In this guide · 13 parts
In Merzouga, a standard camp has traditional Berber tents with beds and shared bathrooms; a luxury camp has private tents with a real bed and an en-suite bathroom with a hot shower. The dunes, the camel ride, dinner and music are the same.
What is exactly the same
People sometimes imagine the luxury camp is in a better place, or that the experience is completely different. It is not. You ride the same camels into the same dunes at the same sunset. You eat a similar dinner, hear the same drums around the fire, see the same stars and climb the same dune for sunrise. The Sahara does not have a first class.
The tent
A standard tent is a traditional Berber tent, made of woven fabric on a wooden frame, with carpets on the floor, simple beds and thick blankets. It is authentic, warm in winter and cool in summer, and perfectly comfortable for one night.
A luxury tent is larger and more like a hotel room made of canvas: a real double or twin bed with good linen, bedside tables, lights and space to move around and open your bag.
The bathroom
This is where the real difference lies. In a standard camp, toilets and showers are shared, in a separate block a few steps from the tents. They are cleaned regularly and the showers have hot water, but you will walk a few metres in the dark to reach them.
In a luxury camp, each tent has its own bathroom behind a partition, with a toilet, a washbasin and a hot shower. For many travellers, and especially for families and winter trips, this alone is worth the difference.
| Standard camp | Luxury camp | |
|---|---|---|
| Tent | Traditional Berber tent | Private, larger canvas tent |
| Bed | Simple bed, thick blankets | Real double or twin bed, good linen |
| Bathroom | Shared, a few steps away | Private, inside the tent |
| Shower | Shared, hot water | Hot shower in your tent |
| Electricity | Lights, shared charging | Lights and sockets in the tent |
| Camels, dinner, music, stars | Same | Same |
| Shared 3-day tour from Marrakech | €95 per person | €135 per person |
The price
On our shared 3-day tour from Marrakech to Merzouga, the tour costs €95 per person with the standard camp and €135 with the luxury camp. On our private tours, the luxury camp is always included, because we think the night in the desert should be the most comfortable of your trip.
Winter changes the answer
From November to March, desert nights can drop close to 0 °C. A standard tent with thick blankets is warm enough, but the walk to a shared shower on a cold night is less fun. If you travel in winter, the luxury camp makes the night much easier.
Who should choose what
Choose the standard camp if you are travelling on a budget, if you love a traditional, simple experience, or if you are young and flexible and the night itself is what matters. Choose the luxury camp if you are a couple, a family with children, travelling in winter, or simply someone who sleeps better with a proper bed and a private shower.
Two things to check, whatever you choose
First, that the camp is really inside the dunes and reached by camel, not on the edge of the road. Second, that the camp is named on your voucher, so you know exactly where you sleep. We name every camp and hotel on our itineraries; we never write "or similar".
What about Zagora and Erg Chigaga?
The same logic applies in the other deserts. Near Zagora, camps are mostly standard or mid-range, at the edge of small dunes. In Erg Chigaga, camps are remote and range from comfortable to luxury; because they are far from any town, even the comfortable ones feel special. On our private Erg Chigaga tours we name the camp before you book.
Our honest recommendation
For a first trip to Merzouga in spring or autumn, both camps give you the night you came for, and the standard camp is excellent value. For a winter trip, a honeymoon, a family or a once-in-a-lifetime night, take the luxury camp: the private shower and the real bed turn a great night into an easy one.
A quick way to decide
Ask yourself three questions. Am I travelling between November and March? Am I travelling with children or for a special occasion? Would I rather spend the difference on something else on my trip? Two yes to the first questions: luxury. A yes to the last one, in a mild month: standard, and enjoy the most authentic night of your trip.
Can I change my mind?
Yes. On our shared tours you choose the camp in the booking popup, and you can upgrade later from My trips or by WhatsApp, as long as there is space in the luxury camp for your date.
Whatever you choose, the sunset, the fire and the sunrise will be the same unforgettable night.
Questions
Is the luxury camp worth it?
If a private bathroom and a real bed matter to you, yes, especially in winter or with children.
Is the camel ride the same in both camps?
Yes, the same camels, dunes, sunset and sunrise.
Do standard camps have hot showers?
Yes, shared showers with hot water, a few steps from the tents.
Is the luxury camp included on private tours?
Yes, on all our private desert tours.
Is the food different?
Dinner and breakfast are similar in both; the luxury camps sometimes serve more courses.
