What to Pack for Sahara Desert Trips in Morocco: A Season-by-Season List
For a Sahara desert trip in Morocco, pack light, loose layers for the day, a genuinely warm layer for the night, a scarf or buff against sun and sand, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen, a head torch, a power bank and a small overnight bag for the camp. Desert temperatures swing by 15 to 20°C between afternoon and pre-dawn, so layering matters more than anything else on this list.
Why packing for the Moroccan desert is different
A typical tour such as our 3-day Sahara desert tour from Marrakech combines three very different environments: a High Atlas pass at 2,260 m, warm oasis valleys and the open dunes of Erg Chebbi. You will ride a camel for roughly 1 to 1.5 hours each way, sleep in a tent and spend long hours in a vehicle. Your main suitcase normally stays in the minibus while you take only a small bag to camp, so what you choose to carry that night matters.
The essential Sahara packing list
Clothing
- Long, loose trousers or a long skirt in breathable cotton or linen. They protect against sun and chafing on the camel and are respectful in rural villages.
- Two or three light long-sleeved shirts or T-shirts. Covering shoulders is appreciated outside the cities.
- A warm fleece or down jacket. Even in spring and autumn, evenings in the dunes can drop to around 10°C, and in December and January close to freezing.
- A thermal base layer and warm socks for winter trips (November to February).
- Sleepwear you are happy to wear in a shared camp environment.
Sun and sand protection
- A cotton scarf, shemagh or buff. You can also buy a traditional cheche turban cloth in Merzouga for approximately 50 to 100 MAD, and camp staff will happily show you how to tie it.
- Sunglasses with UV protection, ideally wraparound to keep sand out.
- Sunscreen SPF 50, lip balm with SPF and a wide-brimmed hat that will not blow away.
Footwear
- Closed trainers or light walking shoes for the drive and the Todra Gorge.
- Sandals or flip-flops for camp. Many travellers walk the dunes barefoot, but sand can be very hot in summer afternoons and cold at dawn in winter.
Electronics
- A power bank of at least 10,000 mAh. Many standard camps have limited or solar-only charging.
- A head torch or small flashlight for walking to the bathroom tent at night.
- Zip-lock bags or a dry bag to protect your phone and camera from fine sand.
- Morocco uses 220 V and European two-pin sockets (types C and E).
Health and hygiene
- Wet wipes, hand sanitiser and a small pack of tissues.
- Motion-sickness tablets for the winding Tizi n'Tichka and Dades roads.
- Any personal medication, plus basic rehydration salts and plasters.
- Moisturiser and saline eye drops: the desert air is very dry.
What to pack by season
| Season | Typical day / night in Merzouga | Add to your bag |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | ~25–32°C / ~12–18°C | Light fleece, scarf for occasional sandy winds |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | often 40°C+ / ~25°C | Loose white cotton, electrolyte tablets, extra water bottle |
| Autumn (Sep–Nov) | ~25–35°C / ~10–20°C | Light jacket, long sleeves |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | ~15–20°C / ~0–5°C | Down jacket, hat, gloves, thermal layers |
These figures are approximate averages and individual days vary. For a month-by-month breakdown, see our guide to the best time to visit the Sahara desert in Morocco.
What should go in your overnight camp bag?
Keep it to a small backpack of around 20 to 30 litres that you can hold on your lap or strap on the camel. Pack:
- Warm layer, sleepwear and a change of underwear.
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, wipes and any medication.
- Head torch, power bank, phone and camera.
- Scarf, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- A 1.5-litre bottle of water. Camps sell water, but it is good to have your own on the trek.
Blankets and bedding are provided in the camp. If you are booking a higher-end camp, check what is supplied; our article on luxury desert camps in Merzouga explains the difference between standard and luxury tents.
What not to bring
- A large hard-shell suitcase to camp: it cannot go on a camel.
- Drones: importing a drone into Morocco without authorisation is not permitted and they may be confiscated at customs. Check the current rules before you travel.
- Expensive jewellery you would hate to lose in the sand.
- Too much cash in one place. Carry what you need for lunches, drinks and tips in dirhams, and keep a card as backup for ATMs in Ouarzazate, Tinghir or Rissani.
Dressing respectfully on the route
Between Marrakech and Merzouga you pass through many small Amazigh (Berber) villages. There is no strict dress code for visitors, but covering shoulders and knees is appreciated, especially when visiting a family home, a kasbah or a local market. Women do not need to cover their hair, although a scarf is useful for sun and dust anyway.
Money and documents
Bring your passport, as hotels and camps are required to register foreign guests. Keep a photocopy or photo of it separate from the original. Cash is king in the south: budget approximately 100 to 150 MAD per person per lunch stop and a little extra for drinks at camp. Exchange rates change, so check a current rate before you travel.
Final checklist before you leave Marrakech
- Phone and power bank fully charged.
- Small overnight bag packed separately.
- Warm layer at the top of the bag, not the bottom.
- Scarf, sunglasses and sunscreen within reach in the vehicle.
- Enough dirhams for three days of lunches, drinks and tips.
Still planning your route? Our step-by-step guide on how to plan a Sahara tour from Marrakech covers timing and costs, and you can compare every departure in our desert tours section.
Travel with a local desert operator
Ouirgane Marrakech Guide runs its own desert trips from Marrakech, and we are happy to answer packing questions for your exact dates. Reserve the Marrakech to Merzouga camel trek and camp tour now and pay later, with free cancellation up to 7 days before departure. Reach us on WhatsApp at +212 606 957 514 or at contact@moroccotrekking.sbs.
Comments (0)