Planning a trip to the Moroccan Sahara? Here’s everything we learned about what to wear for camel trekking and desert camping, including scarves, clothing, footwear and essential accessories. These simple tips will help you stay comfortable, protected and ready for the magic of the dunes.
- Overview
- Why Clothing Matters in the Sahara
- 1. Headwear: Scarves Over Hats Every Time
- 2. Clothing: Light, Breathable and Protective
- 3. Footwear: Closed Shoes Are a Must
- 4. Essential Accessories to Pack
- 5. Optional but Helpful Items
- 6. What Not to Wear
- 7. Clothing Tips We Learned from Our Guide
- Final Thoughts
Overview
The Moroccan Sahara is unlike anywhere else — stunning, humbling and surprisingly demanding on the body. After our own Sahara desert camping in Morocco journey in Erg Lihoudi, near Zagora, we quickly realised that what you wear can make or break the experience. Between the dry winds, strong sun and shifting dunes, clothing becomes part protection, part comfort and part survival strategy (in a pleasant way!).
This guide walks you through everything we wore — and everything we wish we’d known earlier — so you can prepare confidently for your own Sahara experience in Morocco.
Why Clothing Matters in the Sahara
Even in late autumn and early winter, the Sahara’s climate is deceptively harsh. The sun bounces off the sand, the wind lifts fine grains into your face and temperatures shift drastically between day and night.
The right gear makes your camel trek safer, more comfortable and infinitely more enjoyable. Trust us — a few smart additions make all the difference.
1. Headwear: Scarves Over Hats Every Time
Before our trip, we thought a simple cap would do the job. After two minutes in the dunes, we realised how naïve that was.
1.1. Touareg-style scarves
We packed two long scarves which we bought from Chefchaouen (about 2 metres each, longer better) and wrapped them Touareg-style — and honestly, this is the desert essential. See below how to tie your scarf:
A proper desert scarf will:
- Protect your head from intense sun
- Shield your face from wind and sand
- Cover your neck without overheating
- Stay in place better than western hats
Hats tend to fly off, offer little face protection and don’t block blowing sand. The scarf changed everything for us — especially when the wind picked up.
2. Clothing: Light, Breathable and Protective
2.1. Linen or Cotton Tops
Cotton t-shirts work fine and are easy to find, but if you can, linen is the best fabric for the Sahara. It’s airy, dries quickly and keeps you cool even under the sun.
We bought ours from Chefchaouen as part of this trip but equally you can find them in major cities such as Marrakesh at even better prices as we later discovered ourselves.
Avoid synthetic sports tops. They cling, trap heat and feel uncomfortable against dry desert skin.
2.2. Long Trousers
We strongly recommend lightweight long trousers over shorts. Why?
- Protection from the sun
- Comfort when sitting on a camel
- No accidental rubbing or scratching against saddles or gear
2.3. Layering for the Evening
Nights cool down fast. As an example we were watching the sunset at our desert camp in Erg Lihoudi and within minutes, where the shadow was the sand became very cold. After sunset within 30 minutes the temperature dropped considerably almost like going from a warmed up house straight into the brisk outdoors.
Therefore we suggest you bring:
- A light fleece or hoodie
- A windproof layer (optional but helpful)
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3. Footwear: Closed Shoes Are a Must
Camel trekking might sound gentle, but mounting, dismounting and walking on uneven dunes means you need stable footwear.
Avoid sandals or flip-flops — they slip off and offer zero protection for the rough desert, remember the desert can have plenty of stones also, it’s not just made of sand dunes.
Our guide Mohamed from our Nomadic Desert Experience in Erg Lihoudi wore simple canvas shoes. They were:
- Lightweight
- Flexible
- Practical for walking through sand
We wore closed trainers and were glad we did but on the sand didn’t provide the same flexibility as our guide’s.
4. Essential Accessories to Pack
- Lip balm (absolute essential) – The Sahara is extremely dry. Apply every 2–3 hours to prevent cracking.
- Suncream – Even when temperatures feel mild, the sun is intense. Reapply regularly.
- Sunglasses – Strong UV protection is a must because the sand reflects sunlight from every direction.
- Reusable water bottle – You will drink far more than you expect, especially during camel treks. On these trips the guides will most likely bring 5L water bottles, so you’ll need to share.
- Wet wipes or sanitiser – Very useful when camping nomad-style without running water.
- Small rucksack – Choose one comfortable enough to carry on a camel.
- Powerbank – there is no socket to charge your phone, so make sure to bring a fully-charged powerbank with you.
- A light scarf (in addition to your Touareg-style head wrap) – Helpful for extra dust protection or added shade.
5. Optional but Helpful Items
These aren’t essential but can improve your comfort:
- Moisturiser (your skin dries out quickly in the wind)
- A soft neck pillow for long treks
- Socks you don’t mind filling with sand
- A bandana if you prefer a lighter alternative to a large scarf
- A GoPro / phone grip / phone lanyard — camels can be wobbly!
- A proven eSIM with coverage in the area. We used Saily which had decent signal throughout!
6. What Not to Wear
Avoid:
- Jeans (they get stiff with sand and trap heat)
- Heavy hiking boots (uncomfortable on camel saddles)
- Synthetic fabrics
- Open shoes (unless you are just staying in the camp itself)
- Tight clothing
- Black tops (absorb heat)
7. Clothing Tips We Learned from Our Guide
Mohamed, our guide from Erg Lihoudi, walked the entire trek in light canvas shoes and simple trousers — proof you don’t need anything fancy.
Desert clothing priorities are:
- Breathability
- Protection
- Comfort
- Simplicity
Fashion comes in very last place!
Final Thoughts
The Sahara rewards those who prepare well. With the right clothing, a scarf wrapped Touareg-style and a few small accessories (especially lip balm!), your desert camel trek in Morocco will feel effortless and enjoyable.
Dressing for the elements helps you focus on what really matters: the silence, the landscapes and the magic of the dunes.
Ready to book? Below are some recommendations to get your trip started:
- Flights – we use flight aggregators such as Skyscanner and Google Flights to find the best options. You can find more information about finding cheap flights here.
- Accommodation – would recommend booking your accommodation through an aggregator such as Booking.com or Trip.com to get the best rates. We also use TripAdvisor to read reviews.
- Transport – consider DiscoverCars for car renting or if you rely on public transport, you can use Omio for trains, coaches, ferries, airport transfers and even flights.
- Activities – a great option is GetYourGuide, Klook or Viator for tours, excursions, experiences and tickets to many tourist attractions.
- Travel money – we have Starling Bank accounts (UK residents only) with 0% fees on FX and a good Mastercard exchange rate. Revolut is another good option.
- Travel insurance – check SafetyWing for travel medical insurance that works for you and your specific needs.
- Internet abroad – with Airalo or Nomad you can access a wide range of eSIMs (digital SIM cards) available for different countries and regions.
- Luggage storage – if you need to store your bags whilst exploring the destination, you can use Radical Storage to find your closest luggage storage and enjoy your journey until the very end.
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