2-Day Merzouga Desert Safari: Camel Trek & Overnight Camp

Two days crossing the Sahara on camelback, from sunset to sunrise in a desert camp.

A 2-day camel trek through the Merzouga Desert with overnight stay in a traditional Berber camp. You ride into the dunes on camelback, watch the sunset from the sand, spend the night under the stars at the camp, and return after sunrise the next morning. The trek includes a professional guide, all meals (Berber cuisine), campfire entertainment with local music, and water throughout.

The experience

The camel trek itself is the spine of the experience: you ride through the vast sand dunes of Merzouga, moving at the pace of the desert rather than a schedule. The isolation is deliberate. There are no crowds, no vehicle noise, just the rhythm of the trek and the landscape opening around you. As the day progresses, the dunes shift color with the light, and by late afternoon you reach the traditional desert camp where you'll spend the night.

Dinner happens by the campfire: the menu rotates through Berber staples like chicken tagine with couscous, grilled chicken with rice, harira soup, fresh salads, and seasonal fruit. After dark, the entertainment is local: traditional Berber music and storytelling by the fire, the kind of thing that happens in the camp most nights. You sleep in the camp's bedding under a sky so full of stars it changes how you think about darkness. Water is available throughout the trek and at the camp, and the facilities are basic but functional.

The next morning starts early: you wake to watch the sunrise over the dunes before the trek back to the starting point. The whole arc (sunset, night under the stars, sunrise) is what makes the 2-day format work. A single-day visit would miss the overnight immersion and the quiet of the desert after dark.

What’s included

• Camel trek through the Merzouga Desert with a professional guide.
• overnight stay in a traditional Berber camp with bedding.
• dinner and breakfast featuring local Berber cuisine (chicken tagine, grilled chicken, harira soup, salads, fresh fruit).
• access to the camp's facilities and campfire.
• traditional Berber music and storytelling.
• water during the trek and at the camp.
• sunset and sunrise views over the sand dunes.
• transfer from and to the starting point.

Before you book

Lasts 2d, runs every day at 16:00, from US$ 50 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 16:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (17 to 65 years) · Child (10 to 16 years) · Infant (5 to 9 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Merzouga Experience

Is this one for you?The guide leads in English, so you'll follow the commentary and the stories about the desert and Berber traditions without translation. This works well if you're comfortable with a moderate pace of physical activity over two days: the camel riding and the desert environment require some fitness, but the trek is built around the experience, not around pushing limits.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (10 to 16 years); Infant (5 to 9 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the camel trek actually like for someone who's never ridden before?

The trek moves at a walking pace through the sand dunes, and the camels are accustomed to carrying riders. You'll be in the saddle for most of the day, so a moderate level of physical fitness helps, but the experience is designed for the trek itself, not for speed or difficulty. The professional guide manages the pace and the camels.

What kind of food do they serve at the desert camp?

Dinner and breakfast are traditional Berber cuisine cooked at the camp. Chicken tagine with Moroccan spices and couscous, grilled chicken with rice, harira soup with lentils and chickpeas, fresh vegetable salads, and seasonal fruit are typical offerings. Water is provided throughout.

Is the overnight camp comfortable, or is it very basic?

The camp is a traditional Berber setup with bedding provided, so it's basic but functional. You're sleeping under the stars in the desert, not in a hotel. The campfire and the night sky are the main features. Comfort is secondary to the experience of being in the Sahara.

How much time is actually spent riding the camel versus resting at camp?

Most of the first day is spent on the trek through the dunes, with the sunset views as you approach the camp. The evening and night are spent at the camp with dinner, entertainment, and rest. The second morning includes the sunrise viewing before the return trek to the starting point.