Berber musician drumming beside the camp fire

New Year’s Eve 2026 in the Merzouga desert, Morocco

See out the year in the Sahara, with a special dinner and a party by the fire, and see in 2027 watching the sun rise from a dune. In a camp of ten tents in Erg Znaigui, not with sixty strangers around you.

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New Year’s Eve 2026 at Tassili: what is already confirmed

What we already know about New Year’s Eve 2026:

DateThe night of Thursday 31 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027.
Minimum stay: 1 nightYou can come for the night of the 31st only.
A special dinner and a partyOn the night of the 31st, a New Year’s Eve dinner and a party by the fire, with live Berber music.
PriceAsk us on WhatsApp. It is per tent, not per person, and includes the New Year’s Eve dinner and breakfast.
How to bookSend us your dates and how many you are. We always reply the same day.
MidnightThe same time as in France, Spain, Italy and Germany; in the UK and Ireland it is still 11 pm.

How New Year’s Eve is celebrated in the Merzouga desert

This is the night of the 31st at the camp, step by step:

Afternoon arrivalYou reach the camp in the afternoon and we welcome you with mint tea.
Around 6:20 pm, sunset by camelOn the 31st the sun sets at around twenty past six, so the camel ride sets off earlier, to see the last sunset of the year from the top of a dune.
The bonfireAs night falls, the fire is lit in the middle of the camp. Wrap up: it is already cold by then.
The New Year’s Eve dinnerA festive Moroccan menu, with dishes such as harira soup, roast lamb (mechoui) and couscous, and fruit or pastries for dessert. The menu may vary a little; if there are allergies or children, tell us when you book.
Live Berber musicAfter dinner, live Berber music and drums by the fire.
MidnightThe countdown, by the fire under a sky full of stars: in winter the air is dry and, with no lights around, you see far more than in any city. In winter Morocco is on the same time as Paris, Madrid or Rome, one hour ahead of the UK.
1 January, the first sunriseThe sun rises at around a quarter past eight. It is worth climbing a dune to watch it; then breakfast.

The New Year’s Eve dinner and party

On the night of the 31st we prepare something special: a New Year’s Eve dinner and a party by the fire, with Berber music, to see in the year among the dunes.

If you would also like something of your own, we can set up a private dinner on the sand, decorate your tent or have a cake ready, given enough notice. If you are a group and would like the camp to yourselves, ask us. More ideas in celebrations in the desert.

Moroccan lantern lit, marking the path between the tents at the camp

How much New Year’s Eve in the desert costs

The price is per tent per night, not per person, and includes dinner, breakfast, the sunset camel ride and the 4x4 transfer to the tents.

We give you the price for the night of the 31st on WhatsApp: send us your dates and how many you are and we will reply the same day, with no obligation.

The cold: what hardly anyone tells you

In December the days are pleasant, around 19 °C. At night the temperature drops to about 4 °C and can get close to freezing. Anyone who comes expecting the Sahara of the films has a hard time at dinner outdoors.

That is why our tents have heating, as well as a private bathroom with a hot shower. You sleep well inside; what you need to plan is your clothing for being outside.

Bring a winter coat, a hat and some wool for the fire and for sunrise. The full list is in what to pack for the desert.

Inside a tent, with the air conditioning and heating unit above the bed

What a night at Tassili includes

This is included every night of the year, 31 December too:

Private tentWith its own bathroom, a hot shower and heating.
Dinner and breakfastDinner at the camp and breakfast the next morning.
Sunset camel rideTo the top of a dune, to see off the last sun of the year.
Berber music by the firePlayed by the camp team.
SandboardingFor anyone who wants to slide down a dune before the light goes.
4x4 transferTo the tents and back.

New Year’s Eve in the desert with children

It is a good family plan, especially in a small camp: there are no sixty strangers partying around you and the team is at the camp all night. The family tent sleeps five, with the bathroom inside and heating, so nobody has to cross the sand in the small hours.

What children enjoy most happens in the afternoon: sliding down a dune on a sandboard before the light goes, the camel ride (always with an adult and at a slow pace; if they would rather not ride, we drive you to the dune by 4x4) and the drums by the fire after dinner. Tell us their ages and any allergies when you book and we prepare menus for them.

If the little ones do not make it to midnight, the tent is right there in the camp and heated: they go to bed and the party carries on by the fire. Midnight falls at the same time as in France, Spain, Italy and Germany; in the UK and Ireland it is still 11 pm.

For the cold, layers, a winter coat, a hat and gloves, plus something of their own for the tent: a book or a small toy. For the journey, two nights are better than one and, if you can, fly to Errachidia: from there it is about two hours. More tips in the desert with children.

Guests riding camels with a Berber guide on the Merzouga dunes

Agafay near Marrakech or Merzouga for New Year’s Eve?

The desert next to Marrakech is Agafay, an hour from the city. It is a stone desert, with hills and views of the Atlas, but no dunes. If you only have the night of the 31st and do not want a long drive, it is a good choice.

If you want to see in the year among real sand dunes, the Sahara dunes are in Merzouga: 10 to 12 hours by road from Marrakech, or a flight to Errachidia and about two hours more. We compare the two, with prices, in Merzouga or Agafay.

Getting to Merzouga for New Year’s Eve

In winter it can snow on the Atlas passes. If you are driving, check the forecast before you set off and do not leave your arrival on the 31st to the last minute: the sun sets at around twenty past six.

If you are flying, the nearest airport is Errachidia, about two hours away. From Marrakech it is around 560 km and 10 to 12 hours by road, so it makes sense to leave on the 30th or earlier. Every route is in getting here from Marrakech and from Fes.

How to book the night of the 31st

The minimum stay is one night: you can come for the night of the 31st only. If you can, two nights (the 30th and 31st, or the 31st and 1st) save you hitting the road on New Year’s Day after a long night.

Message us on WhatsApp with your dates, how many you are and, if you are bringing children, their ages. We reply the same day with availability and price.

Comparing camps? See Merzouga desert camp prices.

Questions about New Year’s Eve in the Moroccan desert

Do you do anything special on New Year’s Eve?

Yes. We prepare a special New Year’s Eve dinner, with a festive Moroccan menu, and a party by the fire, with live Berber music.

What is the minimum stay over New Year’s Eve?

One night. You can come for the night of the 31st only.

How much does New Year’s Eve in the desert cost?

We give it to you on WhatsApp. It is per tent per night, not per person, and includes the New Year’s Eve dinner and breakfast. Send us your dates and how many you are and we will reply the same day, with no obligation.

How do I book New Year’s Eve?

On WhatsApp: send us your dates and how many you are. We always reply the same day.

What time is midnight in Merzouga compared with home?

In winter Morocco is on the same time as France, Spain, Italy and Germany, so midnight is the same. In the UK and Ireland it is still 11 pm.

How cold is it at night?

Around 4 °C, and some nights close to freezing. The tents have heating; for dinner and the fire, bring a winter coat.

Can we come with children?

Yes. There is a family tent for five and children’s menus. With little ones, warm clothing is what matters most: the night is cold.

Can we book the whole camp for New Year’s Eve?

Ask us: message us with your dates and numbers and we will tell you what is possible.

Can I spend New Year’s Eve in the desert from Marrakech?

Yes, but Merzouga is 10 to 12 hours by road, so leave on the 30th or earlier, or fly to Errachidia, about two hours away. If you only have that night, the desert nearest Marrakech is Agafay: stone, with no dunes.

Can we toast with champagne?

Message us on WhatsApp and we will tell you.