Overnight stay in desert camp & Camel trekking in the Sahara

The best part of this Merzouga trip is the slow ride into the Sahara. You leave the village by camel, cross the dunes of Erg Chebbi, and reach a desert camp in time for sunset. After tagine, mint tea, and Berber drumming, you sleep in a private tent instead of rushing back to town.

I like two things here. First, the evening gives you real time among the dunes, with a sunset walk and a clear-sky chance to see bright stars. Second, the package includes dinner, breakfast, tea, a private tent, a local camel guide, and a shower at the meeting point. The main drawback is that sandboards may not always be available, despite being promoted, and the start can feel slow if you arrive early.

Key points at a glance

• A camel ride into Erg Chebbi: You travel from Merzouga village to a desert camp by camel, with one account describing a trek of about three hours.
• Sunset and sunrise from high dunes: The camp gives you time to walk to nearby high dunes for both views.
• Private tent and evening meal: Your overnight stay includes a private tent, tagine dinner, breakfast, tea, and coffee.
• Berber music after dinner: Traditional drums and a fire create the evening program at camp.
• Sandboarding is advertised: Bring your own expectations and confirm boards are available before setting out.
• Private group format: Only your group participates, with free parking and a shower at the meeting point.

Riding from Merzouga toward Erg Chebbi

Your starting point is Riad Akabar in Merzouga. You meet the local team there, have a cup of Berber tea, and get ready for the camel ride. Ahmed and Ishmael are named as hosts connected with the stay, and the experience includes a local camel guide.

The departure time is set within an afternoon window, generally between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The earlier you arrive, the more waiting you may face before the camels leave. One account describes arriving at 4 p.m. and not starting the ride until 5 p.m., so do not plan a tight connection after check-in.

That wait is not necessarily wasted. It gives the team time to organize the camels and prepare everyone for the ride. Still, the schedule could be clearer, especially if you have arrived in Merzouga after a long road journey. I would treat the start time as flexible rather than expecting to mount your camel the moment you reach the riad.

The camel trek is the heart of the experience. Instead of seeing the dunes from a vehicle and sleeping in town, you move into the desert at a measured pace. One account calls the ride about three hours and says it worked well even with an eight-year-old child. Your own timing may vary, but you should expect a substantial stretch in the saddle.

That matters when deciding if this trip fits you. The camel ride is not just transport. It is the activity itself, and the steady pace lets the dunes become the main event. At the same time, camel saddles can become uncomfortable over several hours. Most people can participate according to the supplied information, but anyone unsure about a long ride should ask the operator about the current route and optional 4×4 transfer before booking.

Sunset above the desert camp

When you reach camp, you walk to the high dunes to watch the sun go down. This is the strongest photo opportunity of the first day, but it is also one of the few quiet stretches built into the plan. The camp may be your base, yet the best view comes from climbing a dune a short distance away.

You will need to allow time and energy for that walk. Sand is tiring underfoot, and the dune itself is not a paved viewpoint. The reward is a broad view across the Erg Chebbi dunes, with the light changing quickly as evening arrives.

The sunset stop gives the overnight stay its shape. You ride in, climb for the view, return for dinner, then settle into camp. It feels less like a basic transfer and more like a short desert outing with a night attached.

Take your photos, but do not spend the whole sunset looking at a screen. The setting is simple: sand, open sky, and the camp below. That simplicity is exactly why the stop works.

Tagine, mint tea, and Berber drums after dark

Dinner is included, with tagine and mint tea listed as part of the stay. Breakfast is included the next morning as well. Tea and coffee are also provided, which is useful after the ride and during the cooler hours after sunset.

The meal is not presented as a restaurant-style choice of dishes. It is part of the camp routine, and tagine is the main traditional meal specified for the evening. Lunch is not included, so plan for that separately before you reach the meeting point or during the day.

After dinner, traditional Berber drums provide the evening entertainment. A fire and drum session can be the most social part of the night, particularly for a private group that wants to spend less time on formal sightseeing and more time talking, listening, and looking up.

The sky is described as especially impressive when it is clear, with stars appearing intensely away from town lights. Of course, clouds can change that completely. Treat stargazing as a bonus rather than a guarantee. The camp experience remains worthwhile for the sunset, meal, and overnight stay even if the sky is not perfect.

Sandboarding on the Erg Chebbi dunes

Sandboarding is included in the tour description and is meant to take place on the high dunes. It offers a playful break from the camel ride, and the steep slopes around Erg Chebbi are the natural setting for it.

There is one practical warning. A person on the trip reported that no sandboards were visible at camp, despite sandboarding being advertised. The operator responded to the concern but the available information does not confirm that boards are consistently supplied.

I would ask about this before departure if sandboarding is important to you. If the answer is unclear, consider it an extra possibility rather than the main reason to book. The dunes and camel ride remain the dependable parts of the program.

You should also know that the optional 4×4 activity and ATV quad or buggy biking are not included. Those are separate ways to reach or explore the desert, but this package centers on camels. The choice is useful if someone in your group does not want the full camel ride, although the exact price and arrangements for those options are not given.

Sleeping in a private desert tent

The overnight stay is in a private tent at an equipped desert camp. Privacy is a useful feature for couples, families, or anyone who wants a quieter night after the shared drum session. It also makes the $69.79 price easier to assess, since the cost covers more than a short camel loop.

