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What to Pack for a Morocco Desert Tour

One rule saves every suitcase: layers, not bulk. The full list for dunes, medinas and mountain passes, by season.

The Short Answer

Pack Layers, Pack Light

Packing for a Morocco desert tour comes down to one rule: layers, not bulk. The same trip can serve you a 30 degree afternoon in a palm oasis and a night near zero in the dunes, so the winning suitcase is a small set of clothes that stack rather than a big set that cannot.

This list is built from years of watching travellers open their bags at our Merzouga desert camps and either smile or suffer. It applies to every route we drive, from the 8 day loop to the 12 day grand tour. Before any trip, also check current entry requirements on an official source such as the UK government travel advice for Morocco or your own country’s equivalent.

The List

The Morocco Desert Packing List

The essentials, every season

Comfortable broken in walking shoes for medinas and the gorge, plus sandals for camp
A scarf or shemagh: sun cover, sand cover, warmth and the best photo prop you will own
Sunglasses, high SPF sunscreen and lip balm, the desert light is stronger than it feels
A warm layer for every desert night, fleece or light down, even in July
Modest cover ups for religious sites and rural villages: shoulders and knees covered
Power bank and a universal adapter (Morocco uses European type C and E plugs)
A small daypack that goes into the dunes while your suitcase stays in the vehicle
Any personal medication, plus basic stomach remedies bought at home

Add in winter (November to February)

A real jacket, hat and gloves for camp evenings, nights can approach freezing
Warm sleepwear or a thermal layer for standard camps

Add in summer (June to August)

Loose, light, long sleeved cotton or linen, it beats shorts for sun and culture alike
Electrolyte sachets and a refillable bottle, your driver keeps water in the car

Leave at home

Drones, which require a permit and are routinely confiscated at the border
Heels and hard suitcase pride, cobbles and sand win every time
More than two pairs of shoes, nobody has ever needed the third pair

FAQ

Packing Questions, Answered

Can we do laundry during a Morocco tour?

Yes, easily. Riads in Fes and Marrakech offer same day or next day laundry at modest prices, which is exactly why a one week bag works for a two week trip. Plan a laundry stop around the middle of your route and pack half of what you first intended.

What should women pack for Morocco?

Whatever you are comfortable in, with a practical tilt: loose trousers or midi skirts, tops that cover shoulders for villages and religious sites, and a scarf that does everything from sun cover to hammam hair. In cities like Marrakech dress codes are relaxed; rural areas appreciate a bit more coverage.

Do we need hiking boots for the desert?

No. The itineraries involve walking, not trekking: sand is easiest barefoot or in sandals, Todra Gorge is flat, and Ait Ben Haddou is a short climb on steps. Comfortable trainers cover every route we run.

How much luggage can we bring in the vehicle?

A large suitcase plus a daypack per person fits comfortably in every vehicle we use, from the Prado to the Sprinter. For the desert camp night you take only the daypack, and the rest stays locked in the vehicle with your driver.

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