Camel Trekking in Merzouga: What Actually Happens on a Sahara Overnight

A Merzouga camel trek is a 45–60 minute dromedary ride from the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes to a desert camp, timed to arrive around sunset, followed by dinner and an overnight stay in a tented bivouac camp before riding or driving back out the next morning.

Before You Mount Up

You'll transfer from your private vehicle to a staging point at the edge of the dunes in the late afternoon — timed so the ride happens as the heat drops and the light turns gold. Camels here are led in a line by a handler on foot, so no riding experience is needed; you'll be shown how to sit as the camel stands (lean back, it lurches) and given a scarf if you don't already have one, since a light headwrap keeps blown sand out of your hair and eyes.

The Ride Itself

Forty-five minutes to an hour is enough to feel the rhythm of it without your legs going numb — dromedaries have a distinctive rolling gait that takes a few minutes to get used to. Most routes climb a few of the taller dune ridges along the way specifically for the view, so keep a phone or camera accessible rather than buried in a bag.

Arriving at Camp

Bivouac camps range from simple shared tents to private luxury setups with real beds and en-suite facilities — we use the latter on our itineraries. Expect a communal dinner (often tagine, cooked in the traditional clay pot over coals), and afterwards, Berber drummers around a fire most nights. Once the generator-powered lights go off, the lack of light pollution out here is dramatic — genuinely one of the best places in the world for naked-eye stargazing.

The Morning After

Most camps offer an optional pre-dawn dune climb to watch sunrise before breakfast, which is worth the early alarm if you can manage it — the color and shadow across the dunes at that hour is different from anything you'll see midday. You'll then ride or drive back out and rejoin your itinerary; on our routes that means continuing toward Todra Gorge and Skoura the same morning.

Good to Know

Bring layers regardless of season — desert nights are colder than the daytime heat suggests. Closed shoes matter more than sandals once you're off the camel and walking on hot or cold sand. And if you have back or hip issues, mention it in advance; camps can usually arrange a 4x4 transfer instead of the camel ride for the same overnight experience. Every one of our tours from the 8 day route upward includes this camel trek and overnight as standard.