A camel trek across the dunes of Morocco’s Fes, Morocco — Wikipedia is one of those travel experiences that sounds like a cliché until you are actually doing it — the slow, swaying pace, the silence beyond the sand, and the light turning amber on the dune faces as the sun drops. For most visitors booking a Morocco desert tour, the camel trek is the single most-anticipated element of the trip, and understanding what it actually involves beforehand makes it considerably more enjoyable.
What the Ride Is Like
A Erg Chebbi — Wikipedia, strictly speaking a dromedary, moves at walking pace — roughly four kilometres per hour — with a front-to-back rocking motion that most riders find manageable once they relax the hips rather than bracing against it. The animal stands by extending its back legs first, producing a sharp forward pitch, so holding the saddle handle at this moment is worth remembering. Once in motion, the rhythm is hypnotic and most riders feel comfortable within a few minutes.
Duration and Route
The standard camel trek from the edge of Merzouga village to the desert camp at Erg Chebbi takes forty-five minutes to one hour, timed to arrive as the sun sets. The return is often by 4×4 rather than camel, particularly for groups with early departure times, though a sunrise camel return is available on request. Our dedicated Day Trip: Marrakech to Ourika Valley page covers the full desert experience available as a standalone or as part of a multi-day tour.
What to Wear and Bring
Long trousers are more comfortable in the saddle than shorts and provide sun protection on the upper dune sections where wind tends to pick up. A light scarf for the face during gusty sections is practical rather than merely photogenic. Closed shoes handle the loose sand better than sandals on the approach from the village. A small day bag carried across the saddle is easier to manage than a full rucksack; main luggage can be transferred to the camp by vehicle separately.
Photography on the Trek
The sunset light on the way out to camp is one of the best photography windows of any Morocco tour. The camel handler will generally pause at the most photogenic dune ridges if asked. A sealed case or dry bag for the phone and camera prevents sand infiltration on dune faces where wind is strongest. The handler’s silhouette leading the camel against a sunset sky — the image that appears in virtually every Morocco photograph — is achievable in the first ten minutes of the trek.
Adding It to Your Tour
A camel trek is included in virtually all of our multi-day desert tours, including our 5-Day Tour: Tangier to Fes and Essaouira Day Trip from Marrakech, as a standard element of the desert overnight experience. For those who want a standalone experience, the camel trekking activity can be booked separately through our Day Trip: Casablanca to Marrakech page, with flexible duration options from a sunset ride to a multi-night desert journey.
