I remember waking up that morning in Marrakesh with butterflies in my stomach. The desert was calling! After months of living in Morocco and writing about its bustling medinas and coastal towns, I was finally going to experience the Sahara - something I had dreamed about since I was a child.
The sun was already warming the terracotta walls of my riad when I grabbed my small backpack and camcorder. I wanted to capture every moment of this adventure to share with you. My friend Mohammed had arranged everything: the transport, the guide, and most importantly, the camel I would ride into the vast golden landscape.
"You will fall in love with the desert," Mohammed told me with a knowing smile. "It happens to everyone."
I didn't know then how right he would be.
The Journey from Marrakesh to the Desert
The drive from Marrakesh toward the desert was an experience itself. As we left the city behind, the landscape transformed dramatically. The busy streets gave way to open roads, and the lush palm trees were gradually replaced by rocky terrain and eventually the first signs of sand.
Travel Tip: If you're planning this journey, I recommend leaving Marrakesh early in the morning. The drive takes several hours, and you'll want to arrive before the afternoon heat intensifies. Shared taxis are available, but for a desert excursion, joining a small group tour is often the most practical option.
We stopped in a small village for lunch, where I enjoyed a simple but delicious tajine cooked over an open fire. The locals were friendly, offering sweet mint tea that refreshed us for the next leg of the journey.
"This tea is part of our tradition," explained our driver. "We call it 'Moroccan whiskey' as a joke for tourists!" He laughed, pouring the tea from high above the glass – creating the frothy top that Moroccans consider essential for proper tea service.
Arriving at the Edge of the Sahara
By mid-afternoon, we reached the point where vehicles could go no further. The sight took my breath away – endless waves of sand stretching toward the horizon, with colors shifting from gold to orange to deep red as the sunlight played across the dunes.
Here, our camel guide waited with several dromedaries resting in the shade of a small shelter. These one-humped camels are perfectly adapted to the harsh desert environment. Unlike what many people think, their humps don't store water but fat, which provides energy when food is scarce.
The camels were draped with colorful blankets and saddles that showed the beautiful patterns traditional to Berber culture. I approached mine cautiously – these animals are much taller than they appear in photos!
My First Camel Ride Experience
"His name is Said," said Hamid, our Berber guide, as he helped me climb aboard my camel. "It means 'beloved' in Arabic."
Getting on a camel is nothing like mounting a horse. They sit with their legs folded beneath them, and when they stand up – well, hold on tight! First, the back legs straighten, throwing you forward, then the front legs push up, sending you backward. I let out a surprised laugh as Said rose majestically to his full height.
"Good, good!" Hamid encouraged with a smile. "Now you are a true Moroccan traveler!"
The sensation of swaying side to side as we began our procession into the desert was strange at first, but I quickly found the rhythm. The gentle rocking motion has been described as the "ship of the desert," and now I understood why.
Camel Riding Tips:
- Hold the handlebar firmly when the camel stands up and sits down
- Relax your body and move with the camel's gait
- Wear long pants to protect your legs from rubbing
- Bring a scarf to cover your face if the wind picks up sand
- Trust your guide – these camels follow this route regularly
The Magic of the Sahara Sunset
As our small caravan made its way deeper into the dunes, the late afternoon sun began its descent toward the horizon. This is when the desert truly shows its magic. The shadows grew longer, and the sand took on a rich golden glow that no camera can fully capture – though I certainly tried with my camcorder!
We stopped at the top of a high dune to watch the sunset. Hamid helped us dismount (another adventure in itself), and we sat silently as the sun painted the sky in shades of orange, pink, and purple.
"In the desert, you can hear the silence," Hamid said quietly. "It speaks to your heart if you listen."
He was right. There was a profound peace here unlike anything I had experienced in the busy streets of Marrakesh. No car horns, no calls to prayer from the minarets, no shopkeepers inviting you to see their wares – just the whisper of the wind shaping the dunes and occasionally the soft grunt of a camel.
Night Under the Stars at the Desert Camp
As darkness fell, we continued to our camp nestled between towering dunes. The sight that greeted us was straight from a storybook – traditional Berber tents arranged in a circle, lanterns casting a warm glow, and in the center, a fire being prepared for dinner.
"Welcome to our home," said Ibrahim, the camp manager, offering glasses of mint tea. "Tonight, you sleep like Berber people."
The tents were much more comfortable than I had expected, with proper beds, colorful rugs, and even small tables with lanterns. This style of desert camp is called a "luxury desert camp" by tour operators, but Moroccans simply consider it proper hospitality.
After freshening up, we gathered around the fire where our hosts prepared a feast: harira soup, lamb tagine cooked in the sand, and fresh fruits for dessert. As we ate, our guides played traditional drums and sang Berber songs that echoed against the dunes.
"These songs tell stories of love, travel, and our connection to the land," explained Ibrahim. "Some are as old as the desert itself."
