People have been asking us what they should pack for their Morocco Sahara desert tour.
If you’re planning a trip out to the desert, you need to insure you pack as light as possible. However since you’ll be miles away from civilization you need to make sure you’re prepared for any situation you may encounter.
So, to help you prepare for your trip, here’s our list plus some tips about the items you should take. We had a great time seeing the sand dunes in the Sahara Desert, and with preparation, you can as well.
As a side note, we bought many of our items from REI (www.rei.com), mostly because if you are not satisfied with a product for any reason you can return it. (I returned a set of earmuffs that kept falling off my ears after three months and I got my refund for it.) You may want to check them out as well.
Packing List – Morocco Sahara Desert Tour
Clothing
- Windbreaker or light jacket
- TIP: The sun can be unbearable during the day but at night it can get a bit chilly. Take a windbreaker or light jacket just in case.
- Comfortable jeans
- TIP: Riding a camel will not be very enjoyable if you wear shorts! The camel fur is rough and jeans will protect your legs.
- Sneakers or hiking boots or sport sandals
- TIP: Don’t take a new pair of shoes, you’ll get sand all on them and inside of them.
- A hat, visor, or headscarf
- TIP: A desert headscarf works wonders to block the sun and the dust.
- Sunglasses
- TIP: Don’t sit on them.
Electronics
- Digital Camera
- TIP: A strap will help make sure you don’t lose it while trying to take picture as you’re bouncing around on a camel.
- Extra batteries
- TIP: Fully charge all your batteries at your hotel before you embark. There are no facilities to charge your batteries in the desert!
- Lens and camera brush
- TIP: Get one such as the Nikon 7072 Lens Pen Cleaning System
for dusting off all the dust that will get on your camera. Your camera will love you. It worked wonders on ours!
- TIP: Get one such as the Nikon 7072 Lens Pen Cleaning System
- Tripod
- Alarm clock
- TIP: You can use your phone, but take a little alarm clock just in case your phone runs out of battery!
for dusting off all the dust that will get on your camera. Your camera will love you. It worked wonders on ours!
Supplies
- Swiss army knife
- Hand Sanitizer
- TIP: It’s true. There is no running water inside the desert.
- Face wipes
- Napkins or tissue
- Roll of toilet paper
- Water bottle
- TIP: To save space in your luggage get a collapsible water bottle. We bought a Platypus SoftBottles with Push-Pull Cap, Blue Stripes, 1 L
and loved how we could collapse it in our luggage when not needed. In fact if you travel anywhere you need this bottle.
- TIP: To save space in your luggage get a collapsible water bottle. We bought a Platypus SoftBottles with Push-Pull Cap, Blue Stripes, 1 L
- Flashlights
- TIP: You’ll have candles but just try walking out with one in the middle of the night when you need to go. A flashlight will at least stay on.
- Non-salty snacks
- TIP: Overly salty snacks will make you thirsty, stay away from those.
and loved how we could collapse it in our luggage when not needed. In fact if you travel anywhere you need this bottle.Medicines and Lotions
- Pain medicine
- TIP: Just remember, any medical facility is miles of camel rides away. It will take a while to get there.
- TIP: For headaches use Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- TIP: For bites, scratches, anything that’s swollen, use Ibuprofen (Advil)
- Band-aids
- TIP: No need for a big box, just a few strips is good.
- Antibiotic cream
- Anti-Diarrhea medicine
- Antacids
- Antibiotics
- Allergy medicine
Another article you may be interested in is our interview with a local guiding company on planning a Morocco Sahara desert tour. Hope you enjoy it.
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April 12th, 2013 at 9:42 AM
When I went camel trekking in the sand dunes of Erg Chegaga for several days we got little sand storm while in the desert. It that time we realize how important having chech (Moroccan long scarf) is. Our Berber guides wrapped it around our heads covering the face and neck with it. Then it was so much bearable to withstand the blowing sand everywhere. The chech is really good scarf as it protects you against the heat of the sun too. The guides had it as turbans on their heads keeping them cool and safe.
The chech has became the best souvenir we have from Morocco. I use it every winter now as long scarf along my neck.
If you go on desert tour and camel trekking Morocco buy the chech. You will for sure need it.