In this guide · 14 parts
For a Moroccan desert tour, pack light layers for warm days, a warm jumper or jacket for cold desert nights, a scarf, sunglasses and sun cream, comfortable shoes, a head torch and a small bag for the camp night; your big luggage stays in the vehicle.
Start with the small bag
On a desert tour, your suitcase stays in the vehicle when you ride into the dunes. You take only a small backpack or tote bag to the camp. Pack it the evening before so you do not have to open your suitcase on the edge of the dunes.
| In the small bag for the camp night | Why |
|---|---|
| Warm jumper or fleece, and a hat | Desert nights are cold, especially November to March |
| Scarf (chèche) | Sun, wind and sand on the camel ride |
| Head torch | Paths between tents are dark |
| Toothbrush, wet wipes | Simple and enough for one night |
| Your medicine | Always with you, not in the suitcase |
| Phone charger or power bank | Charging points can be shared |
| Sunglasses and sun cream | For the sunset ride and sunrise |
Clothes for the road
Choose light, breathable layers you can add and remove: a T-shirt, a long-sleeved shirt, a light jumper. The road crosses the High Atlas at 2,260 metres, where it can be cool, and drops into hot valleys an hour later.
In villages and at Aït Ben Haddou, long trousers or a long skirt or dress, and covered shoulders, are respectful and comfortable. It is not a rule for travellers, but you will feel more at ease.
Clothes for the desert night
From November to March, nights in the dunes can drop close to 0 °C. Bring a warm fleece or down jacket, a hat and warm socks for the evening around the fire and for sunrise. From April to October, a light jumper is usually enough, but the desert always cools after sunset.
Sun and sand
The sun in the south is strong all year. Bring sunglasses, sun cream and lip balm. A scarf is the most useful thing you can carry: your guide will show you how to tie it as a chèche, the traditional turban that protects your head, face and neck from sun and blowing sand. You can also buy one on the way for a few euros.
Shoes
Comfortable walking shoes or trainers for Aït Ben Haddou, the Todra Gorge and the towns. On the dunes, sandals are easiest, and many travellers simply walk barefoot on the cool sand in the evening. Avoid new shoes; the sand gets into everything.
Papers and money
Your passport, your voucher (on your phone is fine), your travel insurance details and some cash. Lunches on the road are usually paid on the spot, about €8 to €12, and you may want to buy water, a scarf or a souvenir. Keep a little cash for tips for your driver and camel guides if you are happy with them. Cards work in hotels and bigger towns, less so in villages.
Phone and camera
A power bank is the most useful gadget on a desert tour. Download offline maps and make sure WhatsApp works: your pick-up time, your driver's number and any change arrive there. A small cloth for your camera lens helps in the sand.
What not to bring
A big suitcase to the camp (it stays in the vehicle), expensive jewellery, and a drone without checking the rules: flying drones in Morocco is restricted and they can be confiscated at the airport.
The one thing everyone forgets
A warm layer. The dunes are hot at five in the afternoon and cold at midnight. Every season, every tour, bring something warm for the night.
Packing for children
Children love the desert, and a few extras make the trip easier for everyone: a small cushion for the long drives, snacks and a refillable bottle, a hat and a scarf they can wear on the camel, a warm pyjama for the camp night, wet wipes, and a torch of their own, which they will love using on the dunes. Motion-sickness tablets help on the bends of the Tizi n'Tichka.
A simple checklist
- Passport, voucher, insurance details, cash
- Light layers, long trousers or skirt, a warm jumper or jacket
- Hat, scarf, sunglasses, sun cream, lip balm
- Walking shoes and sandals
- Small bag for the camp night, head torch
- Medicine, wet wipes, hand gel
- Phone charger, power bank, plug adapter (type C / E)
Download our printable packing list from your booking, tick as you pack, and you will not forget a thing.
Laundry and a longer trip
If the desert is part of a longer journey through Morocco, pack for a week and use the laundry services of riads and hotels, often same-day or overnight. Your bag will be lighter and the camp night easier.
Questions
Do I need special clothes for the desert?
No. Layers, a scarf, comfortable shoes and a warm jumper for the night are enough.
Can I bring my suitcase to the camp?
It stays in the vehicle; take a small bag with what you need for one night.
What should women wear on a desert tour?
Comfortable layers; long trousers or a long skirt and covered shoulders feel more at ease in villages. There is no strict rule for travellers.
Should I bring cash?
Yes, for lunches (about €8 to €12), water, souvenirs and tips.
Can I fly a drone in the desert?
Drones are restricted in Morocco and can be confiscated at the airport; check the rules before travelling.
