Morocco Desert Trekking Custom Tours Practical Travel Info

Travel in Morocco, Trekking and Hiking in the Moroccan Desert, Custom Tours in Morocco

The Moroccan desert offers a unique experience to connect with nature and local culture. 4x4 desert tours in southern Morocco allow you to explore vast desert landscapes comfortably. Eco-friendly hiking and trekking provide a slower-paced way to fully appreciate the majestic beauty of the Moroccan desert.

Custom trips in southern Morocco’s desert are perfect to ensure your experience matches exactly what you’re looking for—whether it’s an intense adventure among the dunes or a cultural immersion with nomadic locals. Of course, trip and camel treks in the Moroccan Sahara offer an authentic experience of traditional desert life.

If you plan such a trip, make sure to choose eco-conscious tour operators who respect the environment and local communities, as sustainable tourism is essential to preserve the beauty and integrity of Morocco’s desert regions.

Practical Information for Your Stay in Morocco

Morocco generally requires a valid passport up to three months after your return date. An ID card is not sufficient for entry. Most European countries do not require a visa.

Getting to Morocco and the Moroccan Desert

There are several airlines flying to Morocco, such as TUI Fly, Royal Air Maroc, Ryanair, and Jetcost. You can easily find flights from major European cities.

Transport Options to Reach the Moroccan Desert

Sables Émouvants can organize your tour from your arrival at the airport. You will have the opportunity to discover Moroccan culture directly with locals: guides, cooks, camel drivers.

You can also rent a vehicle upon arrival or take a bus from the station. We recommend taking CTM buses or collective taxis to reach the southern desert.

Budget to Plan for Your Stay in Morocco

If you prefer to organize your trip independently, your budget will depend on your choices for food and accommodation. Here are approximate prices per person:

Basic hotel room: €25 to €50

Comfortable hotel room: €50 to €90

Double room in a luxury hotel or riad: €90 and up

Lunch or dinner meal: €15 to €40

Cheaper options exist but often with lower service quality.

Money and Currency

The national currency of Morocco is the Dirham. €1 ≈ 10 MAD.

Currency exchange is available at airports (though often costly), some hotels, and most banks.

For Visa cards: remember to inform your bank to unlock your cards for foreign use. ATMs are widely available, but most purchases and services are paid in cash.

Practical Information for Excursions or Trekking in the Moroccan Desert with Us

Our 4x4 tours in Morocco are open to everyone; our vehicles are comfortable and air-conditioned.

Hiking and trekking in southern Morocco’s desert do not require high athleticism; our team adapts to all fitness levels.

Food and Drink During Your Stay in Morocco

Water is essential in the Moroccan desert. Our team controls water quantities, starting each trek in M’Hamid with the right amount. Typically, one person drinks 1 to 3 liters per day from October to May, and 3 to 4 liters during the hotter months.

Nomad tea is the best remedy against dehydration and thirst and will be offered throughout your desert stay. Don’t hesitate to drink it regularly during your hikes.

Food is simple and local—you may even help prepare meals, which is a pleasant, optional experience. Sharing moments such as making desert bread is unforgettable.

Practical Information for Hiking in the Moroccan Desert

Use a travel backpack (prefer soft backpacks without frames rather than hard suitcases, which can hurt camels).

Carry a small day pack for essentials during hikes.

Lightweight shoes or sandals are recommended; hiking boots are not necessary. If wearing sandals, bring socks as temperatures drop at night.

Light clothing for the day and warmer clothes for the evening, plus rain gear. In December, temperatures range from about 5°C at night to 20°C during the day.

Sunscreen and sunglasses.

First aid kit: plasters, sterile gauze, disinfectant, painkillers, anti-diarrheal medication, eye drops, blister plasters...

Flashlight (preferably a headlamp).

Water bottle.

Toilet paper and a lighter (important to burn waste in the desert).

Small bags for daily trash.

Ziplock bags to protect cameras or phones.

A balaclava is useful to keep warm at night.

A good sleeping bag.

Where to sleep in Morocco During Your Moroccan Travel

Morocco offers many accommodation options depending on your budget and travel style: hotels, riads, kasbahs, guesthouses, and campsites.

Hotels are rated by stars according to comfort and service level, offering a wide range of choices.

Riads are large traditional family homes usually located in medinas (old cities), built around cool inner courtyards, providing shade in summer and warmth in winter. Rooms often open only onto the courtyard, with no windows facing the street.

In southern Morocco, kasbahs are fortified earthen buildings that once housed local rulers. They served as protection for people and crops, designed to keep interiors cool despite the desert heat. Some kasbahs now offer accommodation combining rich cultural heritage and comfort.

Staying with locals is a highly recommended way to experience authentic Moroccan life, especially in the south. Sables Émouvants encourages guests to spend a few nights with local families for an immersive cultural experience.