What should I pack for the Sahara desert in Morocco?

The Sahara is the trip where packing for the temperature swing matters most, and it is where I see people get caught out every season. The desert can be scorching by day and surprisingly cold by night — even in spring and autumn the difference between a 30°C afternoon and a single-digit dawn is dramatic, and in winter the nights drop near freezing. So the golden rule I give every desert client is: pack for two climates in one small bag, because you will only carry an overnight bag to the camp while your main case stays in the vehicle.

Daytime is about sun and sand. Loose, long-sleeved cotton covers your arms far better than sunscreen alone, and a scarf or chèche wrapped around your head and neck does double duty against both the sun and any blowing sand — your guide can show you how to tie one, and most camps sell them. Sunglasses, SPF 50, lip balm and a hat round out the day kit. For your feet, closed shoes or trainers beat sandals once you are walking on dunes, because the sand gets blisteringly hot by midday and works its way into open footwear instantly; I tell people to bring sand-friendly socks too.

The night is the part everyone underestimates. Once the sun sets there is nothing to hold the heat, and a desert camp gets cold fast. Pack a proper warm layer — a fleece and a windproof jacket at minimum, plus a hat and warm socks in cooler months. A headtorch is genuinely essential: camps are dimly lit by lanterns, and you will want both hands free walking to your tent or out to look at the stars. The stargazing, by the way, is the highlight for most people, so being warm enough to sit out for an hour is worth the extra layer in the bag.

A few desert-specific extras earn their place every time. Wet wipes and hand sanitiser, because water for washing is limited at camp. A reusable water bottle, since hydration is everything out there. A small dry-bag or zip-lock for your phone and camera — fine sand gets into everything and is the number one killer of cameras on these trips. And keep that overnight bag light and soft-sided so it straps easily onto a camel or fits in the 4x4. Leave valuables and anything you cannot afford to dust over back at the city riad.