Camel ride in the Sahara, Morocco: what to expect on the trek to camp

For most travellers, the camel ride in the Sahara is the moment Morocco stops feeling like a road trip. You leave the vehicle at the edge of the sand, swap your suitcase for a small bag, and follow a line of camels into the dunes as the light turns orange. This guide explains what a camel ride in the Sahara in Morocco really involves: how long it lasts, how it feels, what to wear, whether children can ride, how to judge the animals' welfare, and what to do if you would rather keep your feet on the ground.

What a camel ride in the Sahara of Morocco is really like

The animals you ride in Morocco are dromedaries, the one-humped camel of North Africa and the Middle East. They walk slowly, about the pace of an unhurried person, and they move both legs on one side at the same time. That gives a rolling, side-to-side sway that feels strange for the first ten minutes and oddly relaxing after that.

You do not steer. Camels walk in a line, each one tied loosely to the saddle of the one in front, and a cameleer walks at the head of the caravan holding the lead rope. Your only job is to sit, hold on and look around. The saddle is a padded wooden frame over blankets, with a metal or wooden handle in front of you to grip.

The ride is quiet. There is no engine, only the creak of the saddles, the soft sound of feet in the sand and the cameleer calling now and then to the lead animal. Many people say this is what they remember most.

How the ride works on our desert tours

On a multi-day trip such as our 3-day Merzouga desert tour from Marrakech, you reach the edge of Erg Chebbi in the late afternoon. Main luggage stays locked in the vehicle; you take a small backpack with what you need for the night. The camels are kneeling and saddled, and the cameleer helps each person on.

The ride to camp takes about 1 hour. The route follows the gentler slopes and the valleys between dunes rather than the steep faces, and the caravan usually pauses on a crest near the end so you can climb off, take photos and watch the sun go down. You arrive at camp around dusk, in time for mint tea and dinner. The next morning you ride back, again for about 1 hour, after watching the sunrise from the dunes.

The same rhythm applies on the 2-day desert tour from Fes and on the routes between Marrakech and Fes. On the 2-day Zagora desert tour the ride crosses smaller dunes, and on the Agafay day trip from Marrakech it goes across a stony plateau with the Atlas on the horizon rather than sand.

Strong wind can change the plan. When sand is blowing hard, the ride may be shortened or replaced by a 4x4 transfer to camp. That is a safety decision, not a cut corner.

Sunset or sunrise: which ride is better?

You get both, and they feel different. The sunset ride is the one people photograph: low light, long shadows, the dunes changing from gold to deep orange and then red. It is also warmer, and you arrive at camp with the evening ahead of you.

The sunrise ride is quieter. You are up before dawn, climb a dune near camp to watch the light come up over the sand, then ride back while the air is still cool. The sand is often marked with fresh tracks from the night: beetles, birds, sometimes a fox. If you only have energy for one photo session, choose sunset; if you want the desert to yourself, it is the morning.

Getting on, staying on and getting off

The trickiest part of the whole ride lasts about five seconds. A kneeling camel stands up back legs first, which tips you sharply forward, and then front legs, which brings you level again. Sitting down works the other way round.

• Lean back as the camel stands. Hold the handle firmly and push your weight towards the back of the saddle until all four legs are straight.
• Lean back again going downhill and slightly forward going uphill. Keep your knees relaxed and let your hips move with the animal.
• Keep both hands free for the handle at the start and end. Take photos once the caravan is walking steadily, with your phone on a strap.
• Stretch your legs on the stop. The pause near sunset is a good moment to walk for a few minutes; the inner thighs feel it more than the back.
• Say so if you are uncomfortable. The cameleer can adjust blankets and stirrup ropes, or let you walk a stretch.

Most people feel a little stiff afterwards, nothing more. If you have back or hip problems, an hour each way is still manageable for many, but think about walking one direction or taking the 4x4.

What to wear and bring on a camel

Comfort on a camel comes down to legs, head and bag.

• Long, loose trousers or a long skirt. Shorts rub against the blankets; leggings are fine.
• Closed shoes or sandals with straps. Flip-flops slip off when you mount and get lost in the sand.
• A scarf or cotton headwrap. It shades your head and neck and covers your face if the wind lifts the sand. Cameleers often show guests how to tie one.
• Sunglasses and sunscreen. The sand reflects light, even late in the day.
• A small, soft backpack. It sits on your back or hangs from the saddle; a hard case does neither.
• A warm layer for the return ride from November to February, when early mornings in the desert can be close to 0 °C.

For the rest of the night in camp, from blankets to bathrooms, our guide to a night in a Sahara desert camp has a full packing list.

Camel rides with children

Children usually love the camels, and the ride is gentle enough for most ages. Young children can share a camel with a parent, sitting in front where an adult arm can hold them. Older children ride their own animal in the line, right behind a parent if you prefer.

A few things help. Keep a snack and water within reach, put a hat on them even at sunset, and explain the standing-up moment before it happens so it feels like a game rather than a shock. If a child is nervous, walking beside the camel for the first part and riding once they are curious often works better than insisting. Children's prices on our tours are 5% less than the adult price.

Animal welfare: what to look for

Dromedaries are built for this landscape. They carry loads across sand for long distances, and an hour at walking pace with a rider is light work for a healthy adult animal. Still, how an animal is kept matters, and you have every right to notice.

• Body condition. A healthy camel has a firm, upright hump and no visible ribs or hip bones.
• Skin and saddle area. Look for open sores under the saddle, around the nose or on the legs. Good saddles sit on thick blankets.
• Rest and shade. Camels should rest between rides, with water and shade during the hot hours.
• Handling. A good cameleer guides with the voice and the lead rope, not with a stick.
• Load. One adult per camel, or an adult with a small child. Heavy bags stay in the vehicle.

If anything about an animal worries you, tell the cameleer or tell us. You can also choose to walk instead; nobody will be offended.

Not keen on riding? Walk or go by 4x4

The camel ride is optional. If you have a back problem, a fear of heights, are pregnant, or simply would rather not, there are two good alternatives.

Walking beside the caravan takes about the same time, since camels walk slowly. Soft sand is hard work uphill, so wear closed shoes and drink water before you set off. Many couples split it: one rides, one walks, and they swap halfway.

A 4x4 transfer takes you to camp around the base of the dunes. You miss the caravan but still see the sunset from a dune near camp. Tell us when you book, so the vehicle is arranged. With two nights in the Merzouga desert, you can also try a short ride one day and decide about the longer one later. All our options are on the Morocco tours and activities page.

Camel ride in the Sahara: common questions