What to Pack for a Merzouga Desert Tour: Sahara Packing List

The single most important rule for a Merzouga desert tour is to pack for both heat and cold. Desert days can be hot, but nights in the Sahara camp are much cooler, and the drive over the High Atlas can be cold at altitude. Layers solve this far better than one heavy item.

Aim for a light daytime layer, a warm mid layer such as a fleece or sweater, and a windproof jacket for evenings at camp. Even in warm seasons, most travelers are glad they brought something warm for after sunset.

Bring breathable, loosely fitting clothes for the daytime, ideally covering the shoulders and knees, which keeps sun off your skin and is respectful in the villages you pass through. Long sleeves and light trousers are more comfortable in the desert than they sound.

Add a warm layer and a jacket for the evening, plus sleepwear that will keep you comfortable if the camp gets cold overnight. A scarf or light shawl is genuinely useful as sun cover, dust protection, and an extra warm layer all in one.

Closed, comfortable shoes or trainers are best for the road stops, kasbahs, and gorges. For the dunes themselves, many travelers enjoy walking barefoot on the sand, but sandals that you can slip on and off around camp are handy.

If you plan to walk much in the dunes or visit in cooler months, closed shoes keep sand and chill out. Whatever you bring, expect fine sand to get into everything, so nothing precious.

Sun protection is not optional in the Sahara. Pack a high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat or scarf that covers your head and neck, and lip balm. The reflection off the sand is strong even on cooler days.

Dust is the other constant. A scarf you can wrap over your nose and mouth is useful on windy stretches, and a small dry bag or zip pouch keeps sand out of your phone, camera, and documents.

Desert camps provide bedding and blankets, but a few personal items make the night far more comfortable: a headlamp or small torch, a power bank since camp electricity can be limited, wet wipes, and any medication you need.

Pack a small daypack with just what you need for the camp night, so you are not dragging a large suitcase across the sand. Leave the bulk of your luggage in the vehicle and carry the overnight bag on the camel trek.

You do not need heavy hiking gear, formal clothes, or a large hard suitcase. A soft duffel or backpack is easier to load into the vehicle and to carry at camp. Keep the packing light, since you move between hotels and the desert over a few days.

Bring cash in small notes for tips, drinks, and small purchases along the route, as card payment is unreliable in remote areas. On our 3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour, which begins and ends in Marrakech, everything else is arranged for you, so pack for comfort, not for every possibility.