What to pack for the Merzouga desert
The list is shorter than people think. What matters is layers and footwear.
What to wear in the Sahara desert, day and night: layers
In the desert the gap between day and night is enormous. You can go from 30 °C at midday to 12 or 13 °C after dinner on the same day. You do not need mountain gear: you need to be able to add and remove layers.
A t-shirt, a thin long-sleeved shirt and a jumper or fleece cover most of the year. From December to February, add a coat.
What you do need
- Layers, as above.
- Closed, comfortable shoes for walking on sand. Flip-flops will not get you up a dune.
- A scarf for your head and neck: it protects from sun and wind.
- Sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen, in winter too.
- Lip balm. The air here is very dry.
- A power bank for your phone.
- A cloth bag or case for your camera: fine sand gets into everything.
What you can leave at home
- A sleeping bag: the tents have made beds and blankets.
- Towels: we provide them.
- Water for the night: there is water at the camp.
- A large suitcase: for one or two nights, leave it at your previous hotel and bring a small bag.
- Serious winter gear, unless you are coming in the depths of winter.
What changes with the season
The list above holds all year. What changes is how much warm layering you need, and little else.
November to February: add a proper coat for sitting outside by the fire, a hat and thick socks. The tent has heating, so you will not be cold inside; outside at ten at night, you will. If you are coming for New Year’s Eve in the desert, expect to spend much of the night outside.
March to May and September to November: one mid layer is enough. It is the most comfortable stretch of the year and the one that asks least of your bag.
June, August and September: light loose clothing, a headscarf without fail, and more water than you think. Midday heat is not fought with clothing, it is fought with shade and with timing.
About luggage and the transfer
The last stretch to the camp is a 10-minute 4x4 drive with us. Luggage is no problem, but if you are staying one night, a small backpack makes life easier.
Questions about packing
Do I need a sleeping bag?
No. The tents have made-up beds, sheets and blankets, plus heating. A sleeping bag is dead weight here.
Are towels provided?
Yes, we provide them, along with the private bathroom and hot shower inside the tent.
What shoes should I bring?
Closed and comfortable. Flip-flops will not get you up a dune and midday sand burns. For inside the tent, anything does.
Can I bring a large suitcase?
You can: luggage comes with us in the 4x4 right to the tent door. But for one or two nights a small backpack is far easier.
Do I need an adaptor or a power bank?
There is electricity in the tents for charging your phone and camera. A power bank is still worth it, because people take more photos in the desert than they planned to.
How do I protect the camera from sand?
A cloth bag or a cover is enough. The sand here is very fine and gets into everything, especially in wind. Changing lenses in the open is a bad idea.
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