The Desert Night Sky
After dinner, many of us climbed to the top of a nearby dune to gaze at the stars. Without light pollution, the desert night sky reveals itself in all its glory – a dense blanket of stars, with the Milky Way clearly visible as a bright band across the heavens.
I laid back on the still-warm sand and felt incredibly small yet connected to something vast. Some of my fellow travelers pointed out constellations, while others simply absorbed the peaceful moment.
"Look! A shooting star!" someone called out, and we all made silent wishes as the bright streak crossed the sky.
Sunrise Camel Ride: A Different Desert
Hamid woke us before dawn. "The desert gives two gifts," he said. "The sunset and the sunrise. You must not miss either one."
Sleepily, we mounted our camels again and rode out into the dark desert. The air was surprisingly cool – another misconception about the Sahara is that it's always hot. At night, especially outside summer months, temperatures can drop significantly.
We reached another high dune just as the eastern sky began to lighten. The transformation was gradual then sudden – first a faint glow, then brilliant colors spreading across the horizon, and finally the sun itself appearing, turning the sand from gray to gold in an instant.
The morning light revealed patterns in the sand that weren't visible the previous day – ripples created by the wind, tracks of small desert animals, and the perfect geometric crests of the dunes.
Return to Marrakesh with New Eyes
All too soon, it was time to return. We rode our camels back to the edge of the desert where our vehicle waited. Saying goodbye to Said, I felt a strange connection to this gentle animal who had carried me safely through an alien landscape.
The journey back to Marrakesh seemed quicker, or perhaps I was just lost in thought, processing everything I had experienced. The busy streets and sounds of the city hit my senses harder after the profound quiet of the desert.
"You are different now," Mohammed observed when I met him that evening to share stories of my adventure. "Everyone who visits the desert comes back changed."
He was right. Something about that vast open space, the hospitality of the Berber people, and the rhythm of life dictated by sun and stars rather than clocks and schedules had shifted something in me.
Why Every Visitor to Morocco Should Experience the Desert
If you're planning a trip to Morocco, I cannot recommend a desert excursion strongly enough. While Marrakesh offers incredible experiences with its souks, palaces, and gardens, the desert provides a completely different perspective on this diverse country.
Many visitors stay only in the cities and coastal areas, missing what I now consider the soul of Morocco. The desert is where you'll find traditions unchanged for centuries, hospitality in its purest form, and a landscape that challenges your sense of scale and beauty.
Planning Your Own Desert Adventure:
When to Go
The best times for a desert trip are spring (March-May) and fall (September-November). Summer can be extremely hot, while winter nights can be surprisingly cold.
Trip Duration
Desert excursions from Marrakesh range from 2-day/1-night trips to 4-day adventures that include stops at Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley. If time allows, I recommend at least the 3-day option.
What to Pack
- Light, breathable clothing for daytime
- Warm layers for the evening
- Comfortable closed shoes (not sandals)
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Camera with extra batteries
- Small backpack for personal items
- Wet wipes and hand sanitizer
Choosing a Tour
Look for operators with good reviews that specifically mention their Berber guides and environmental practices. The best experiences come from companies that work directly with local desert communities.
Capturing the Experience: My Desert Vlog
Throughout my journey, I recorded video clips with my camcorder – the swaying motion of the camel ride, the sunset casting long shadows across the dunes, our guides singing around the campfire, and the brilliant star-filled sky.
While these videos help me share the experience with you, they can't fully capture the feeling of being there – the soft texture of the sand between your fingers, the unique smell of the desert air, or the profound silence that surrounds you.
If you're planning to vlog your own desert adventure, here are a few tips:
- Bring extra batteries and memory cards
- Use a UV filter to protect your lens from sand
- Capture sound as well as images – the silence and the traditional music are both worth recording
- Consider the harsh lighting conditions – early morning and late afternoon offer the best light
- Protect your equipment from sand with a sealed bag when not in use
The Desert's Lasting Impact
It's been several weeks since my desert adventure, and I still find myself thinking about it daily. Sometimes it's the memory of watching shooting stars from the top of a dune, sometimes the rhythm of the camel's walk, and often the incredible hospitality of our Berber guides.
Morocco has many faces – the bustling medinas, the coastal fishing villages, the towering mountains – but for me, the desert revealed the country's heart. There's a reason why Moroccan culture places such value on hospitality, patience, and resourcefulness – these are the very qualities needed to thrive in the desert environment.
Have You Experienced the Moroccan Desert?
Have you taken a camel ride into the Sahara? Spent a night under the desert stars? I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments below! And if you're planning your first trip, what questions do you have that I might help answer?
Remember, as we say in Morocco, "The desert is a different world that raises different people." Perhaps it will change something in you too.
Looking for more Moroccan adventures? Check out my guides to Exploring the Souks of Marrakesh, Hiking in the Atlas Mountains, or The Best Riads in Marrakesh.