Travelling solo to the Moroccan desert
We get this question almost every week. The short answer is yes, and the long one is what to check before you book.
The short answer
Yes, it is safe, and we have women travelling alone here all year round. But “it is safe” on its own helps nobody: every website says it and it means nothing.
What actually changes the experience is not the country or the region, it is the particular camp you sleep in. And there the differences are enormous, and they do not show in the photographs.
What to ask any camp before booking
Send these questions to whichever camp you are looking at, ours or anyone else’s. How they answer tells you a good deal:
- Is the bathroom inside the tent?Crossing a camp in the dark at 3am is what puts people off most, and it does not show in photos.
- How many tents are there?Ten is not the same as fifty, either in noise or in how you are treated.
- Is someone from the team there all night?There should be. If the answer is vague, that is an answer.
- Can the tent be closed?A simple question, and a revealing one.
- Is there a single supplement?Plenty charge a solo traveller almost what they charge a couple, or put them in a shared tent.
- How do I get there?If the answer is “take a taxi and you will manage”, that is a bad sign.
How we handle it here
There are ten tents, not fifty. Each has its own bathroom inside, with a toilet and a hot shower, so there is no reason to go outside at night.
The team is at the camp all night. If you want to climb the dunes to look at the stars, tell us and someone goes with you: at night the dunes all look alike and it is easy to lose your bearings, which is the real risk here, not anything else.
The single tent is €100 a night with no supplement for travelling alone. You do not share with strangers either: the tent is yours.
And you do not have to get here on your own. We pick you up wherever you are, and if you fly in we arrange the private transfer from the airport.
The practical side, which is where the real questions are
The questions we get are not about safety in the abstract. They are specific, and these are the answers.
On arriving: you do not have to sort out the last stretch on your own. We pick you up wherever you are in Merzouga, and if you fly into Errachidia we arrange the private transfer from the airport. That removes the part of the trip where people feel least comfortable, which is negotiating a taxi after arriving somewhere unfamiliar in the dark.
On money: the single tent is €100 a night and that is the final price. Plenty of places charge a solo traveller almost the same as a couple. Ask, here and anywhere else.
On the camp: there are ten tents, the bathroom is inside yours and the team stays all night. You never have to cross anything in the dark or ask anyone for anything at three in the morning.
And on clothing: there is no dress code at the camp. Outside, in Rissani or Merzouga village, keeping shoulders and knees covered saves you looks and makes the day easier. It is not an obligation, it is convenience.
Questions from solo travellers
Can I get to the camp on my own?
You do not need to. We pick you up wherever you are in Merzouga and do the last stretch over sand ourselves by 4x4, included. If you fly into Errachidia we arrange the private transfer from the airport, so there is nothing to negotiate on landing.
Is there a better time of year to travel solo?
Spring and autumn, for two reasons: the weather is comfortable and there are more people travelling alone, so there is conversation at dinner if you want it. In deep winter the camp is quieter.
Is it safe to sleep alone in the Merzouga desert?
Yes. The real risk in the desert is not people, it is losing your bearings on the dunes at night or getting cold because you brought nothing warm. Both are solved by telling the team before you head out and checking the forecast.
Is there a single supplement?
Not here. The single tent is €100 a night, all in, and it is yours. Plenty of places charge a solo traveller almost what they charge a couple: always ask before booking.
Will I be the only person on my own?
Almost never. We get a good number of solo travellers, especially in spring and autumn. And even if you were, everyone is in their own tent: this is not a hostel.
What should I wear?
Whatever you are comfortable in. There is no dress code at the camp. Out in villages like Rissani or Merzouga, covering shoulders and knees attracts less attention and makes for a calmer day.
Is there signal to let someone know I arrived safely?
Yes. There is wifi at the camp and mobile signal, which comes and goes. Plenty to let people know you arrived safely.
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Ask us whatever worries you
Write to us before booking, here or anywhere else. We will answer either way, even if you end up sleeping at another camp.
+212 661 614 125 · We always reply the same day.
Keep reading
- Luxury desert camp in Merzouga: private tents in the Moroccan Sahara Tassili Luxury Desert Camp is a luxury desert camp in Merzouga, Morocco. Discover a quieter side of the Sahara, set away from the busy camp areas near Merzouga.
- Single tent: the desert to yourself €100 a night, everything included. No solo supplement and no sharing a tent with strangers.
- Frequently asked questions about sleeping in the desert The questions we get on WhatsApp every week, answered.
- Book your stay at the camp From €100 per tent per night. WhatsApp is the fastest way: you write, we reply, it is done. If you would rather take your time, use the form.