by Younes Farhat, last updated Jul 16, 2019
Morocco Desert: Everything you need to know
Spread across an area of 9,200,000 square kilometer, the Sahara Desert is rated as the largest sand a desert in the world. It covers most of the North Africa and stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to Red Sea in the east and to the Mediterranean Sea in the north. There are few landscapes on this planet that compare to the sheer enormity of this gargantuan piece of land.
Once here, you can have a 360° view of the horizon and gaze at the stars in the clear night sky. The combination of low dunes, high dunes, wells and oasis makes for a visually stunning experience.
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When Should You Visit Morocco Desert?
Sahara Desert should be visited between October and May. The conditions are most hospitable during this period and you do not have to bear rough sand storms and high temperature that are possible during other months (July / August). Expect a brunt of freezing cold during December and January.
How to Visit Morocco Desert?
For adventure seekers, the Sahara Desert offers plenty of opportunities to get that much-needed adrenaline rush. However, one should be cautious in their travel to this massive landscape and take a guided tour from Fes or Marrakech.
Best packaged tours are provided by multiple tour operators who take great care of travelers and ensure safe travel. Important areas in the Sahara Desert can be accessed via Erg Chebbi in Merzouga and Erg Chegaga in Mhamid. A visit to this enormous landscape is not confined to the completely barren regions. There are many other locales like the gateway towns near the desert area and oases, which can be visited for a rendezvous with the ancient Saharan architecture.
These places have a different air about them and the life moves slowly here. Captured in time, these Moroccan destinations still ooze the zeitgeist of the era gone by.
Morocco Desert Tours
The best way to explore Sahara Desert is by taking a Morocco desert Tour package. As part of our private Morocco tours, you will be able to indulge in exciting activities like camel trekking, ATV driving, camping and sand surfing on the sand dunes. Below is a list of activities that you can perform as part of tour packages:
Morocco Camel Trekking
The best time to ride a camel is in the evening when the weather eases up and it gets a bit cooler. This also provides you an opportunity to take great shots of the sunset from varying vantage points on the top of the camel. Camels are known as the ship of the desert and they are a joy to watch when in full flight.
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Morocco Desert Camps
When it turns dark in the desert, it also gets a lot cooler. On a Morocco Desert Tour, you will most likely get an option to spend the night in a desert camp or head towards the hotel. A stay in the camp is highly recommended as you get to sit next to the mesmerizing Saharan camp fire. If you are with your friends, you can regale stories, play music and enjoy the delicacies served hot next to the camp fire. When it gets late in the night, you can spend the nocturnal hours in the tent or just lay on your back and look at the stars.
Star Gazing in Morocco Desert
When you are lying under the night sky in the Sahara Desert, you will get the clearest view of the wide gamut of stars. And other celestial bodies. Spotting various constellations and famous stars becomes a lot easier under the Saharan night sky. In case you are not familiar with what’s in the sky, you can download an app on your smartphone that will tell you exactly where the famous constellations, stars and even manmade space stations are located. Star gazing also serves as a great romantic experience, especially for newly-married couples.
Riding a Quadbike
If you have seen the Dakar rally, then you would know how difficult it is to drive in the desert. To make your travel easy, you can rent a quadbike and whizz through the sand leaving behind wisps of clouds. Quadbikes are fun to ride on and can be used to reach far-flung places with ease.
Sahara Desert is filled with mysteries and you require at least three days to experience it fully. The tour packages that are made available by different vendors can be customized as per preference. After exploring the desert, you can visit other places in Morocco like Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Rabat and Fes for a wholesome experience in this land of desert.
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Desert Sand Spa
If you are going to the Sahara Desert from Marrakech, then it is going to be a two-day journey. Such a long journey can tire your limbs and mind, which is why, you should opt for a sand spa after entering the desert. Merzouga comes just before the Sahara Desert and the locals here believe that sand in the desert has healing properties. You can get a hole dug for you (with water filled in) by Berber men and rest in that for 30 minutes to heal your aching body. Apart from relaxation, this sand bath also helps in healing old skin diseases. Once you are rejuvenated, you can embark on your journey towards the majestic Sahara Desert.
Surf the Sand
A great way to enjoy your adventure in the Sahara Desert is by surfing on the sand. Find the largest sand dune and use your snowboards to slide down the sand for a fun experience. But before going down the dune, remember that there are no ski lifts that will take you back to the starting point. Be ready to walk.
Willdlife Spotting for Clickoholics
Sahara Desert is home to unique species of animals that roam around in these barren lands. To get perfect shots of animals like foxes and desert mice, you can leave some of the extra food around and attract them to a certain location. Now, you can play the waiting game and capture them in action on your camera.