A morning view after Spending a night in the desert in Morocco. The land is flat and dark in silhouette as the sun rises turning the sky a golden glowing shade of deep orange

Spending A Night In The Desert In Morocco

21st October 2022- New Experience Number 23.

Jump to 'Try it yourself'

“Can you hear what I can hear?” one of our group asked when we were spending a night in the desert in Morocco.

We had not expected to be listening to these particular nocturnal sounds as we sat under the multitude of stars.

After an incredible camel riding experience across the Saharan dunes at sunset, our Berber camp for the night looked beautiful in the twighlight.

If you’ve got wanderlust for desert dust then Sahara-bout this for an experience? (Sorry, I couldn’t resist!)

A patterned rug lies in the centre of a line of tents which have lit lanterns outside. Glamping accommodation for spending a night in the desert in Morocco
Beautiful blue hour at our berber camp

First Impressions Of Spending A Night In The Desert In Morocco

A line of unexpected green trees marked the entrance. Small walkways led to the illuminated sleeping tents, each with outdoor seating and intricately patterned lanterns casting pretty shadows. A larger communal dining tent stood invitingly at the end. It looked beautiful.

Looking between two trees at tents at twilight with lanterns glowing outside. A pretty Berber Camp for Spending A Night In The Desert In Morocco
A pretty and welcoming sight as we arrived at camp

Accommodation

The other half thought this might have been an intense sleeping arrangement, but our canvas accommodation was a long way from roughing it. These were big sturdy structures and we’d be spending a night in relative luxury.

Floors were carpeted with colourful patterned rugs. Embellished bedspreads covered the full size beds. There were even arm chairs and a coat stand! Plenty of space to swing a camel, although I’m not sure the Berbers or the camels would have appreciated that.

Interior of a tent for Spending A Night In The Desert In Morocco. Double bed and single bed with blankets, cushions and a colourful rug.
A far more comfortable place to spend the night in the desert than we had expected

All Mod Cons For Spending A Night In The Desert In Morocco

Each tent was ensuite. I can’t believe I’ve actually written that. We were in the desert. A place notorious for its lack of water. Yet here in our tent we had running water, a hot shower, and a flushing toilet complete with a soft close lid! This was the best plumbing we experienced during all of the five nights of our tour of Morocco!

Each tent had electric lighting, and for any guests who needed to charge devices there were ample sockets available in the dining tent. Everything had been thought of to make this a more than comfortable stay.

Not that we would be spending much time in our glamping home. There was far too much to see outside!

Night time and a close up of a lantern casting pretty shadows on the sand. A row of tents in the background. This is a Berber camp set up for Spending A Night In The Desert In Morocco
Our cosy camp and gorgeous set up was all fantastically equipped for spending a night in the desert

Desert Dinner

The obvious pun here would be to say we were lucky not to have been served sand-wiches. (Even I’m groaning as I type that! Sorry!)

We actually enjoyed a hearty dinner of bread and salads, juicy chicken skewers and salted chips, zesty lemon chicken tagine with a plate piled high with fluffy cous cous, followed by fresh fruit for dessert. 

It was all washed down with the obligatory Moroccan whisky (mint tea), of course. Delicious.

Some gorgeously adorable kittens sat longingly looking up at the dinner tables hoping that some scraps might fall their way. I think there were many crumbs ‘accidentally‘ dropped that night!

Glasses of fresh mint tea, and a silver teapot on a tray. A traditional Moroccan drink often served to visitors
A refreshing glass of Berber whisky (mint tea)

Campfire Entertainment

After dinner, all of the overnight guests gathered around the cosy campfire where our Berber hosts had assembled to play us some traditional music.

Two bongo-like drums were used by some performers, whilst others nimbly danced their hands around four drums to beat out lively rhythms. They made it look so easy, but when they invited us to play the drums with the Berber group, we made slightly less beautiful music.

The Neighbourhood

Our guide recommended we climb up a dune, but not to go over them because there were lots of camps in the area and we could easily get lost. I had no idea there were other camps. I mean, there must have been somewhere for all the other people we’d seen crossing the desert on camels and quad bikes to stay, but we hadn’t noticed anyone since our arrival and it was so quiet that it really felt as though we were completely on our own out there.

Feet sank into the sand as we slowly trudged up the steep bank away from the lights of our accommodation. Smoke swirled between the tents of our neighbouring camps as we caught a glimpse of them and saw just how close they actually were.

Silhouette of someone climbing a sand dune at sunset. The sky is a fiery orange.
We got a good workout climbing the sand dunes

Stars Of The Show When Spending A Night In The Desert In Morocco

But what really took our breath away at the top of the dune was the majestic night sky. An infinite number of shimmering stars speckled one of the darkest skies I’d ever seen. Away from light pollution, away from sound pollution, it wasn’t just the little stars that were twinkling.

The dust-like cloud of the milky way swept across the sky. Multiple shooting stars rained above us; tiny flashes of trailing light that you’d easily miss with a blink. There was an audible intake of breath when none of the group missed the amazing sight of a brighter tailed star travelling slowly and boldly further across the sky. What a moment.

Other people had their breath taken away that night too.

As the six of us in our group laid back in the sand to try and soak up as much of the phenomenal view as possible, the unmistakable sounds of a couple getting intimate drifted across the sand. Maybe that’s something that takes your fancy, but I think there are parts of the human body that really don’t want to be exfoliated.

