Merzouga: Overnight Camel Trek & Berber Campfire Music

Summary

Ride camels into Sahara dunes sleep under stars with Berber music

You’ll ride camels through Merzouga’s shifting dunes at sunset, share mint tea with Berber hosts in their desert camp, eat dinner by firelight with live music, and wake up for sunrise over endless sand before heading back. It’s simple but stays with you long after—especially those quiet moments under the stars.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Camel trek and desert camp experience

• Arrive at meeting point
• Enjoy Moroccan mint tea
• Ride camels at sunset
• Arrive at Bedouin camp
• Have tea, dinner, and Berber music
• Watch stars around campfire
• Wake up for sunrise
• Eat breakfast
• Ride camels back to meeting point

Top questions

Is pickup included for the overnight camel trek in Merzouga?

Yes, pickup is included if you arrive by bus or car near Hassi Labied village.

Do I get my own camel during the trek?

Yes, each person has their own camel for both sunset and sunrise rides.

Are meals provided at the desert camp?

Dinner and breakfast are included at the Bedouin camp.

What kind of tents are provided?

You’ll have a private tent with shared bathroom facilities at camp.

Is there music or entertainment at night?

Yes, local guides play Berber music with drums around the campfire after dinner.

Can I park my car somewhere safe?

Free parking is available if you come by car to Hassi Labied village.

How many people can stay in the camp?

The camp fits up to 10 guests total for each overnight tour.

Are public transportation options available nearby?

Yes, public transport like Supratours bus stops nearby; pickup is arranged from there.

What’s included

Your overnight includes pickup from Merzouga or Hassi Labied (bus stop or parking), a camel ride for both sunset and sunrise across the dunes, all meals—dinner by firelight and breakfast—plus plenty of mint tea shared with your Berber hosts. You’ll sleep in a private tent at a small desert camp (shared bathrooms), enjoy live drumming around the fire, sandboarding if you’re up for it, water in camp, and free parking if needed before heading back by camel in the morning.

What’s the experience like?

We started walking from the edge of Hassi Labied—my shoes already full of sand before I even saw the camels. Our guide, Hassan, grinned as he handed me mint tea in a glass so hot I almost dropped it. The air smelled sweet and dusty, and his sister was laughing at something I tried to say in French (probably deserved). Then we climbed onto our camels—mine was named Zidane—and set off toward the dunes just as the sun got low and everything turned gold. I kept thinking: this is really happening, I’m actually riding a camel into the Sahara Desert.

The trek to the Bedouin camp took maybe an hour? Hard to tell because time felt weird out there—just sand and wind and that slow rocking motion. Hassan pointed out some old caravan tracks (I’d never have noticed) and told us stories about nomad life. The sky went pink behind us. When we reached camp, there was more tea (they call it “Berber whisky,” which made me laugh), and then dinner around a fire. The food tasted smoky and warm—tagine with bread you rip apart with your hands. Afterward, everyone played drums under a sky so clear you could see satellites moving; someone tried to teach me a rhythm but honestly my hands just made noise.

I barely slept because I didn’t want to miss anything—the silence was huge except for one dog barking far away, or maybe it was just my imagination. Sunrise came early; Hassan woke us gently (“you don’t want to miss this”) and we watched the light crawl over the dunes while sipping more tea. My legs were stiff on the camel ride back but I didn’t care—I kept looking over my shoulder at the camp getting smaller behind us. Still think about that view sometimes when things get noisy back home.