What it is
This is where the shared 3- and 4-day tours sleep on the desert night. You ride in on camels an hour before sunset, watch it from the dune behind the camp, and eat dinner in the main tent — soup, tagine, fruit, tea — before the drums by the fire. The tents are private, with a real bed, sheets and thick blankets; bathrooms are shared, in a block with hot showers and flush toilets. In the morning the camp wakes you before sunrise for the dune climb, then breakfast, then the camels back. It is simple and it is the real thing: sand under the tent, no light for kilometres, silence.
Location
Inside the erg, about an hour by camel (or 20 minutes by 4x4 on request) from the Merzouga road. Luggage: a small bag comes with you; the rest stays locked in the vehicle.
Included in your night
- Private tent per booking (couples, families and friends have their own; solo travellers too)
- Real bed(s), sheets, blankets; family tents on request
- Shared bathroom block: hot showers, toilets
- Dinner (3 courses, vegetarian on request), breakfast
- Camel trek in and out, sandboard, fire and music
- drinks other than water and tea
- tips
- Shared bathrooms, walked to across the sand. Nights are cold from November to March — blankets are plentiful, but bring a warm layer. Electricity is limited; charge your phone before the camp. If you want a private bathroom, choose the luxury option at booking (see Sahara Stars Camp).
- Torch or phone light for the walk to the bathroom.
- Cash only for drinks; nothing to buy otherwise.
- Sandstorm nights happen a few times a year; tents are secured, dinner moves inside.