Is wild camping allowed in Morocco?

This is genuinely a grey area, so I will not pretend it is black and white. Morocco has no single law that says "wild camping is legal" or "wild camping is banned." In the vast empty spaces — the deep desert, the High Atlas, the Anti-Atlas, the wilder stretches of Atlantic coast — pitching a tent or parking a campervan for the night is widely tolerated and people do it constantly, especially the overlander and surf-van crowd. But "tolerated" is the operative word; it is custom and local goodwill, not a guaranteed right.

The single most important thing I tell anyone planning this is to ask. If there is a village, a farm, a shepherd or any sign of a landowner nearby, find someone and ask permission — Moroccan hospitality is real, and more often than not you will get a warm yes, sometimes an invitation to tea, occasionally a spot on someone’s land. Camping silently on what turns out to be private or cultivated ground is how you cause offence or get woken at night. In remote areas with nobody around, common sense and discretion carry you a long way.

Be realistic about where it does not fly. Near cities, popular beaches, resort areas and tourist towns, the authorities often direct campers to official campsites and will move wild campers along — sometimes politely, sometimes firmly. Some beaches and natural areas have specific restrictions, and the gendarmerie do patrol. Border zones, especially near Algeria and the far south, are sensitive and I would not improvise a camp there at all. For the Sahara specifically, the desert camps are a far better and safer bet than freelancing it among the dunes.

My honest guidance: campervan and 4x4 wild camping is a wonderful way to see rural Morocco, and the country is broadly welcoming to it, but go in respectfully. Ask locally, camp away from settlements and private land, leave absolutely no trace, do not light fires where it is dry, keep valuables secure, and have a fallback official campsite in mind. If you want the desert-under-the-stars experience without the uncertainty, a proper Sahara camp gives you the magic with the logistics, water and safety handled.