What to pack for the Sahara

By Abdou, founder of Oasis Roads · Updated October 2026

You don't need special gear for a night in the dunes. You need a few smart layers and a small bag. This is the list we give our own travellers.

Pack a small overnight bag

Your main luggage stays safe in our car, at the edge of the dunes. You ride the camel to camp with a small backpack for one night. Pack it before you reach Merzouga, so you're not unpacking at the edge of the desert.

Clothes

Desert days are warm and nights are cool, and in winter they're cold. Layers work best.

• Light, loose long trousers and long-sleeved tops, to protect you from the sun and the sand
• A warm fleece or down jacket for the evening, even in spring and autumn
• A hat or a cap. A scarf for your head and face is even better, and we're happy to show you how to tie a Berber cheich
• Comfortable shoes or sandals. Sand is easier barefoot, and the dunes are cold in the morning
• Something modest for the villages and the medinas, with shoulders and knees covered

Essentials

• Sunglasses and strong sunscreen
• Lip balm and moisturiser, because the desert air is very dry
• A head torch or a phone torch for the walk from your tent at night
• A power bank. Most camps have electricity, but sockets can be few
• Wet wipes and hand sanitiser
• A reusable water bottle. We carry big bottles of water in the car
• Any medicines you need, and something for an upset stomach

For photos

Bring a bag or cover to protect your phone and camera from fine sand, and spare batteries, because cold nights drain them fast. Sunrise is the best light in the dunes, so set an alarm. We'll wake you if you ask.

What you can leave at home

No sleeping bag is needed. Camps provide beds and heavy blankets. You don't need a towel either at luxury camps with private bathrooms. And leave the hiking boots behind unless you're also trekking in the Atlas.

In winter: December to February

Add a warm hat, gloves and thermal layers. Desert nights can be close to freezing. The camps we use have thick blankets, and the luxury tents are heated.