Our time in the Sahara became one of the most unforgettable parts of our Morocco trip. We spent three nights at Arawan Luxury Desert Camp in Erg Lihoudi, where peaceful dunes, warm Amazigh hospitality, and quiet moments under the stars shaped an experience we’ll always treasure.

Read more about our time at this luxury desert camp and what to expect if you are planning a desert camp stay in the Moroccan Sahara.

Overview

As part of our 12-day trip around Morocco, we decided to spend a few nights in the desert for a completely different experience. Spending three nights at Arawan Luxury Desert Camp in the dunes of Erg Lihoudi turned out to be one of the most meaningful parts of our journey.

This quiet corner of the Moroccan Sahara desert, just outside M’Hamid and Tagounite, feels worlds away from the busier routes and the polished resorts of Merzouga. Here, luxury looks a little different. It’s slower, softer, and deeply connected to the Amazigh culture and desert way of life.

What drew us to this area was its peaceful nature. Erg Lihoudi isn’t a place that attracts mass tourism, which makes it ideal for travellers searching for an intimate Sahara desert luxury camp experience without crowds or noise.

The dunes stretch endlessly, the silence carries a kind of warmth, and the hospitality hits differently when you’re welcomed as one of only a handful of guests.

How to Get to Arawan Luxury Desert Camp

There are a few options to travel to the camp, but most visitors usually make their way to Zagora and arrange a pick‑up with the camp. In our case, we were in Marrakesh and decided to take an overnight CTM coach to Zagora.

The journey from Marrakesh to Zagora took around seven hours, and despite being long, it was a comfortable and direct option. From Zagora, the camp had organised a seamless transfer for us which took about 1.5 hours.

This included a taxi from Zagora to Tagounite, followed by a 4×4 pick‑up from Salem (the co-owner of the camp) that took us across the desert tracks to Erg Lihoudi and the camp itself. Travelling this way gave us a real sense of transitioning from the city into the vast stillness of the Sahara.

For those who prefer a quicker route, an alternative is to fly directly to Zagora Airport (OZG/GMAZ) either from abroad or by taking an internal flight from Marrakesh or Casablanca.

Discover Arawan Luxury Desert Camp

Welcome & Check-In

When we arrived, we were told to leave our luggage in the car and were invited to the main tent. We were welcomed with warm Moroccan tea, a ritual that instantly sets the tone, as we learned from our Moroccan adventure.

This tent serves as both the lobby and dining area, with comfortable seating, earthy tones, and handmade decor. The “lobby” area has two benches and a table, along with plenty of space on the ground for a crowd to gather, relax, and share stories.

Wi-Fi was available and the password was given to us on arrival – a luxury we didn’t expect but appreciated. The connection wasn’t always reliable, but we were lucky to have internet around the camp (and definitely on the dunes) using our Morroco eSIM from Saily.

With only one main tent and six guest tents, the camp has a boutique feel. Even before we settled in, we sensed how personal the experience would be.

Our Tent – Space, Comfort & Amenities

The tent wowed us from the first glimpse – it was a lot more spacious than we expected and the bed was extra‑large. The mattress was firm but comfortable, and with the cold desert nights, we really appreciated the soft warm blankets that were provided.

We had a bedside table on each side with mirrors hanging above the bedside tables. On both sides, we had electric sockets in the room with excellent power output.

To our surprise, on the bedside tables we found small goodie bags with a little notepad, a luggage tag, and a phone lanyard (which proved extremely useful during the camel trek).

The tent was decorated with beautiful handmade carpets that made the whole space feel warm, unique and inviting. We also had a rustic handmade table with two chairs, along with a complimentary bottle of water.

A coat hanger was available too, which turned out to be very useful for our jackets. The only thing we felt was missing was a chest of drawers or a wardrobe for storing clothes. Travelling with rucksacks meant we had to keep our clothes either on the chairs or on the ground.

I was a little concerned that there was no hairdryer in the room, but to be honest I didn’t even need one. As soon as I stepped outside, it took no more than 15 minutes for my hair to dry naturally thanks to the dry Saharan heat.

This is where travellers comparing options will notice the difference between standard desert camps and a true luxury desert camp in Morocco. You still get the authenticity of a desert stay, but without sacrificing basic comforts.

The Bathroom – A Real Highlight

The private bathroom inside our tent included a western‑style toilet, a sink with a mirror, and a hot shower. Toiletries such as shampoo and shower gel were provided, and we also received two pairs of slippers.

As we had travelled overnight, we were desperate for a shower as soon as we arrived. What we didn’t realise is that you need to wait a little for the hot water to come to the tent, so our very first shower ended up being a cold but surprisingly refreshing one.

