What is an overnight desert camp like?

A night in a desert camp is one of the most atmospheric things you can do in Morocco, and it's less rustic than many people fear. You typically arrive in the late afternoon, either by camel trek or 4x4, to a small cluster of tents set among the dunes of Erg Chebbi. After dropping your bag you climb a nearby dune to watch the sunset, which is usually the moment people fall in love with the place.

The tents themselves vary a lot by camp tier. Standard camps give you a private canvas tent with proper beds, blankets, and rugs, plus shared toilet and washing facilities. Mid-range and luxury camps add en-suite bathrooms, hot showers, comfortable furnishings, and finer dining. Dinner is communal — usually soup, a tagine, bread, and fruit — eaten under the stars, often followed by Berber drumming and music around a fire. The night sky, with no light pollution, is extraordinary.

A few practical realities worth knowing. It can get genuinely cold at night, especially in winter, even though days are warm — bring layers, a hat, and warm socks. Phone signal is patchy to non-existent, and standard camps have limited electricity, so charge devices beforehand and bring a power bank. The toilets at simpler camps are basic; this is part of the deal, and the trade-off for sleeping in one of the world's great landscapes.

The morning is the reward few mention enough: you wake early, climb a dune in the cool air, and watch sunrise turn the sand gold and pink in total silence. Even people nervous about 'roughing it' almost always say the camp night was their favourite part of the trip.