1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp

The desert gets quiet after sunset. This Merzouga overnight tour pairs a camel ride across Erg Chebbi with dinner, music, and a night in a private Berber-style tent. I like the strong sunset and sunrise schedule, and I like that dinner, breakfast, bottled water, sandboarding, parking, and a hotel room for luggage and showers are included. The main tradeoff is comfort: the camp is described as basic, and lunch is not part of the package.

For about $63.97 per person, this is a good-value taste of Sahara life, especially if you want a private outing rather than a large shared group. The camel ride may total around two to three hours, depending on the schedule, and the nonrefundable booking policy calls for careful planning.

Key points to know before booking

• Sunset and sunrise are the heart of the trip: You ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes in the afternoon and wake early for dawn.
• Private travel keeps the outing personal: Only your group takes part, with a private tent at the desert camp.
• The camel ride length is described in different ways: Plan for roughly two to three hours total, with about 1.5 hours each way in the fuller description.
• Dinner is a real part of the evening: Expect local food, tea, drums, moonlight, and time with the camp staff.
• Hotel facilities make the basic camp easier: You can leave luggage, park a car, and take a shower at the hotel in Merzouga.
• The price is strong for what is included: Meals, tent, camel, water, sandboarding, and the hotel facilities are covered, but lunch and drinks with alcohol are not.

Leaving Merzouga for the Erg Chebbi dunes

The outing begins in the afternoon from Riad Akabar Merzouga, with pickup offered as part of the service. The stated meeting point is useful if you are already in Merzouga, while the hotel connection gives you a practical place to leave extra luggage before heading into the sand.

I appreciate this small bit of planning. A desert camp is not the place to drag every suitcase, and a secure parking option matters if you have arrived by car. You can also use the hotel room to refresh yourself after returning from the dunes, which adds real value to a low-cost overnight trip.

The camels carry food, blankets, and the supplies needed for the night. You ride out through the dunes with a guide who stays with your group and helps with the route and photographs. The tour is private, so you do not have to match the pace or plans of a large bus group.

The written schedule is not perfectly consistent about riding time. One part describes a 1.5-hour ride to the camp and the same distance back, while another lists a two-hour camel ride, and one review describes three hours across the dunes. I would plan on a substantial ride lasting roughly two to three hours in total. If camel riding is new to you, this matters. The saddle can feel tiring, and the experience is more about slow movement and views than speed.

A slow camel ride through Morocco’s sand

The ride is the main adventure, but it is also the part that asks the most from you physically. The camels are described as calm and friendly, and you may have time to pet them. That gentler temperament is welcome, especially for first-time riders.

From the saddle, the dunes unfold at a slow pace. That gives you time to watch the changing light, take photographs, and notice how the sand shifts in color as the sun drops. The guide also helps with pictures, a small service that can make a difference when you are trying to capture a group shot from the top of a dune.

You should bring only what you need for the overnight stay. Wear clothing that protects you from sun and sand, and keep water and a phone or camera easy to reach. Bottled water is included, but you should still treat the ride as an outdoor activity and pace yourself.

Sandboarding is included as well. It gives you something active to do around the dunes, although the camel trek remains the central event. If you prefer a quiet desert evening, you can simply enjoy the sand, sunset, and open sky instead.

Sunset from the high dunes

The timing is well chosen. The afternoon departure gives you a chance to reach the camp area before the sun fades, and the route is arranged around sunset from the higher dunes.

This is the point when the ride feels most worthwhile. The low sun brings out long shadows and strong lines in the sand, while the silence makes the scene feel far removed from Merzouga. I would keep your camera ready, but do not spend the whole sunset looking at a screen. The view changes quickly.

Your guide is available to help with photographs. That is especially useful if you are traveling as a couple or a small group and want pictures with the dunes behind you. The tour is limited to your own group, so you should have more freedom to pause for photos than you would on a large organized departure.

The camp is reached after the ride, but the sunset may be enjoyed from the dunes before you settle in. That sequence is better than arriving after dark, since you get both the changing light and a clear sense of where you are sleeping.

Tea, local food, and drums after dark

At the camp, the evening begins with welcome tea after sunset. Tea is more than a quick drink here. It gives you time to settle after the ride and shift from movement to conversation.

Dinner is included, with local food served in the camp. One description promises local dishes under the stars, and a detailed account mentions a three-course meal with plenty of food. I would expect a filling dinner rather than a restaurant-style menu with lots of choices. That is a fair arrangement for a remote camp.

The evening also includes drums and conversation with local people. This is one of the better reasons to choose an overnight stay instead of a quick camel ride. You are not simply crossing the dunes and returning to town. You have time to sit, eat, listen, and look up at the moon and stars.

The desert’s darkness is part of the attraction. With little artificial light around you, the night sky can feel much clearer than it does in town. Moonlight will change how many stars you see, but both the moon and the open sky are part of the experience.

Alcoholic drinks are not included. Lunch is also excluded, so you should arrange your midday meal before the afternoon start or plan for it separately. The supplied details do not give a special meal plan for dietary needs, so ask the operator before booking if that is important to you.

Sleeping in a private Berber-style tent

You spend the night in a private tent at the desert camp. The accommodation is presented in traditional nomad or Berber style, giving the night a stronger sense of place than a standard hotel room in Merzouga.

Expect simple rather than luxurious camping. The camp is described as basic but equipped with what is needed, while another account describes the accommodation as beautiful and comfortable enough for sleeping or refreshing yourself. These comments can both be true. The tent may be attractive and well arranged, yet still feel quite different from a conventional hotel.

