What time does a desert camp excursion in Merzouga start?
A desert camp excursion follows a fairly consistent rhythm from one camp to the next.
Departure takes place in the late afternoon, between 5pm and 6pm depending on the season, to reach the camp by camel or minibus before the sun dips too low.
Then the engines stop.
No more road, no more dust kicked up by tyres.
Only the sand, the wind beginning to cool, and the last orange glows on the dune ridges.
This is often the moment travellers understand why the journey was worth it.
Settling into camp takes about twenty minutes: dropping bags, assigning tents, then free time before dinner to walk on the nearby dunes or simply sit and watch the sun finish its course.
What do you eat on a night at a desert camp?
Dinner almost always follows the same pattern, whatever the camp: soup to start, a Berber tagine (chicken, meat or vegetables depending on dietary needs) served in the centre of the table, then fresh fruit for dessert.
The meal is taken around a low table, under a communal tent or in the open air depending on the weather.
After dinner, a campfire generally brings the group together, sometimes with Berber percussion played by the camp team.
This moment remains simple, with no excessive staging: a few songs, some mint tea, then everyone heads to their tent at their own pace.
What is the difference between a standard desert camp and a comfort or luxury one?
The journey, dinner and campfire atmosphere are largely identical from one option to another.
The difference lies almost entirely in the night itself.
A standard desert camp offers shared tents with shared bathrooms, a few metres from the sleeping area.
A comfort or luxury desert camp offers private tents, sometimes with en-suite bathroom and hot shower.
For details of the rates for each option, our article on Erg Chebbi presents the dunes where these different camps are located.
How much does each camp option cost?
On a complete tour from Marrakech, transport and accommodation included, the standard desert camp starts at 80 € per adult and 75 € per child.
The comfort option, with a private tent and basic bathroom, is around 110 € per adult and 100 € per child.
The luxury option, with an equipped tent and hot shower, starts at 180 € per adult and 170 € per child.
In all three cases, the journey, camel ride and meals remain identical: the price difference covers only the level of the night spent in the dunes.
For a broader look at the experiences on site, our article on a night in the Merzouga desert details traveller feedback on each comfort level.
What is the morning like before returning from the camp?
The wake-up is early, often before sunrise, to climb a dune near the camp and watch the first light on the sand.
This moment takes real effort: getting out of bed while it is still cold outside.
Most travellers then say it was the best wake-up of the trip.
Breakfast follows, generally simple: tea, bread, jam and sometimes Moroccan pancakes.
The return to the starting point is then by camel or vehicle depending on the arrangements, with a late-morning arrival to continue the road to the next stage of the tour.
Geographical and climate information for the region is available on the Moroccan National Tourist Office website.
What should be in your bag before heading to the desert camp?
Very few things are needed for a single night, but a few omissions are quickly felt once you are there.
A warm jacket for the evening and early morning, even in summer, as the temperature gap surprises new travellers every year.
A headtorch, as camp lighting remains limited once dinner is over.
And a power bank, as electricity is absent or rationed in most camps, including some comfort-level ones.
Our desert packing checklist details everything useful for the season of your excursion.
Can you spend more than one night in the dunes?
The most common format remains a single night at the camp, built into a two- or three-day tour from Marrakech.
This duration is enough to experience the essentials: the camel ride, dinner, the silence of the night and the next morning's sunrise.
Some travellers, especially on the private option, choose to add a second night to enjoy a slower pace, without hitting the road the very next morning.
This option is easier to arrange outside a shared group tour, whose programme is fixed in advance for the whole minibus.
Practical tip
Even in summer, bring a light jumper for the evening: the temperature drops fast once the sun is down, well before the full night-time cool sets in.
Book Your Desert Camp Night on WhatsApp
Pick-up directly from your hotel in Marrakech.
No deposit required in advance.
Chat & Book Your Stay