Sleep in the Sahara Desert

“Did you see how he took that dune? We’ll roll over any minute… how awesome!”
I could hear the guys whispering in the back as we kept driving, searching for the well and the woman who makes tea, even though it was 40 degrees outside.
Sand blew in through the open windows along with a surprisingly cool breeze; Mahjoub’s arm hung casually out the window, his ring shining like the sun.
We had taken the route that leads from M’Hamid deep into the desert.

We were going to sleep there, on the sand, in the desert, light a fire and gaze at the stars. Because stars seen from within the desert are not just stars. They are more like a great flying city, moving, lighting up and fading away. A breathtaking sight.

And on just such a starry night, a young woman told me a story:

“In the desert, communities move along with the water and the animals; winters are harsh. Omar was young and inexperienced, and he didn’t know that the tree’s milk was poisonous: its roots feed on the earth’s waste. The boy tasted it and was poisoned, and his older brother began chopping down the tree out of revenge! They used that wood as fuel for the fire, to keep warm on starry nights.”

That’s exactly what we did too.
We arrive.
Waiting for us is the base camp, which is simply like a mirage: there are tents, colorful rugs, water and food, camels, and a vast stretch of sand and dunes. I chop the wood. I never would have thought I’d have to do that in the desert: the scent of the fire has something magical about it. This is Erg Chigaga, our home for tonight.

Discover the desert, discover our GROUP TRIP TO MOROCCO.