Merzouga in January

January at Erg Chebbi is all about the gulf between day and night. Daytime highs of around 18°C make for genuinely pleasant dune walks, camel treks and 4x4 trips under brilliant, dry blue skies, but the desert nights drop close to freezing — sometimes below — so a camp stay demands serious warm layers. The air is exceptionally clear and the great dunes glow softly in the low winter sun, with the cold nights delivering some of the year's most spectacular stargazing.

This is a fine month for the classic Merzouga experience handled around the cold. Camel trekking into the dunes at sunset, a night in a desert camp, and sunrise over the sand are all rewarding by day and at dusk, but the deep cold after dark means good sleeping bags, layers and a warm camp are essential. Reputable camps provide heavy blankets and fires; check that yours is properly equipped for genuinely cold winter nights before you book.

January suits travellers who want the Sahara calm, crystal-clear and crowd-free, and who come prepared for real cold at night. The near-total dryness means clear skies are all but guaranteed, and the dunes are at their most photogenic in the sharp, low light. It is the quiet, dramatic heart of the desert season — comfortable by day, bitterly cold by night, and unforgettable under the winter stars.