Picture yourself staring into a pitch black sky filled with glittering stars and a bright, shining moon. Imagine the only thing surrounding you is a deep and peaceful silence. Imagine that all you can see ahead, under the pale moonlight, is an infinite roll of soft sandy dunes. Dare to dream that you are on the edge of the Sahara Desert, and you will be spending the night here. How amazing to feel so small in the midst of one of the most powerful forces of nature.
Now, come back to reality. Do some research and find out that this dream can actually become a reality and it’s not as inaccessible as you would think.
A night in the desert is one of the most unique travel experiences you can have and one of the best places to experience it is in Morocco. So if you’re traveling to this incredible country, take a day out of your itinerary and start planning for the most incredible night of your life.
What to expect
Your journey will likely begin on a tiny village just outside of the Sahara Desert. From here, a four-wheel jeep will take you a bit deeper into the desert, dropping you off just as you can start to see the first small, yet might, sandy tunes.
As your jeep comes to a halt, you will be welcomed by a couple of Berber tour guides and their adoring camels who are ready to lead you through the next leg of your journey. As you mount on your newly-acquainted four-pawed friend, the Berber guides will take you up and down countless dunes, expertly guiding you towards the camp where you’ll be spending the night. During the one-hour trek, you will have plenty of opportunities to observe the setting sun and attempt to capture the majestic desert with your camera.
Your journey will come to an end at a traditional Berber camp complete with tents, plenty of warm blankets, and a fire pit. Tucked away in this quiet sandy valley, you’ll be treated to a traditional Berber meal and plenty of music around the fire. If you’re up for it, you may even be able to try some sand boarding – a fun activity where you slide down a massive sand dune on a “sand board”. In the morning, you’ll have the option of waking up extra early to climb up the nearest sand dune and watch the sun rise on the desert.
After a delicious breakfast, your tour guides and camel will take you back to “civilization”. Your one-hour trek on the way back will give you some time to reflect on the amazing experience that was spending the night under the Saharan stars. Just be sure of one thing: you will want to return and repeat the night sooner rather than later.