Overall, the shower facilities were excellent, given we were in the desert! The water pressure was good overall, and the bathroom had everything we needed to freshen up comfortably. In fact, the shower here was better than the one we had at our 5‑star Riad in Marrakesh, with similar water pressure but much better plumbing.

For anyone searching for a Morocco desert luxury camp or luxury desert camping Morocco, knowing you can shower properly is a big plus.

The Campfire – The Heart of the Camp

The campfire area is the heart of the camp. We hung around it during the day, sitting on the comfortable carpets and fluffy cushions. It is so chill and relaxing that after our nomadic camp experience Paul and I fell asleep here, but the true magic was in the evening.

Evenings were our favourite time of day. Everyone gathered around the fire, which truly felt like the beating heart of the camp. We listened to Amazigh music played live by the team, shared stories, and simply enjoyed the stillness around us.

Salem shared insights about nomadic life, the history of the region, and his own childhood. One thing that really stood out for us was the strong sense of community among the Amazigh people; whatever you do, you do it with the community in mind and never put yourself first.

It felt so different from the individualistic culture we are used to in our daily lives and made me think about their values and the sense of community.

There’s something grounding about sitting under a star-filled sky, surrounded by dunes, with the soft rhythm of drums in the background.

There was one thing I had been looking forward to long before arriving in the desert: the stargazing. I imagined lying on my back, watching the sky with no light pollution at all – just a pure, dark canvas dotted with bright stars and the glow of the moon.

I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, it became one of my favourite moments of each day.

Dining at Arawan Luxury Desert Camp

Meals were served in the main tent and always felt homely. The dining area consisted of six tables set up for two to four people per table, and this is where we had our breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

We enjoyed traditional Amazigh dishes, warm tagines, soup, salads, and plenty of fresh Moroccan bread. Water was available with each meal and Salem always made sure to ask if we wanted more water for the room. We were offered tea a few times a day and on demand.

One thing that stood out was how relaxed breakfast was – no rush, no schedule pressure and we were asked each morning what time we want breakfast served.

Breakfast

Breakfast was a typical Moroccan breakfast, much better than what was served in our 5‑star riad in Marrakesh.

We had bread, cheese triangles, a small pot of yoghurt, and a selection of jams and honey. Freshly squeezed orange juice was served each day, and the coffee was freshly brewed every morning and refilled whenever needed.

Our first breakfast also included bread with caraway seeds and msemmen, a traditional Moroccan square‑shaped, flaky flatbread. The msemmen was freshly made, and we both agreed it was the best breakfast item!

Our last breakfast included a Berber omelette, a traditional, rustic North African dish made of eggs cooked in a tagine in a rich, spiced tomato and vegetable sauce. Paul was really happy as he had been wishing for eggs that morning.

Lunch

For lunch we had two or three courses. Desserts were usually fruits, such as sliced oranges with cinnamon or a selection of fresh fruits.

For our first lunch we had olives and bread to start with. We were served a mixed salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, sweetcorn, potatoes, courgettes, and carrots with a mayo dressing.

We also had delicious chicken skewers served with plain pasta (perhaps too much for two people); the chicken skewers were beautifully marinated, super tasty and nicely chargrilled.

Another lunch consisted of a lemon chicken tagine, which was part of the cooking class, so we saw all the ingredients that went in and how beautifully cooked it turned out to be. The lemon chicken tagine was delicious!

Even on our last day, during the sandstorm, we were treated to a nice lunch — a chicken tagine with vegetables that was nicely spiced and perfectly cooked.

Dinner

Dinner was usually a two‑ or three‑course affair, with fruits often served as dessert. On the first night, we had a selection of olives and a warm carrot soup to start with; the soup was delicious and perfect for the cold desert night.

Our main course was couscous with chicken and vegetables. This was particularly appropriate as it was Friday, and we learned that couscous is traditionally served on Fridays.

Sadly, the couscous felt a bit bland in taste, which was unusual as all other meals were perfectly spiced and full of flavour.

Our second dinner was a tasty vegetable tagine, and Salem had arranged some special peppers for Paul — a bit spicy and definitely not to my taste. The tagine itself was perfectly spiced, and the vegetables were cooked to perfection.

Dessert that evening felt like a real treat: crème caramel (albeit not home-made) with freshly sliced bananas and a dash of chocolate sauce, beautifully presented.

Desert Activities – What We Experienced During Our Stay

Arawan Luxury Desert Camp offers a range of activities, and we made the most of them during our three-night stay.

