Merzouga Desert Campsite &Camel Excursions

The best part of this Merzouga escape is the change of pace. You leave your car at an auberge, cross the dunes by camel, watch the sun sink over the sand, and spend the night under a sky far brighter than anything you see in a city. It is a simple desert camp experience, not a luxury resort.

I like the generous inclusions: camel rides both ways, dinner, breakfast, sandboarding, music, and private parking are all covered. I also like the choice of a standard private tent or an upgraded tent with its own bathroom. That makes the $81.42 price a strong deal for a two-day Sahara outing.

The main compromise is comfort. The beds may feel basic, and the standard tents use shared bathrooms. You also need to pack for a short night outdoors, with a camel ride that may not suit everyone. A Jeep transfer is available if you prefer not to ride.

Key points before you book

• Sunset is built into the camel ride: You stop among the dunes for photos, sandboarding, and the evening light before reaching camp.
• The price covers the main desert costs: Dinner, breakfast, camel transport, sandboarding, music, and private parking are included.
• You get a private tent: The standard tent has a shared bathroom, while the upgrade adds an en-suite bathroom.
• The evening has a local feel: Mint tea, a campfire, desert instruments, and music form the main night program.
• You can replace camels with a Jeep: Ask for the Jeep transfer if the ride sounds uncomfortable or impractical.
• The timing is compact: You arrive on Day 1, sleep one night in the desert, and return after breakfast on Day 2.

Leaving Merzouga for the Sahara dunes

This experience begins at HouseOnHoliday, at the Pyramids Hotel meeting point in Merzouga. You can leave your car in the provider’s private parking area, which is useful if Merzouga is only one stop on a larger Morocco road trip. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

From there, you meet your local camel guide and set off toward the camp. The camel ride is not just transport. It gives you a slow, high viewpoint over the dunes and lets the desert reveal itself without engine noise. The pace is gentle, but sitting on a camel can be tiring, particularly for anyone unused to the motion.

You do not need to treat the camel ride as an all-or-nothing decision. The provider offers a Jeep transfer to camp for people who would rather skip the ride. That choice also works well if you have a physical concern, want to keep your clothes clean, or simply prefer a quicker crossing.

The tour is described as a private activity for your own group, although the camp evening includes all the people and guides staying there. That distinction matters. Your transfer and arrangements are private, but the fire, music, and dinner setting are social.

Sunset, sandboarding, and the best photographs

The camel route includes a stop in the middle of the dunes to watch sunset. This is the visual high point of the first day, so keep your camera or phone easy to reach rather than buried in a bag. The broad sand ridges, long shadows, and changing colors give you the clearest chance for memorable photographs.

You also have time for sandboarding. The activity is included, so you do not need to pay an extra fee or arrange a separate outing. It is a playful break from sitting on the camel and gives the afternoon some variety.

I would keep expectations sensible. This is a short overnight camp program, not a full adventure-sports day. The information provided does not give a set duration for sandboarding or describe special instruction, so think of it as informal fun on the dunes rather than a lesson with equipment and coaching.

The stop also breaks up the camel ride. That is welcome because the journey to camp is part of the charm, but the saddle can become uncomfortable. Use the pause to stretch, take photographs, and enjoy the view instead of rushing straight back onto the camel.

Mint tea and a private tent at camp

At camp, the Berber team welcomes you with mint tea. In Morocco, serving tea is a gesture of hospitality, and here it marks the shift from traveling across the dunes to settling in for the night. The welcome is simple but meaningful because there is no busy town around you, only the camp and open sand.

You receive a private standard tent as part of the basic package. The bathroom, however, is shared. If having your own toilet and shower area matters to you, the upgraded tent with an en-suite bathroom is the sensible choice. The upgrade is not necessary for the desert setting, but it can make the night easier for couples, older visitors, or anyone who values privacy.

The camp is presented as an authentic Berber-style stay rather than a high-end hotel. That usually means the setting and evening program matter more than polished room details. One practical warning comes from the comfort level: the beds may be the weakest part of the experience. For one night, that may be a fair trade for the setting, but pack with basic camping comfort in mind.

The tour does not list towels, toiletries, or other personal items among the inclusions. Bring what you need for the night, especially if you choose the standard tent and shared facilities. The supplied details also do not specify heating or cooling, so dress in layers and be ready for desert temperature changes.

Dinner, firelight, and desert music

Dinner is included, and it is served at camp after you settle into your tent. The package calls it a tasty meal, and the available feedback points to both good quality and generous portions. That is useful after a camel ride and sandboarding, especially since lunch is not included.

The evening program is one of the tour’s strongest features. Guides and people staying at camp gather around the fire, play desert instruments, and enjoy music together. This is not a theater performance that you watch and leave. You are invited into a relaxed campfire setting where the music, fire, and dark sky carry the evening.

You may also find dancing around the fire. The atmosphere is informal and social, and it gives the night more character than a meal followed by an early bedtime. If you want quiet, you can step away from the fire and look up at the stars. The camp’s position away from city lights makes stargazing a natural part of the stay.

Alcoholic drinks are not included. The supplied information does not say that alcohol is available for purchase, so do not plan the evening around it. Mint tea and dinner are the dependable refreshments named in the package.

