What should I pack for a desert bivouac? What should I pack for a desert trek? You have booked your stay to discover the beautiful Sahara desert in Morocco, but you are wondering what to take in your suitcase for your stay. We give you our advice.
What is the weather like in the desert in Morocco?
The question of the weather is essential because depending on the period you will choose you will have to adapt the contents of your suitcase. The desert is known for its extreme temperatures, very hot in summer and cold nights in winter. We detail the weather over the seasons in the desert.
March and April: in spring, good weather sets in, days are usually between 25 and 30° and nights are mild, about 20°
May, June and September: the sun begins to be more intense and there may be heat peaks around 35°, nights are appreciated to bring a little freshness
July and August: it’s intense summer, the sun is hot and the air is very hot, up to 50 degrees, the nights remain warm
October and November: in autumn we find milder temperatures as in spring but the sun remains present, it can sometimes be very hot for a few days. In November the nights begin to be cooler.
December, January and February: during the winter the days are mild between 15 and 20° but marked by cold nights where temperatures can approach 0°
What to bring in your suitcase for a bivouac or trekking in the desert
Whatever the time of year, plan to protect your skin from the sun. Even if you are used to warm temperatures, the desert sun is stronger than what you can have in Europe for example.
To do this, you need:
- Sun cream index 50
- Long clothes made of cotton, linen or hemp. Natural materials are lighter and more breathable, and will protect you from UV better than sunscreen and the feeling of heat will be more pleasant with the skin covered
- A hat or cap, or better yet a chèche like nomads. For this, we will show you where to find in Foum Zguid at a low price and good quality. The shawl will protect you completely and it is ideal also against wind and sand.
- Sunglasses
- A sun balm is a plus because the dry desert air combined with the sun tend to quickly dry the skin
For cool nights and evenings, plan
- a good sweater
- in fall and winter, add a jacket that will cut you from the wind
- warmer pants type jogging
- warm socks
- a hat in winter
- for a winter trekking, add thermal underwear as for skiing (leggings and tshirt long sleeves)
- focus on comfort and don’t overload yourself!
For hiking or trekking in the desert, add to your suitcase:
- a backpack with a gourd
- a sleeping bag adapted to the temperatures depending on the period you come
- a small plastic bag for your waste
- a pair of light walking shoes or sneakers in which you are comfortable walking several kilometers a day and which have already served you several times because leaving with new shoes is the guarantee of having blisters
- walking socks that keep feet dry
- a headlamp or dynamo lamp
In the toiletry bag:
- the usual necessities (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, etc.)
- saline to clean eyes and nose from sand, especially in a sandstorm
- a moisturizer
- dry shampoo can be interesting if you go for several days in trekking and you want to wash your hair at least
- biodegradable tissues or wipes, useful for a small toilet in the desert
- a lighter to burn your toilet paper scraps
- some basic medicines for headaches, stomach aches, sunburn, blisters on the feet
If you have any other questions for the preparation of your stay, we are of course at your disposal. Send us your questions by clicking here
Find all our bivouacs in the desert here
All our trekkings over there