A dark sky with thousands of stars and in the bottom left corner of the picture is the green trail of a shooting star. A familiar sight when Spending A Night In The Desert In Morocco
Not a great picture, but spot the shooting star - bottom left!
Silhouetted sand dunes seen on a night in the desert. A small amount of colour fading in the sky.
Dunes silhouetted as the light faded

‘Sand’ Asleep

It was late when we returned to our tents, snuggled down under the covers and switched off the light. My mind was brimming from the awesome sensory overload it had experienced, but it soon quietened down and I drifted off to sleep in one of the quietest places I’ve ever slept.

A canvas tent at night used for Spending A Night In The Desert In Morocco. Lanterns and table and chair outside.
A very silent night and a comfortable sleep in our private tent

Sun-Rise And Shine After Spending A Night In The Desert In Morocco

Night was fading as I opened my eyes and heard the cats playing outside. I don’t think I felt tired, even if I did, I was too excited to stay in bed. The sun would be coming up shortly and I didn’t want to miss mother nature gloriously announcing the start of a new day.

Looking down a long pink rug laid on the sand through the middle of a camp. It is early morning and the view of camp after Spending A Night In The Desert In Morocco.
Waking up to pastel colours in the quiet and serene camp

Quickly showered and dressed, I was like a giddy child when I opened the tent door. The light was just beautiful. The camp looked gorgeously peaceful and serene in the dusky dawn. I didn’t want to blink. I wanted to absorb every drop of the view with my eyes and etch it into my memory forever.

Sunrise at a glamping site. Tents are lined next to a pink rug laid out in the sand.
The first rays of sun shining over the camp

Wading up the sand dune I said good morning to others from our camp. The dunes looked vivid and more defined in the softer early light. An elderly Moroccan lady who was also staying in our camp was coming up the dune. I walked down to her and offered to help. Still gripping my hand, we stood at the top together for a while, silently taking in the breathtaking view.

Glowing For Gold

It was as though crimson-orange was spray painted just above the horizon as the sun began to make its way up. There was applause form a neighbouring camp as a crescent of light peeked above the hills. Continuing its unstoppable journey and revealing more of its dazzling form, we were quietly bathed in shades of gold, fading through to daylight blue.

Orange colours in the sky over the flat sands just before the sun comes up
The most colourful and spectacular sky just before the sun came up

I love seeing the sunrise when I am out on a morning run and have seen some spectacular colours in the skies. Sunrise in the desert however is without a doubt one of the best ways to start a day.

Two people sitting on a sand dune above tents after spending a night in the desert in Morocco. The sun is just coming up above the horizon and the sky is colourful
A view definitely worth getting up early for

Starting The Day The Berber Way

Strong coffee, warm pastries, bread with an assortment of accompaniments, and eggs were on offer for breakfast in the dining tent. Having been up for a while it felt like brunch even though it still wasn’t even 8am!

Sand We Were Off

We had the option of riding the camels back from the camp, or joining our luggage in the car and being driven back. 

Wanting to make the desert experience last as long as I could, I took the hump.

Sitting on my four legged friend once again, I don’t think I could camel-flage the slight discomfort I felt as my thighs complained about returning to this mode of transport so soon.

We waved goodbye to our cosy camp, and took the slow and scenic route out of the desert.

Sunrise yellow orange and blue sky, sand dunes, and some camels in the distance. A beautiful morning view
Our morning ride out of the desert back to civilisation

Been There, Dune That, Spending A Night In The Desert In Morocco

I think people might look at this experience through one of two lenses:

A commercialised glamping activity created to make money from tourists who think they are having a unique and authentic experience when in reality thousands of people have done exactly the same thing.

Or

An incredible and memorable place to spend a night.

I’m definitely in the second camp.

Our hosts were friendly, funny and attentive and I loved our night camping in the desert. 

It was surprising, it was beautiful, and it was utterly unforgettable.

Glamping tents and patterned lanterns. A berber camp for tourists spending A Night In The Desert In Morocco
An amazing stop on our Moroccan tour

Want To Try It Yourself?

  • Our night in the Sahara was part of a five night tour from Much Better Adventures.

  • If you’re visiting Marrakech, you’ll find many tour operators offering overnight experiences in the desert. Bear in mind that it is a long journey to get from Marrakech to the Sahara, so any tours offering to take you there in just one day will likely mean a long time in a vehicle.
  • There are many tours and trips which you can book for a night to remember under the stars in different parts of the world.
  • You can find various other tour operators offering overnight stays and visits to the desert in Morocco through Get Your Guide and Viator

Cost Of Experience

  • We paid just under £400 per person for our full tour in October 2022. This didn’t include flights, but did include 5 nights accommodation, all transport in Morocco, and most of the meals.

  • Take a look at the Much Better Adventures site for up-to-date details and prices. 

  • Prices will vary depending when you go and who you book with.

  • If you book an overnight stay in the desert independently, prices can start from around £70 per person.

Recommendations

  • Take layers. It didn’t get too cold when we were there in the October, but the temperature can drop considerably compared to the heat of the day.
  • Lie back on the dunes and hopefully enjoy one of the most incredibly clear starry nights, and maybe spot a shooting star or two.
  • Listen out for nocturnal desert activities!
  • Don’t forget your camera and don’t forget to charge your batteries.

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