Sunrise and the ride back after breakfast

The second day begins with sunrise. This is worth treating as a main event, not an optional extra. The dunes look different in the early light, and the cooler morning makes photography and walking more comfortable than the hotter middle of the day.

After sunrise, you have breakfast at camp. Breakfast is included, which means the core overnight costs are covered without requiring you to return to the auberge hungry. The details do not specify the menu or serving time, so follow the camp team’s instructions the night before if you want to be ready for the return ride.

You then ride the camels back to the auberge, enjoying the wide desert views on the way. The return journey gives you another chance to appreciate the scale of the dunes, though it also means another period in the saddle. If you use the Jeep transfer on the way in, confirm how your return is arranged before the trip begins.

The service finishes when you return to the meeting point. There is no lunch included on Day 2, so plan your next meal after the tour. If you are continuing to another Moroccan destination, leave room in your schedule for the return and a little time to collect your car.

What the $81.42 price really includes

At $81.42 per person, this is a strong-value way to spend a night in the Sahara. You are not paying only for a camel ride. The price also includes a private tent, two camel journeys, dinner, breakfast, sandboarding, music by the fire, a local guide, and private parking.

The value is especially clear for an overnight visit. Booking each part separately could make the experience harder to arrange, and you would still need to solve the practical problems of dinner, breakfast, parking, and getting to camp. Here, those basic pieces are put together in one short program.

The price does not buy a luxury camp. The standard bathroom is shared, beds may be basic, and lunch is extra. An en-suite upgrade is available if you want more comfort, but the price of that upgrade is not provided, so compare it with your priorities before booking.

The tour is also booked about 29 days ahead on average. That suggests you should not leave it until the last minute if your Morocco route is fixed. Confirmation arrives at booking, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Within 24 hours, you will not receive a refund, and late changes are not accepted.

Who will enjoy this desert night most

I would recommend this experience to you if you want the classic Merzouga desert experience in a short, affordable package. It suits first-time visitors who want camels, dunes, sunset, a campfire, and sunrise without arranging several separate activities.

It is also a good fit for couples and small private groups that want their own tent and parking arrangement but do not need a luxury camp. The private activity format gives your group its own booking, while the evening remains sociable around the fire.

Families and mixed-ability groups should discuss the camel option before arrival. Most people can participate, but the ride may be uncomfortable for anyone with back, hip, or balance problems. The Jeep alternative makes the experience more flexible, though the trip’s details do not say if you can use a Jeep for only one direction.

I would be less likely to recommend it if your main goal is high-end bedding, private facilities, or a long list of organized activities. The provider also offers Jeep desert tours, quad-bike trips, hiking tours, and buggy outings, but those are separate options rather than guaranteed parts of this overnight package.

Small practical choices that improve the trip

Bring comfortable clothing that can handle sand, and use layers for the evening and early morning. The supplied information does not provide weather details, so avoid assuming that the desert will stay warm after sunset.

Keep valuables close during the camel ride and bring a small bag for the night. Your main luggage arrangements are not described, so ask the provider what can remain at the auberge while you go to camp.

Wear shoes you can use on sand and for short walks around the camp. Sandboarding is included, but the package does not list special clothing or protective equipment, so practical clothes are more useful than dress shoes.

If you care about bathroom privacy, choose the en-suite upgrade before arrival. If you care more about price and only need one night, the standard private tent gives you the essential desert setting at the lower cost.

The meeting point is near public transportation, but pickup is also offered. Confirm the pickup details and time when you book, especially if you are staying somewhere other than the named meeting point.

Should you book Merzouga Desert Campsite and Camel Excursions?

I would book this tour if you want a classic Sahara overnight with the main experiences bundled into one reasonable price. The sunset stop, sandboarding, mint tea, dinner, music, stargazing, sunrise, and breakfast create a full two-day program without unnecessary extras.

Choose the standard tent if you are comfortable with shared bathrooms and basic bedding. Pay for the en-suite upgrade if privacy matters more than keeping the cost low.

Before booking, make two decisions clear: can you manage the camel ride, and do you need a private bathroom? If the ride is a concern, request the Jeep transfer. If your answer to both questions is yes, this is an easy, well-priced way to add a night in the Sahara to a Morocco itinerary.

FAQ

Where does the Merzouga desert camp experience start?

It starts at HouseOnHoliday, at the Pyramids Hotel meeting point in Merzouga, Morocco. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately two days and includes one overnight stay at the desert camp.

Is camel riding included in both directions?

Yes. Camel riding to the camp and back to the auberge is included.

Can I go to the camp by Jeep instead of camel?

Yes. A Jeep transfer is available for people who do not want to ride camels.

What type of tent is included?

The standard package includes a private standard tent with shared bathrooms. An upgraded tent with an en-suite bathroom is also available.

Are dinner and breakfast included?

Yes. Dinner on the first day and breakfast on the second day are included. Lunch is not included.

Is sandboarding part of the package?

Yes. Sandboarding during the desert stop is included.

What happens around the campfire?

The camp team and people staying at the camp gather around the fire to play desert instruments and enjoy music. Stargazing is also part of the evening.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.