Sunset Camel Ride to a Camp

What it is

It is the classic Merzouga plan: mid-afternoon you leave the hotel in a guided dromedary caravan, go into the Erg Chebbi dunes as the sun drops and arrive at a tented camp among the dunes as the sand turns orange. You have dinner there, sleep in a tent and the next morning, after climbing to watch the sunrise from a dune, you go back by dromedary or 4x4 to the hotel for breakfast and a shower.

The dromedary journey lasts one to two hours depending on how far the camp is. A guide always walks leading the string, so you do not need to know how to ride.

Who organises it

Almost all the hotels and guesthouses on the edge of the dunes have their own camp or work with one, and the dromedary ride is included in the night. Some examples:

• Riad Madu, in Hassilabied, north of Merzouga: organises guided dromedary excursions of a few hours or a day and has two camps, Premium and Luxury, with tents with bathrooms. It does not publish prices on its website: ask for a quote.
• Kasbah Mohayut, right next to the dunes, has its own camp that you reach by dromedary.

The camps range from simple tents with a shared bathroom to large tents with a bed, private bathroom and electricity. When booking, ask for the total price in writing: dromedary there and back, dinner, breakfast, luggage transfer and whether the return is by dromedary or 4x4. That way there are no surprises.

What the day is like

Arrive at the hotel early in the afternoon, leave the big suitcase (at the camp you only need a small rucksack) and get ready. Departure is usually one or two hours before sunset, which in Merzouga is around 18:30 in mid-January, 19:45 in April, 20:20 in June and July and 18:45 in October, in official Moroccan time. Halfway, the caravan stops on a crest to watch the sun set. Then, dinner, often a tagine, with music by the fire and a sky full of stars, because there are no lights around.

What to bring

A scarf or chèche for your face, sunglasses, sun cream, water, a warm layer for the night, a head torch and a power bank, because at some camps there are no sockets or signal. Long trousers: rubbing from the saddle is uncomfortable in shorts. From December to February, at night in the dunes it nears zero degrees: fleece and hat.

With children

There is no official minimum age. Many camps put small children in front of an adult or lead them walking alongside; ask when booking. Bear in mind it is one or two hours of swaying. For the youngest, a short ride to a nearby camp works better than a long outing.

When to go

In spring and autumn, with days of 25 to 30 °C and pleasant nights. From June to August it often exceeds 40 °C: you only go out late in the afternoon and it is worth choosing a camp with good ventilation. In winter the days are good, but the night is cold. In a sandstorm, camps may delay departure; if the wind does not die down, ask about staying at the hotel and moving the night.