Desert Safari

We ventured deeper into the dunes by 4×4.It was a bumpy ride, but we really enjoyed it – a fun activity to do in the desert.

Along the way, we even saw gazelles out in the wild, several camels, and an ostrich that was particularly friendly and came surprisingly close to us. The landscapes felt raw and incredibly calming.

Nomadic Experience & Camel Trekking

One of the highlights of our trip was spending a night out in the open desert as part of a nomadic experience.

We travelled by camel, learnt more about desert traditions, and slept under the stars. It was peaceful, humbling, and unlike anything we’ve done before.

Read more about our nomadic camping experience and camel trekking below:

Cooking Class

We knew a cooking class was coming up, and during one of our conversations we mentioned to Salem that we really enjoy lemon chicken tagine. So guess what — our cooking class turned out to be exactly that: how to prepare a lemon chicken tagine.

The cooking class took place in the kitchen area, a separate part of the camp located next to the main tent. This was a good opportunity for us to observe the kitchen which was clean and hygienic, exactly what we would have expected from a luxury camp.

Campfire Music

During our first night, we were treated to something truly special — Salem’s friend, Mokhtar, a member of the famous band Tarwa N-Tiniri, played Amazigh desert blues for us.

Salem joined in on the drums, and the sounds were so peaceful, so personal, and so rhythmic that it became a night we will never forget.

Stargazing

The sky in Erg Lihoudi is incredibly clear. We spent long moments looking up, enjoying constellations we rarely see back home — we even saw Orion’s Belt clearly every single night while in the Sahara.

Watching Sunsets

The sunsets were beautiful, with colours shifting from soft pastels to deep orange. Every evening looked a little different.

I still remember our first sunset so vividly. It was straight after the desert safari, and we were rushing up the highest dune so we wouldn’t miss it — and it was so beautiful.

A Truly Unexpected Moment – The Beauty of Solitude

After returning from the nomadic experience, we realised all other guests had already checked out. Suddenly, we were the only ones left in the camp.

It was such an unexpected moment to have an entire Sahara desert camp to ourselves. We spent that afternoon soaking up the silence, sitting by the dunes, and enjoying the stillness. In the evening, we had the campfire to ourselves and were joined by Salem for some more talks and stories.

On our last day, a sandstorm arrived. It added another dimension to the desert’s personality. We watched how the landscape changed, how the colours shifted, and how quickly everything can transform. Even this felt magical in its own way.

Who Arawan Luxury Desert Camp Is Best For

In our opinion, Arawan Luxury Desert Camp is ideal for:

• Couples (like us) who want a quiet, romantic escape
• Travellers seeking a more authentic alternative to Merzouga
• Those who want comfort but still want to feel connected to the desert
• Anyone interested in culture, storytelling, and slow travel

If your idea of a luxury desert camp Morocco experience includes silence, starry nights, and real connections, this place is a wonderful fit.

Best Time to Visit Arawan Luxury Desert Camp

Choosing the right time to stay at Arawan Luxury Desert Camp can make a big difference to your comfort and overall experience. As this camp offers just a tent set-up (no cladding), this means temperatures can feel quite cold in winter and very hot in the summer.

We were told that during the peak of summer (July and August), the camp usually closes due to the extreme desert heat. For travellers who prefer milder conditions — especially those who prefer a certain temperature in their bathrooms — the best months to visit are September and October, or April and May.

These shoulder seasons offer comfortable daytime warmth without the scorching heat, while nights are cool but manageable.

If you’re looking for that perfect balance of pleasant temperatures, clear skies, and enjoyable nights under the stars, these months are ideal for experiencing a Sahara desert luxury camp like Arawan.

Tips for Staying in a Sahara Desert Luxury Camp

• Bring layers – the desert gets cold at night, especially in winter. We thought we were prepared until we experienced the cold nights.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and head scarves are essential.
• Comfortable shoes help with exploring the dunes.
• If you’re researching what to wear in the Sahara Desert Morocco, breathable fabrics are your best friend.
• Powerbank to keep your devices charged, especially if you are doing a nomadic camping experience.

Final Thoughts

Our three nights at Arawan Luxury Desert Camp were unforgettable. From the peaceful dunes of Erg Lihoudi to the warm welcome, the comfort of our tent, and the evenings around the campfire, everything felt thoughtful and sincere.

What stayed with us most, though, was the authenticity. Meeting Salem and the Amazigh team, learning their stories, and experiencing desert life at a slower pace.

If you’re planning a Morocco Sahara desert camp stay and want something intimate and meaningful, Arawan Luxury Desert Camp is a place we’d happily return to.

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