A Travel Guide To Sahara Desert With 8 Pro Tips

The Sahara Desert has always been a center of attraction for the tourist who visits Morocco. It is impossible to resist the beauty of orange sand around you.

You could feel the ancient culture of Morocco by riding the Camel in the Sahara. I bet when you ride camel you would feel like Aladdin searching for Jasmine!

Note: You may think (based on the movies or books) that Sahara is just about riding a camel or walking barefoot in the sand. Let me tell you, it’s much more than that. Also, I will share some really interesting ideas which you can do in Sahara and make your trip more memorable.

Must-Do Things In The Sahara Desert

The beauty of Sahara is very unique and it is different from many pieces of nature that you have ever seen in your life.

To experience the place where there is no civilization, no buildings and no signs of footprints because the sand will cover your footprint is a treat in itself. In this short guide, I will give you some tips to enjoy your Sahara tour to the fullest.

A native desert girl

Camel Trekking

Many people think that camel riding is a very tiring and uncomfortable thing but most of them do not know that in the evenings they are padded with blankets and supplies. You could easily ride and enjoy the journey in the evening.

Have fun with Sand boards

Sand boards will be provided by your hotel. Ask the staff they will give you the sand boards to enjoy. If you are with family, they will give separate boards to kids. What you can do is slide down the dune.

Look for highest dunes with good slopes and you will have a time of your life. Trust me!

Enjoy the beauty of Sahara

Most people waste a lot of time taking pictures of different places. I recommend enjoying the tour fully. See the beauty around you with your own eyes, not by the eyes of the camera.

Sitting alone outside of your camp and gazing the sky full of stars is an experience which you will never forget.

Watch Sunrise & Sunsets from the sand dunes

Wake up early and see the sunrise. See how the sun rays turn the sand into Golden. You could find orange sand dunes in the western part of the Sahara near Morocco.

Marrakech is very popular because of its Sahara Desert Tours. If you want to enjoy a 3 days desert tour from Marrakech then follow the link as they offer some really good tour deals to the Sahara Desert.

Go on a desert safari

Similar to camel tours and walking tours, you can also do a desert safari. These desert safari drivers (a 4×4 jeep or other SUVs) are experienced and you’ll have one thrilling experience of a lifetime. It’s a ‘must try’.

Set up a desert tent

No trip to the Sahara is complete without having spent a night in the desert in an open (or covered) tent while laying down directly under the night sky and cold sand.

All of the above can be either self-organized or booked as a tour.

Do not rush

Enjoy the trip in its deepest sense. A lot of people try to explore the Sahara Desert very quickly and when their time gets over, they usually said they did not explore even half of the desert. You must plan your desert tour for at least 3 days.

8 Pro Tips Before You Embark on the Sahara Adventure

Before you go to Sahara make sure you should know what to pack and I will show you the necessary item which you should not leave behind. Leaving these would cause unnecessary pain in the Sahara. So, without further ado here is the list.

Don’t forget sunglasses

This is the most obvious thing to pack because there would be strong UV rays which can damage and may even burn your eye’s soft tissues. According to the American Optometric Association if you do not wear sunglasses in that kind of area where the sun is at its peak then you risk of macular degeneration.

As a bonus, glasses will also protect your eyes from any sand that might get into your eyes with the breeze.

Sun protection

Speaking of strong and hot sun, do not forget to bring sunscreen. Moreover, wear full sleeve shirts to protect your arm and wear a hat is also highly advised to protect you from sunstroke.

Carrying a water bottle is also highly recommended because when you ride the camel you will dehydrate very quickly.

Wear comfortable shoes

You might watch in the old movies like in Aladdin in Lawrence of Arabia where the main protagonist walks in Sahara with no shoes or in sandals. But please do not make this stupid mistake in the afternoon when the sun heats up the sand becomes very hot.

Believe me, you do not want to be out in the dunes without proper protection for your feet. If you are with some good travel company, they may provide you with some extra pair of shoes which you can use in your desert excursion.

Pro Tip: You will get a chance to walk bare feet on the sand in the morning and evenings when the sand is cool.

Magnificent desert sunset in the Sahara

Carry a light scarf

You should buy a scarf before going to Sahara. It will help you when you are going to sleep outside of your camp at night.

Although most of the times you should not have to worry about the sandstorms if there is a little wind, you could cover your face with the scarf

Pack a jacket

Many people thought that Sahara would be very hot then why should we buy jackets? You should know that Sahara will not be hot every time. It would be cold in the mornings and evenings.

If you are coming in winter then you should definitely pack a pair of jackets with you.

Carry a chapstick

The air in the Sahara is very dry and will take a toll on your lips for sure. Couple of time I have seen men wearing their wife’s lipstick to keep their lips from peeling.

So, protect yourself from this kind of embarrassing situation and keep lip balm or Chapstick with you.

Pack a great camera

Sahara is considered as a heaven for photographers. There is an unlimited number of interesting photos in Sahara like sunrise, changing colors of sand dunes in the morning, sunset, Camel riding, Clear sky with thousands of stars, etc.

If you bring digital Camera then I recommend bringing its bag to protect it from dust also do not forget to bring its batteries or charger.

Book your tour with a credible travel agency

My final tip would be to book your Sahara Tour with some credible travel agency. Last year before going to the Sahara Desert, I have found that there are a plethora of travel companies out there making false claims.

You should book your extrusion with some specialists and with locals who knew the place very well.

I booked my Sahara trip with Marrakech Desert Trips. I have found them very professional and they guided me very professionally throughout my trip. They told me the accurate expenses before and did not charge me with any extra dime.

Best Time To Visit The Sahara Desert

A morning walking tour exploring the sand dunes

Sahara is open for almost all year. You could plan the tour any time any day. But according to me, the best time is from October to early May. During these months’ temperatures would be not that much as in June to September.

You may encounter some sandstorms in January to April but they are just mild sandstorms and you could easily get away with them by putting the light scarf as I mentioned above and you would be fine.

Author Bio

Sheraz Shahzad is a part-time travel blogger, part-time digital marketing specialist, and full-time dreamer. He loves the photographic medium for expressing what he loves about life. He always finds himself lost during travel.

Aside from his taste for adventure, he loves doing two things while traveling: meeting new friends and trying new food. You can contact him on LinkedIn to work on your travel website.

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August 12, 2019 9:04 pm Published by Art Of Travel 1 Comment