Travel Tips10 Things to Know Before Your First Sahara Desert Trip
The Sahara is unlike any destination on earth. Here is what every first-time visitor needs to know before stepping onto the sand.
1 April 20268 min read
Stories & Guides
The Sahara Desert Blog
Travel tips, desert stories, cultural insights, and everything you need to plan the journey of a lifetime
30 articles
Travel Tips
ExperiencesCamel Trekking in Morocco: What to Really Expect
Everyone imagines themselves atop a camel at sunset. Here is the honest, unfiltered version of what camel trekking in the Sahara is actually like.
20 March 20266 min read
PlanningThe Best Time to Visit the Sahara Desert
The Sahara is beautiful year-round, but the timing of your visit dramatically affects the experience. A seasonal guide to help you choose.
10 March 20265 min read
StoriesA Night Under the Stars in Erg Chebbi
What does it actually feel like to sleep in the Sahara? One night at the dunes, from the camel ride in to the moment the sun rises over 150 metres of golden sand.
5 March 20267 min read
CultureBerber Culture: Understanding the People of the Sahara
The Amazigh people have called the Sahara home for thousands of years. Their language, traditions, and hospitality are central to any authentic desert experience.
25 February 20268 min read
DestinationsMerzouga vs Zagora: Which Sahara Should You Visit?
Morocco has two great desert destinations and they offer very different experiences. Here is how to choose the right one for your trip.
18 February 20266 min read
Travel TipsThe Complete Desert Packing List for the Sahara
Pack too little and the desert will punish you. Pack too much and you will carry it through the sand. Here is exactly what to bring.
10 February 20266 min read
CultureMoroccan Food on the Road: Tagines, Mint Tea and Desert Bread
Some of the most memorable meals you will ever eat are cooked over charcoal in a desert camp under a blanket of stars. Here is what to expect on the Sahara table.
28 January 20265 min read
PhotographyHow to Photograph the Sahara Desert
The Sahara is one of the most photogenic places on earth. Here is how to come home with images that do it justice.
20 January 20267 min read
ExperiencesDesert Sunrise vs Sunset: Which Is Really Worth It?
Both are spectacular. But they are completely different experiences. Here is an honest comparison to help you decide whether to set your alarm.
12 January 20265 min read
PlanningHow to Choose the Right Desert Camp for Your Budget
From basic Berber tents to luxury glamping with private bathrooms, desert camps in Morocco span a huge range. Here is how to find the right one.
28 December 20256 min read
HistoryThe Ancient Trans-Saharan Trade Routes
Long before GPS and tarmac roads, camel caravans crossed the Sahara carrying salt, gold, and ideas. The routes they followed still shape the landscape, and the culture, of the desert today.
15 December 20258 min read
SustainabilityHow to Travel Sustainably in the Sahara Desert
The Sahara is fragile in ways that are not immediately visible. Here is how responsible travellers can protect it while still having an extraordinary experience.
5 December 20256 min read
Family TravelSahara Desert with Kids: A Complete Family Travel Guide
The Sahara is one of the most extraordinary family experiences on earth, if you plan it right. Here is everything you need to know about taking children into the desert.
20 November 20257 min read
Travel TipsSolo Travel in the Sahara Desert: Everything You Need to Know
Travelling alone to the Sahara is one of the most rewarding decisions you can make. It is also one of the most misunderstood. Here is the full picture.
20 May 20267 min read
NatureSahara Desert Wildlife: The Animals That Call the Sand Home
The Sahara looks empty. It is not. Beneath the surface, behind the rocks, in the cool of the oases, an extraordinary community of animals has adapted to one of the harshest environments on earth.
10 May 20266 min read
HistoryMorocco's Kasbahs and Ksour: A Guide to Desert Architecture
The mud-brick fortresses that rise from the Draa and Dadès Valleys are among the most extraordinary buildings on earth. Here is how to understand and appreciate them.
1 May 20267 min read
ExperiencesSandboarding the Sahara: A Complete Beginner's Guide
No snow required. The Sahara's golden dunes are one of the world's great sandboarding destinations, and almost anyone can do it.
22 April 20265 min read
ItinerariesFes to Merzouga: The Northern Route into the Sahara
The drive from Fes to the Sahara dunes passes through Morocco's most dramatic mountain and valley landscapes. Here is how to make the most of every kilometre.
15 April 20268 min read
ItinerariesMarrakech to Merzouga: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
The drive from Marrakech to the Sahara dunes passes through some of the most extraordinary landscapes in Africa. Here is everything you need to make it unforgettable.
5 November 20259 min read
PlanningHow Much Does a Sahara Desert Tour Cost? A 2026 Price Guide
From around €95 for a shared group departure to well over €1,000 for a private luxury trip. Here is exactly what drives the price of a Sahara desert tour, and how to get the best value for your budget.
1 June 20267 min read
DestinationsErg Chebbi vs Erg Chigaga: Choosing Your Sahara Dunes
Beyond the well-known choice of Merzouga or Zagora lies a third option for the truly adventurous. Here is how Erg Chebbi compares to the remote, roadless dunes of Erg Chigaga.
10 June 20266 min read
ExperiencesQuad Biking and Dune Buggy Adventures in Merzouga
Racing across the dunes on an ATV or buggy is one of the Sahara's most exhilarating add-on experiences. Here is what to expect, what it costs, and how to do it safely and responsibly.
18 June 20265 min read
ExperiencesHot Air Balloon Over the Sahara: Is It Worth It?
Watching sunrise break over Erg Chebbi from a balloon basket, silent, floating, with the dune field unrolling beneath you, is one of the most talked-about Sahara experiences. Here is what it actually involves.
25 June 20265 min read
DestinationsTodra Gorge and Dades Valley: The Best Stop Between the Mountains and the Dunes
The road to the Sahara passes through two of Morocco's most dramatic landscapes. Here is how to make the most of the Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley, the "Road of a Thousand Kasbahs."
2 July 20266 min read
PlanningCan You Do a Day Trip to the Sahara Desert from Marrakech?
The short answer is no, and that is actually good news. Here is what a Sahara "day trip" from Marrakech really means, and what to book instead.
10 July 20265 min read
Travel TipsWhat to Wear in the Sahara Desert: A Woman's Guide
Modesty, sun, wind, and cold nights all shape what belongs in your bag. Here is a practical, respectful guide to dressing for a Sahara desert tour.
18 July 20266 min read
PlanningMorocco Visa and Entry Requirements for Your Sahara Desert Trip
Most nationalities do not need a visa to visit Morocco, but a few overlooked documents can complicate your entry. Here is what to check before you fly.
25 July 20265 min read
Planning2, 3, or 4 Days: How Long Should Your Sahara Desert Tour Be?
The length of your tour changes everything: what you see, how rushed you feel, and how much of the desert you actually experience. Here is how to choose the right number of days.
1 August 20266 min read
ItinerariesFrom Agadir to the Sahara Desert: Everything You Need to Know
Agadir is not the obvious desert gateway, but the route through the Anti-Atlas and Taroudant to Merzouga is one of Morocco's most rewarding, and increasingly popular with beach-and-desert combination travellers.
10 August 20267 min read