Erg Chebbi area — exact site subject to permission

Wild Camping in the Desert (Where Permitted)

For travellers who want the desert at its simplest: a basic bivouac away from the busier camps, with a guide, a few blankets and the sky. We only arrange this where it is legal, safe and permitted.

1 night (multi-night on request)
Overnight
Erg Chebbi area — exact site subject to permission

The experience

About this activity

Wild camping here means a night at a quiet spot away from established camps, sleeping on mats or light mattresses in the open or under a simple shelter. It is not a lawless free-for-all: sites must be legal, safe and permitted, subject to local authorisation and the consent of the landowners or the local community. If permission is not available for your dates, we will tell you and suggest an alternative.

Your guide chooses the site with safety in mind — away from wadis that can flood, vehicle tracks and grazing areas — and stays with you throughout. Food is simple: bread, salads, perhaps a tagine cooked on a gas stove, and tea. There are no showers and no toilets beyond what we explain on the night. We follow leave-no-trace principles: everything carried in is carried out, including food waste and toilet paper. No fires are lit where prohibited or where wood is scarce; we never collect living or dead vegetation that the ecosystem needs.

Simple, quiet night away from busy camps
Guide stays with you all night
Leave-no-trace approach
Stars without camp lighting (moon and weather permitting)
Only where legal, safe and permitted

How it runs

Typical plan

AfternoonConfirm the permitted site; briefing on leave-no-trace and toilet arrangements.
Before sunsetWalk, camel or 4x4 to the site; set up mats and shelter.
EveningSimple dinner cooked on a stove; stargazing.
DawnSunrise, breakfast, pack everything out and leave the site as found.

Timings shift with the season (sunrise and sunset change by more than two hours across the year).

At a glance

What’s included at camp

Camel ride: Optional (on request)
4x4 transfer: Optional (on request)
Meals: Included — simple, cooked on a gas stove (typical plan)
Private bathroom: Not available
Shower: Not available
Electricity: Not available

Facilities differ between camps and seasons; we confirm them for your exact dates.

Inclusions

What’s included

Typically included

Guide for the night
Mats, blankets or sleeping bags (to be confirmed)
Simple dinner and breakfast (typical plan — to be confirmed)

Not included

Toilets or washing facilities
Charging
Tips

We confirm these details in your written quote:

Availability of a legal, permitted site for your dates
Required authorisations and community consent
Sleeping equipment provided
Transfer method

Safety

Safety, ages & accessibility

Wild camping is offered only where legal, safe and permitted, subject to local authorisation and landowner/community consent; it may be cancelled or moved if conditions or permission change. Nights can be very cold in winter and wind can rise suddenly. There is no shelter beyond what we bring, and medical help is further away than at a camp — tell us about any health conditions. Scorpions and snakes are rarely seen but present: shake out shoes, use a torch and do not put hands in crevices.

Good to know

Bring a warm sleeping layer — temperatures drop sharply after sunset.
A headtorch and wet wipes are essential.
Everything we bring in, we take out.
No fires where prohibited or where wood is scarce.

Price & booking

Contact us for a price. Every trip is priced for your dates, group size, tour type and accommodation level. Send us your plan on WhatsApp or by email and we will send you the price. [TO CONFIRM: payment method (e.g. bank transfer), deposit amount and balance deadline]. A booking is confirmed only after we confirm availability and payment arrangements in writing. We never ask for card details on this website.

Questions

FAQs

Is wild camping legal near Merzouga?

It depends on the location and current local rules. We only arrange it where legal, safe and permitted, with local authorisation and community consent.

Will there be a toilet?

No. Your guide explains the leave-no-trace toilet approach; all waste including paper is carried out.

Can we have a campfire?

Only where fires are permitted and conditions allow. Otherwise we cook on a gas stove.

Plan around it

Where it happens & what pairs well

Combine it with

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