Ever dreamed of waking up to the sun rising over sand dunes, swapping camel kisses, or socializing with the nomadic communities in Northern Africa? Welcome to the Sahara Desert. I recently lived out every one of these dreams while traveling to Morocco.
I traveled to Morocco with G Adventures. This was my second time traveling with G Adventures, after exploring India and Nepal with the company back in 2019. Part of the journey was spending a very brief moment in the Sahara Desert. While the actual time spent in the Sahara Desert was approximately 24 hours, it made a very good impression and stayed with me long after my trip.
I felt relatively safe during my time in the Sahara Desert. My suggestion would still be to travel Morocco with an experienced guide, or small group tour. I have heard of horror stories with some cheap, “too good to be true”, desert tour companies so do your research!
Currency
In Morocco, the form of currency is Moroccan Dirham. For reference, 1 USD is about 10 Dirham.
Language
The native tongue in Morocco is both Standard Arabic and Standard Moroccan Berber. However, French and English are also commonly spoken. In the Sahara Desert you will mostly hear Berber.
Getting There
If you are traveling from Marrakech it will take about 9 hours. From Fes it takes approximately 12 hours. Coming from Casablana you are looking at a 9 hour journey. You can travel by car or public bus (not as easy). For more information, check out this article.
When I visited the Sahara Desert…
When I arrived in Morocco, it was beginning of August – quite literally the hottest time of the year. Temperatures were typically between 80 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit every day. The hottest temperature I recorded was 117 degrees Fahrenheit. Luckily, it’s a dry heat (which I could handle for the most part). The desert “cooled off” significantly in the evenings, meaning I wasn’t completely sweating through my clothes during our sunset camel ride.
I wish someone told me…
The electricity may not (more likely will not) always function in the hotels, even if the hotels are reputable. While I can understand the why behind this (we are literally out in the middle of the desert of Africa), I wish I understood the extent of which the lack of electricity would impact my time in the Sahara Desert. We all purchased water and perishable snacks prior to arriving at the direction of a local guide. When we arrived the fridges did not work because the electricity was out. Additionally, our AC in turn didn’t turn on making for a very uncomfortable sleep. Just be prepared for this possibility and plan accordingly!
Don’t forget to bring…
The hands down, best purchase I made prior to my trip was a portable travel fan. Inspired by my time living in South Korea, I purchased a portable, chargeable fan from Amazon prior to traveling to Morocco. When I tell you it was a game changer, I am not exaggerating. Everyone was envious when the AC was failing in the long bus rides, or when the temperature hit 117 degrees (F) on a guided tour, and I was sitting in the corner with air blasting along my neck or across my forehead. Don’t leave the house without this!
You can’t leave without…
Experiencing a sunrise in the desert is truly unmatched (and worth the early wake up call!). Another “must” is chatting with a camel friend. Whether you choose to ride a camel through the desert, taste fresh camel milk, or simply admire them from afar, the choice should be personal. These creatures are fascinating and extremely charismatic.
Fun fact about the Sahara Desert…
The sand dunes only make up about 10-15% of the Sahara Desert. The rest of the desert is pretty flat and barren. This is where the nomads of North Africa reside. I was lucky enough to visit a remote “village” where we were welcomed into the homes of some of these nomadic families and treated to the local cuisine. Berbers live without electricity or running water, and are some of the kindest individuals I’ve ever encountered.
Insta-worthy photo locations…
It’s hard to take a bad photo with sand dunes surrounding you. Definitely make your way into the sand dunes themselves for the best photo opportunities. You can do this by camel, 4X4, or just taking a morning stroll. The hotels in the area also offer a great backdrop for insta-worthy photos. I stayed at Auberge De Charme Les Dunes D´Or and every inch of it was aesthetically pleasing.
If I could do one thing differently it would be…
With approximately 24 hours in the Sahara Desert, it simply wasn’t enough time. I would have spent much more of my time in the desert while traveling through Morocco. Additionally, I think I would have splurged for sleeping in the “glamping” tents next time. I see them all over Instagram and it’s such a unique experience that would have been lovely to take part in while in the desert. Especially when my hotel lacked AC and electricity most of my stay… Next time, that is absolutely something I would do differently.
And there you have it! A very quick guide the the Sahara Desert in Morocco. This truly once-in-a-lifetime experience is absolutely worth it if you have the opportunity to travel to the ocean of sand.
