How do I prepare for a desert overnight (checklist)?

The single most useful thing to understand before a desert overnight is the temperature swing. It can be hot and bright by day and genuinely cold at night, especially from late autumn through early spring — I have seen guests caught out in a t-shirt at sunset, shivering an hour later. So layers are everything: bring a fleece or warm jacket, long trousers, and even a hat and gloves in winter. You can always take layers off; you cannot conjure them out there.

Pack light and pack soft. You leave your main suitcase at your Merzouga or hotel base and take only a small daypack or duffel into the dunes for the night, because it travels by camel or 4x4. The essentials I tell everyone to bring: a headtorch (hands-free, far better than a phone light when there is no electricity at night), a power bank since charging is limited or absent, wet wipes and hand sanitiser because water is rationed, lip balm and a good sunscreen, and any personal medication.

For the sand and sun, two items earn their place: a scarf or chèche you can wrap over your face if the wind picks up, and sunglasses. Closed walking shoes or trainers are best for climbing dunes and the cooler evenings, with sandals or flip-flops as a comfortable second option around camp. Bring a refillable water bottle and drink more than you think you need — the dry air dehydrates you quietly.

A few final practicalities. Dress modestly out of respect for the local communities and nomads — shoulders and knees covered is the norm. Carry some cash for tips and any extras, as there are no card machines in the dunes. Phone signal is patchy, so download anything you want offline and let people at home know you may be off-grid for a night. Do that, and you arrive relaxed rather than scrambling — the desert rewards the lightly and sensibly packed.