{"id":61424,"date":"2017-06-01T14:25:17","date_gmt":"2017-06-01T19:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=61424"},"modified":"2018-02-23T11:04:30","modified_gmt":"2018-02-23T17:04:30","slug":"bucket-list-camping-sahara-desert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/bucket-list-camping-sahara-desert\/","title":{"rendered":"Bucket list how to: Camping in the Sahara Desert"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Riding a camel over the endless dunes of the Sahara and camping under the stars: This was the quintessential Moroccan adventure we anticipated long before booking the tickets.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Ride off into the distance in Morocco, on a camel of course | Photo by GettingStamped.com<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Our Saharan adventure started in the late afternoon from the desert town of Merzouga<\/a> located a little over 5 miles from the Algerian border<\/span><\/span>. Here we met our Berber guides (Berbers are pre-Arab North Africans) and picked a suitable camel for the trip. For first-time camel riders, these ancient desert 4×4\u2019s aren\u2019t as graceful as they might seem. We swung our legs over the camel\u2019s back and held on tight as he flung us forward and back and stood up from the sand. In stride, camels still aren\u2019t the most graceful, moving both legs on one side together in a lumbering motion. <\/span>What they lack in style points they make up for in their <\/span><\/span>awkwardly<\/span><\/span> adorable faces and <\/span><\/span>highly<\/span><\/span> adapted feet to handle the shifting desert sand.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

RELATED<\/strong>: 7 luxury riads in Morocco you can book now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Get your own famous camel shadow shot in Morocco | Photo by GettingStamped.com<\/p><\/div>\n

As the sun started its descent toward the horizon we were high on the ridge of a massive dune surrounded by nothing but sand<\/span><\/span>. <\/span>The soft light at the end of the day made for perfect long camel shadows, which are impossible to resist snapping a picture of<\/span><\/span>. <\/span>In a single file line, our caravan <\/span><\/span>quietly<\/span><\/span> lumbered along the dune field as the sun <\/span><\/span>slowly<\/span><\/span> sank into the distant sands<\/span><\/span>. <\/span>As the sun hit the horizon, the skies exploded in pinks and oranges swirling around the clear blue desert skies<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Moroccan 4×4’s at sunset | Photo by GettingStamped.com<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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At twilight’s end, we caught a glimpse of a small cluster of black canvas tents. Tucked in the valley, between two sizable dunes, these tents would be our home for the evening. Darkness had set in by the time our camels lunged down on their front legs to dismount. <\/span>Once off of our four-legged friends, we <\/span><\/span>were greeted by<\/span><\/span> new ones bearing Morocco\u2019s national drink\u2014very sweet mint tea<\/span><\/span>. <\/span>Our dinner consisted of stew-like tagine, a traditional slow-cooked Moroccan dish, which <\/span><\/span>was served<\/span><\/span> around the campfire while our hosts played Berber music<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Sleep in traditional Berber tents in the Sahara Desert | Photo by GettingStamped.com<\/p><\/div>\n

The fire and music took us until the moon was high in the sky and everyone was ready for some rest. We slept as the Berber people of this area have for centuries, in semi-permanent tents set on the desert sand. <\/span>Berber tents are made of a thick woven material and were much warmer than expected, which was good because the desert air was quite cold<\/span><\/span>. Inside, we found Berber rugs covering the floor and a simple, but comfortable bed for the night. We felt a million miles from everything, somewhere <\/span>truly<\/span><\/span> far away.<\/span><\/p>\n

ALSO<\/strong>: For an oasis of travel discounts, sign up today for Orbitz Rewards!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Desert sunsets and sunrises are out of this world | Photo by GettingStamped.com<\/p><\/div>\n

We were out of bed the next morning before the sun, but the early alarm clock was worth it. With the help of a few flashlights we were again aboard our camels as the first rays <\/span>softly<\/span><\/span> lit the skies. The ride out of the desert was even more colorful than the night before. <\/span>The sunrise ride through the Sahara was the icing on the cake of an already amazing trip into the Moroccan desert<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The only way to get around in the desert | Photo by GettingStamped.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Planning your trip
\n<\/strong>Most international trips will start in the major tourist hub of Marrakech<\/a>. The chaotic medina of Marrakech is worth a visit, but can be quite overwhelming. Most people find three days <\/a>to be about the right amount of time in the city. <\/span>While there, you can find many Sahara Desert tour operators, but be sure to choose <\/span><\/span>wisely<\/span><\/span> because all tours are not the equal<\/span><\/span>. Tours can <\/span>be booked<\/span><\/span> online as well, but make sure the reviews are rock solid.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Camels don’t offer the smoothest ride, but they’re the only way to get around | Photo by GettingStamped.com<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Questions to ask before booking a Sahara Desert tour<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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