Private accommodation is a useful feature for couples, families, or friends who want their own space. It also makes the low price more impressive, since the package includes the tent along with the camel, dinner, breakfast, water, and sandboarding.

The operator also provides a room at the Merzouga hotel for luggage and a shower. That detail improves the overall plan considerably. You can leave large bags behind, spend the night in the desert, and clean up after returning from the dunes.

Sunrise, breakfast, and the return to Merzouga

You wake early to watch sunrise from the dunes. The early start is not optional in spirit, since dawn is one of the two main sights built into the trip. Set out a layer of clothing and your camera the night before so you are not searching through bags in the dark.

Sunrise offers a different mood from sunset. The dunes are cooler, quieter, and more softly lit. If you found the afternoon ride tiring, this is still worth making the effort for. The calm morning light is one of the strongest parts of an overnight desert stay.

After sunrise, you ride the camels back toward Merzouga. The return ride follows the same general rhythm as the outward trip, so the second stretch can feel long if you are not used to the saddle. You will want a shower afterward, and the included hotel access is especially helpful at this stage.

Breakfast is provided at the hotel in Merzouga, with a traditional breakfast described in the trip details. The activity ends back at the meeting point. This gives you a clear finish and lets you continue your day from town rather than arranging a separate return from an isolated camp.

What the $63.97 price really covers

At the listed price of $63.97 per person, the package offers a lot for one night. Included items are:

• A camel for each person
• Approximately two hours of camel riding, with the fuller schedule describing about 1.5 hours each way
• Private desert tent
• Dinner in the desert
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Bottled water
• Sandboarding
• Sunrise and sunset
• Safe parking if needed
• A hotel room for luggage and a shower

The value is strongest if you need parking, want to leave luggage behind, and care about having a private tent. Paying separately for a camel outing, camp dinner, overnight accommodation, and post-trip shower could quickly cost more.

The price information also says the final amount can depend on the number of people, so treat $63.97 as the stated per-person figure rather than an absolute rate for every group size. The package does not include lunch, alcoholic drinks, or anything not specifically listed.

For a private tour, the cost is appealing. The main question is not value, but your comfort expectations. This is a desert camp, not a luxury resort. If you want simple lodging, local food, and a strong sunset and sunrise, the price works well. If you need polished hotel comforts, a more expensive camp may suit you better.

Who will enjoy this desert night most

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a first Sahara experience without committing to a long multi-day expedition. It fits couples, families, and small groups who prefer a private schedule and want the main desert highlights in one night.

It also suits people arriving by car, since parking and a luggage room are included. The hotel shower is a practical bonus for anyone continuing onward after the camp.

You should think twice if you dislike riding animals, sitting in a saddle for a long period, or sleeping in simple accommodation. The operator says most people can participate, but the supplied details do not give a specific accessibility plan. Service animals are allowed, and the tour operates as a private activity for your group.

The tour information also refers to sights such as Dades Gorges and Oasis Fint, but the detailed overnight plan centers on Merzouga, Erg Chebbi, and the desert camp. I would not assume those other sights are part of this one-night camel trek unless the operator confirms it directly.

Booking details worth taking seriously

Confirmation is provided at booking, and pickup is offered. The listed start and end point is Riad Akabar Merzouga, so check the exact pickup arrangement if you are staying elsewhere.

The booking is nonrefundable and cannot be changed for any reason. That is the biggest financial risk. The trip needs good weather, and it also requires a minimum number of people. If the operator cancels for bad weather or because the minimum is not met, you are offered another date, another experience, or a full refund. That protection does not apply if you cancel for your own reasons.

The overall score is 4.8 from 38 ratings, with 95 percent recommending the activity. The strongest praise centers on the organization, hospitality, calm camels, excellent sunset, generous dinner, and helpful staff. Mustafa and his team receive particular credit for their welcome and care.

Should you book the Merzouga camel trek?

Yes, if you want a good-value introduction to the Sahara with the key moments built in: camel riding, sunset, tea, dinner, stars, a private Berber-style tent, sunrise, and breakfast. The included hotel room, shower, parking, water, and sandboarding make the $63.97 price especially attractive.

Book with realistic expectations. The camp may be basic, the camel ride can feel long, lunch is not included, and the strict cancellation policy means you should be confident about your dates and the weather. For a short, private desert adventure based in Merzouga, this is a practical choice with genuine atmosphere and very little unnecessary fuss.

FAQ

Where does the camel trekking tour start?

The stated meeting point is Riad Akabar Merzouga in Merzouga, Morocco. Pickup is offered.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Merzouga.

How long does the tour last?

The full experience lasts approximately one day and 30 minutes.

How long is the camel ride?

The included information describes a two-hour camel ride, while the detailed plan describes about 1.5 hours to the camp and 1.5 hours back. Plan for roughly two to three hours total.

Is a private tent included?

Yes. The package includes a private tent at the desert camp.

Are dinner and breakfast included?

Yes. Dinner is served in the desert camp, and breakfast is provided at the hotel in Merzouga.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included in the tour price.

Is sandboarding included?

Yes. Sandboarding in the dunes is included.

Can I leave luggage at the hotel?

Yes. A hotel room is provided for leaving luggage, and you can take a shower there after returning from the desert.

Can I cancel for a refund?

The experience is nonrefundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons. If the operator cancels because of poor weather or because the minimum number of participants is not met, you can receive a different date, another experience, or a full refund.