The tent is described as comfortable and private, but air conditioning is not included. That is an important detail for anyone expecting hotel-style climate control. The supplied information does not specify the tent fittings, bedding, electricity, or bathroom setup inside the tent, so ask the operator if any of those points matter to you.

A shower is available at the meeting point, not clearly inside the desert camp. I would use it before leaving Merzouga or after returning, rather than assume you will have a full bathroom in the dunes.

This is still a practical overnight design. You get the special setting without giving up every basic comfort, and you do not need to carry out a separate hotel booking for the night. Just keep your expectations closer to an equipped camp than a conventional riad room.

Sunrise, breakfast, and the camel ride back

The second morning starts early if you want to see sunrise. You walk to the high sand dune next to camp, watch the light spread over the dunes, and take photographs before returning for a shower and breakfast.

The early start is optional according to the provided plan. If you value the sunrise, set your alarm and accept that the morning will begin before breakfast. If you prefer sleep, you can remain at camp and join the later routine, though you will miss one of the most memorable parts of the stay.

After breakfast, you have a break before mounting the camels for the ride back to Merzouga village. The service ends at the original meeting point. This return route gives the overnight plan a clean finish, but it also means you need to arrange your next transport from Merzouga separately.

The sunrise walk is a good reason to choose an overnight trip instead of a sunset-only ride. You see the dunes under two very different kinds of light, and the early view balances the long afternoon ride.

What the $69.79 price really covers

At $69.79 per person, this is a strong-value package if you want the standard Merzouga desert experience in one booking. The price includes the camel for each person, dinner, breakfast, tea and coffee, all fees and taxes, a private tent, the local camel guide, free parking, and a shower at the meeting point.

The value comes from combining several pieces that can be awkward to arrange separately. You get the ride into the dunes, an overnight camp, two meals, the sunset and sunrise walks, and the return camel ride. For a private group, that bundle is more useful than paying only for a short camel photo stop.

The price does not include lunch. It also excludes the optional 4×4 ride and ATV quad or buggy biking. Air conditioning is not included, and the information does not list any other optional costs, so ask before adding activities.

A private tour can also be worth more than a lower-priced shared outing if your group values its own pace. You are not joining another group, according to the supplied details. That does not guarantee an early departure or a custom itinerary, but it does mean the activity is limited to your party.

Timing, comfort, and small points that matter

This is sold as a two-day experience, but the first day begins in the afternoon and the second ends after breakfast and the return ride. Do not think of it as two full sightseeing days. Think of it as one desert afternoon, one night, and a desert morning.

The activity is near public transportation, and free parking is available at the meeting point. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. I would not book it at the last possible moment if your Morocco schedule is fixed, especially since it is booked on average 36 days ahead.

The activity requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. If poor weather cancels it, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number is not met.

You can cancel for a full refund up to three full days before the local start time. Within three days, the payment is not refunded, and changes are not accepted. This is worth checking before you lock in the date, particularly if you are moving through Morocco on a changeable road itinerary.

The activity is private, but the experience is not completely custom. The core route, meal, camp, sunset, sunrise, and camel return are set. Ask about the exact camel departure, the current sandboarding equipment, and any 4×4 alternative before arrival.

Who will enjoy this desert night most

I would choose this trip if you want a first Sahara experience with a clear plan and a reasonable amount of comfort. It suits couples, families, and small private groups who want a private tent rather than a quick ride followed by a hotel night in Merzouga.

Families should note the useful age clue in the supplied information: an eight-year-old was able to complete the camel ride without finding the journey too long. That does not predict how every child will react, but it suggests the route can work for families who are ready for a long saddle ride.

You will like it less if your priority is luxury. The tent does not include air conditioning, the shower is at the meeting point, and details about the camp facilities are limited. You may also be disappointed if sandboarding is the main attraction and boards are not available that day.

This is not the right pick for anyone who wants a tightly timed departure. The afternoon start can involve waiting, and the camel ride itself takes time. But if you see that pace as part of the desert experience, the slower route is a strength.

Should you book the Merzouga overnight camel tour?

Book it if you want the classic Erg Chebbi combination: a camel ride, dune sunset, tagine, drums, a private tent, stars, sunrise, breakfast, and a camel ride back. At $69.79, the included meals and overnight stay make it a practical choice, especially for a private group.

Before paying, confirm three points: the exact afternoon departure, whether sandboards are available, and what facilities are provided in the tent. If you are happy with a basic camp and a long camel ride, this experience gives you a solid Sahara night without a complicated plan.

FAQ

Where does the camel tour start?

It starts at Riad Akabar in Merzouga, Morocco. The activity also ends back at this meeting point after the morning camel ride.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately two days. The first day covers the afternoon camel ride and overnight camp, while the second includes sunrise, breakfast, and the ride back to Merzouga.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in this private activity.

What meals are included?

Dinner and breakfast are included. Lunch is not included.

Is a camel included for each person?

Yes. The package includes one camel per person.

Is sandboarding included?

Sandboarding is listed as a feature of the experience. However, one account reported that no sandboards were available at camp, so confirm the equipment before setting out.

Are 4×4 rides and quad biking included?

No. A 4×4 ride and ATV quad or buggy biking are optional extra activities.

Is there a shower at the desert camp?

The included shower is specified at the meeting point in Merzouga. The available information does not confirm a shower inside the desert camp.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least three full days before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made within three full days are not refunded or accepted. If poor weather or an unmet minimum causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.