Merzouga in November

November keeps Erg Chebbi firmly in the prime desert season. Daytime highs around 23°C are ideal for camel trekking, dune walks and 4x4 trips under dry, brilliant skies, and the warm autumn light is superb on the sand. The nights, however, turn cold as the desert chill deepens, so a camp stay calls for warm layers and good sleeping gear — a sharp day-to-night contrast that defines the late-autumn Sahara.

It is an excellent month for the full classic experience. Sunset camel treks into the great dunes, sunrise over Erg Chebbi, and a night under canvas are all rewarding by day and dusk, and the cold, exceptionally clear nights deliver some of the year's finest stargazing. Reputable desert camps provide heavy blankets and fires for the cold; check that yours is properly equipped before booking, and pack warm clothing for the evenings and nights.

November is ideal as the desert climax of a southern circuit, reached overland through the Dades and Draa valleys. The daytime weather is warm and comfortable, the dunes are spectacular, and the crowds begin to ease from the autumn peak. For travellers who want warm, dry days and brilliant, cold starlit nights — and who come prepared for the deepening desert chill after dark — November is a superb time to experience the Sahara.