What to pack for the desert — and what to leave

Two bags

Your main luggage stays locked in the vehicle at the edge of the dunes; it does not go to the camp. Pack a small bag (a daypack) for the camp night with only what you need for one evening and one morning.

The camp bag

Warm layer (fleece or down) · a hat and something for your neck in winter · socks to sleep in · a scarf for wind and sand · toiletries, a small towel towels are usually provided — bring a small one to be safe · torch or headtorch (phone light works, but a torch keeps your phone charged) · power bank · sunscreen and sunglasses for the morning · any medication · a swimsuit only on 4-day tours with a lodge pool.

Clothes by season

• October–April: days 18–28 °C, nights 0–10 °C in camp. Layers: T-shirt, long sleeves, fleece, a light jacket; long trousers; closed shoes for the dune climb. December–February: add a hat and gloves for the sunrise.
• May and September: hot afternoons (32–38 °C), pleasant nights. Light clothes, one warm layer, a hat.
• June–August: 40 °C+. Loose, long, light clothing; a wide hat; the camp is hot until late; a sarong to sleep on.
• Modest dress is appreciated in villages: shoulders and knees covered outside the camp.

On the camel

Long trousers (an hour on a saddle in shorts is unpleasant), closed shoes or sandals with a strap, a scarf you can pull over your face if the wind gets up, sunglasses. Leave bags with straps that dangle.

Cash and documents

Passport (hotels register it). Cash in dirhams: lunches (€8–15 each), drinks, the ksar guide, tips, souvenirs. Cards work in towns, not at the camp or in villages; ATMs in Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Erfoud, Zagora — none after. Small notes for tea stops and toilets at the pass.

Electronics

Phone and charger, a power bank (the camp has evening electricity only), a camera with a sealable bag against sand, an adapter (Morocco uses European two-pin plugs). Wi-Fi at the riads; none at the camp.

What to leave

Heavy shoes (unless Toubkal), a second big bag for the camp, jewellery you would mind losing in the sand, a drone (a permit is required and rarely granted), anything you would be upset to get sand in.

The three things everyone forgets

1. The warm layer. "It's the desert" — and it is 3 °C at sunrise from November to March.
2. Cash. Nothing in the dunes takes cards.
3. Motion-sickness tablets for the Tichka's hairpins, if you know you need them.

For the mountain (Toubkal)

Proper boots, warm layers to 0 °C even in summer, headtorch, 2 L water capacity, sun protection; in winter crampons and ice axe (provided). A separate list is sent at booking. → Private 5-Day Toubkal Trek & Sahara