved cotton or linen shirt protect you from the sun better than shorts and a T-shirt. Wear a wide-brimmed hat or a scarf, and sunglasses. A large scarf (chèche) is the most useful single item: it shades your neck, covers your face in the wind and can be bought on the way.
For the camel ride, wear long trousers that are not too tight, because the saddle rubs bare skin. Women and men alike are comfortable in the same simple outfit. In villages, shoulders and knees covered is respectful.
Clothes for the night
Desert nights are cold for much of the year, even after a hot day. Bring a warm fleece or jumper, a light jacket, long trousers and warm socks. In winter add a hat and gloves. Ask the team what bedding the camp provides; thick blankets are common, but a light sleeping bag liner is a good idea if you feel the cold.
Shoes
Closed shoes with a flexible sole are best for the dunes and the stony tracks. Sand gets into everything, so a pair of sandals for the camp is a comfort. Do not bring new boots for the first time on a trip.
Small things that help
- Sunscreen and lip balm with sun protection.
- A refillable water bottle; the team provides drinking water.
- A head torch for the walk to the tent at night.
- A power bank: electricity in camp is limited and phone signal is often weak.
- Wet wipes and tissues; camp facilities are simple.
- Small notes in dirhams for tips and for buying water or crafts.
- A zip bag or cloth to protect your camera and phone from sand.
- Any medicine you take, in its original packaging.
The bag
Take one soft bag or backpack, because it fits easily in a 4x4 and on a camel. Leave the large suitcase at your hotel in Marrakech; most Marrakech hotels will keep it for you. A small day pack is useful for the water bottle, the scarf and the camera.
What the camp provides
You do not need to bring bedding for a night in camp on our 4x4 tours: the camp provides it, and the trip pages say so. What changes is the comfort around it. A standard camp has traditional tents with mattresses and shared facilities. A comfort or luxury camp, like the two nights at Erg Chigaga on our five-day tour via Skoura or the luxury camp at Erg Chebbi on the four-day tour from Fes, has proper beds and a private bathroom. Either way, a small toiletry bag and a quick-dry towel make the evening easier.
Packing for a trek
On a trek the camels carry your main bag, so it can be a little larger than for a 4x4 tour, but keep it soft and under control: it is tied to a saddle every morning. Walk with a small day pack holding your water, sun protection, a warm layer for the evening and your camera. The team provides drinking water and the camping gear; on the long treks of 10, 11 and 13 days your own sleeping bag is on the list, because it is not included. Wear walking shoes you have already used, and bring a second pair of light shoes for the camp.
- Walking shoes already worn in, and light shoes for the camp.
- A day pack of 20 to 30 litres.
- A sleeping bag for the long treks, warm enough for winter nights.
- Blister plasters and any personal medicine.
Packing by season
From December to February, the nights are the challenge: bring a warm jacket, a hat and gloves, and wear layers you can add as the sun goes down. In spring, the wind can lift sand for a few hours, so keep the scarf at hand and protect your camera. Our desert trips run from October to April; on the hottest days at either end of the season, light long sleeves and a hat are more comfortable than bare skin.
Money on the way
Read the "not included" list of your trip: on our three-day Erg Chigaga tour, for example, lunches on the road, drinks, entrance fees and tips are not included. Carry some cash in dirhams for those and for small purchases in the villages along the road. Our guide to desert tour prices explains what the price of a trip covers.
Quick answers
Do I need a sleeping bag?
Not on our 4x4 tours: the camp provides the bedding. On the long treks of 10, 11 and 13 days a sleeping bag is yours to bring, warm enough for winter nights.
Where do I leave my suitcase?
At your hotel in Marrakech; most hotels there will keep it for you. Take one soft bag or backpack on the trip, plus a small day pack for water, the scarf and the camera.
Is there electricity and phone signal in camp?
Electricity in camp is limited and the signal is often weak, so bring a power bank and download your maps before you leave the road.
Should I bring money?
Yes, some cash in dirhams for lunches on the road, drinks, tips and small purchases in the villages: these are not included in the price of the 3-day Erg Chigaga tour.
Not sure what to bring?
Tell us your travel dates and we will adjust the list to the season. The trip below has a short preparation note, and the team answers questions by email or WhatsApp.
Places in this articleErg ChigagaDraa ValleyM'HamidAit Ben Haddou
