A side trip from Merzouga, we visited a Bedouin camp in the Sahara desert in Morocco. Our guide offered the invitation, and we accepted, although we had no idea what to expect. The Bedouin family greeted us with warm smiles, hot tea, and a style of hospitality that made us feel less like tourists and more like long-lost friends.
According to our guide, the Bedouins of Northern Africa and the Middle East are a nomadic society. The Bedouin tribe we visited are seasonal migrants rather than desert nomads. They wander between their summer and winter Bedouin campsites, both in the Sahara desert. That is why some of the structures look more permanent.
Arriving at the Bedouin camp
As we drove towards the Sahara desert camp, we enjoyed the colours of the sand dunes. Then, it was flat. Through the vast nothingness, our first view of the Bedouin camp in the distance was through a hazy Moroccan Sahara landscape.
Bedouin desert camp structures
As we approached, we understood what our guide had told us. Many of the structures seemed well-established. Following tradition, I asked permission before taking photos of the people. Afterward, I tipped a small amount to the family.
Some of the structures seemed less permanent
Sitting on several beautiful, handmade rugs, we enjoyed mint tea with the family. Fortunately, the nomadic style tent offered shade from the heat of the day. