Camel Trekking: The Best Camel Riding in the Sahara Desert Experience

May 16, 2018

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Camel riding in the Sahara Desert in Morocco! It is this idea that can be both magical and utterly overwhelming at the same time. Photos of travelers visiting sweeping sand dunes and riding camels into the desert at sunset have taken over Instagram this past year or two. When I began planning a trip to Morocco riding a camel in the Sahara Desert was on the top of my list. While there are opportunities for camel riding right outside of Marrakech, if you want to fully experience the desert you will need to make the trek to Merzouga. The first shock was when I realized that Merzouga was located a full 9 hour drive outside of Marrakech! The good thing is that there are a ton of amazing things to see on the way in between Marrakech and Merzouga. 

After a ton of research I ultimately decided to book a tour through Cameltrekking.com. While I am typically a DIY budget travel kinda gal, I wanted to make sure that I got the full experience of riding a camel in the Sahara Desert. I knew that if I took an overnight bus to Merzouga then I would risk missing out on so many amazing sights along the route. 

I am going to be filling you in on all the nitty gritty details below, but before you continue I just want to say that CamelTrekking.com is THE tour to book in Morocco. Yes it is a lot of driving, yes it may be a bit expensive to some, but it is most definitely a tour, and an experience, that is not to be missed.

All the Details for your Camel Riding in the Sahara Desert Experience 

Tour Length

3 days, 2 nights 

Day 1: You will start your tour around 8am in Marrakech. The first day you will drive approximately 5.5 hours. with Highlights include a drive through the Atlas Mountains, a stop at UNESCO World Heritage site Ait Ben Haddou, and a visit to the movie sets of Ouarzazate. You with finish the day with a final stop at the Monkey Fingers rock formation in Dades Gorge.

Day 2: The second day you will start the day with a walk around the Todra Gorge. From there you will continue on to the desert! When you arrive in Merzouga you will have a bit of free time to freshen up (and go for a swim) at a beautiful hotel at the edge of the dunes. Now it’s time for the real fun: camel riding in the Sahara Desert! You will ride your camels for approximately 1 hour until you reach your luxury camp. You will then have time to explore dunes at sunset.

Day 3: What better way to start the day than with another camel ride? Your butt may be a bit sore (did I mention that they aren’t the most comfortable?), but it will be well worth it!  You can rest up on the long ride back! Luckily you will be in the comfort of your own (semi) private car!

Cost

150 euros; Yes, I will say right away that you can find cheaper tours! I heard of some tours for as cheap as 75 euros. However, in this case you are truly paying for the experience. Rather than being packed into a bus with a herd of tourists, we had a small group of only 4 with our own driver.

What’s Included:

Included in the tour you will get an English speaking driver, breakfasts, dinners, 2 nights of accommodation in a private room. You will also have 2 chances to experience camel riding in the Sahara desert. The first night you will stay at an adorable hotel in the Dades Gorge. The hotel is located just around the corner from the famous Monkey Fingers rock formation. The second night you will spend the evening in a luxury desert camp in the Dunes of Erg Chebbi. The tents are equipped with a private shower and toilet. 

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