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Camel ride into the Sahara

Last updated on December 18, 2017 By Claire, the Travel Planning Geek

Orange sand dunes, berber in beautiful blue tuniques, caravans of camels… we are now entering the colorful Sahara desert. Discover my experience riding a camel and spending the night surrounded by mesmerizing sand dunes.

Sunset Sahara Camel ride - Things to do Morocco

INFO & PLANNING TIPS - Night in the Sahara

TIPS FOR TRAVEL PLANNING ADDICTS - Night in Erg Chebbi

Getting to Erg Chebbi

From Marrakech, many companies offer overnight tours or multi day tours including a Sahara camel ride to a camp in the desert's and dunes - find out more on my article including the best Marrakech Desert tours.

Personally it was part of my 8 day tour with Nomadic tours and we were using l'Auberge La Caravane.

Preparing for the camel ride

  • Take something (scarves are best) to cover your face and protect you from the sand
  • They do not stop during the  hour ride
  • If you want to take photos you have to use a small camera. It would be too much rick to keep an expensive one around the neck. The ride is definitively not smooth
  • The camp does not have running water but this one had toilets
  • Nights can get cold but they have many blankets
Camel ride into the Sahara desert sand dunes

Arriving at Erg Chabbi

First I was really amazed at our arrival to the dunes. I have been to other sand dunes desert and this was the first time I saw such a flat area and the dunes raising far away. A very intense time during which I kept watching the dunes approaching. I really could not believe my eyes that such an abrupt transition exists.

Arriving at Erg Chebbi, Morocco

We stopped at Auberge La Caravane, which would be our host at their camp in the desert. And I opened the doors to the Sahara:

Doors to the Sahara

Riding a camel

And our dromedaries (that I will call camels in the rest of my posts as they all do) were waiting for us:

Camel caravan

Holding on very firmly for the camel to get on his feet I realized that it ended up much higher than expected. And a scene from Se- in the City 2 came to mind where Charlotte fell from the camel… this is high, I really do not want to fall… I am not trying to get a signal but I really want to take pictures! How do I hold on tight and take photos? But after relaxing and getting the hang of it, I freed one of my hands to get you those shots:

Riding camels in the Sahara
Camel prints on sand dunes

This was later afternoon and the sun was going down, giving us some great shadows allowing me to take a "selfie"

Camel ride shadow on sand dunes
Camel ride shadow on sand dunes 2

Our Berber guides and their blue tuniques

I loved the blue colors of the Berbers’ clothing. This is so striking in the dunes!

Berber in Sahara sand dunes
Berber  leading caravan in Sahara sand dunes

Camel caravans Peak hour 

This was a little bit peak-hour and all the Auberges were leading guests to their camp.

peak hour in the Sahara

Arriving at the camp and sandboarding

And we finally arrived and we took a moment to realize where we were (and recover from a one hour ride on the back of a camel lol)

Enjoying the desert

We then went sand-boarding... for which some were better than others! I personally stayed a bit further away to take good shots of people on the group (no, i was not avoiding trying... I actually already did that in Australia)

Sandboarding in the Sahara 1
Sandboarding in the Sahara 2

And then we walked back to camp for a hearty diner and a relaxing night user the stars before experiencing a magical sunrise in the desert.

Camp auberge la Caravane, Sahara Morocco

Wanderlust Chloe also had a great experience in the Sahara desert on her Moroccan Adventures. Check out her article!

And have a read  ofKate and Jeremy discussion about the pros and cons of joining an organized Sahara desert tour in Morocco.


Are you sand dune lovers like I am?

  

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SUNRISE IN THE SAHARA

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Hi! I’m Claire

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I am the Travel Planning Geek behind the ZigZag Travel Guides. My goal is to provide you with clear and practical information to help you plan unforgettable trips! Read more

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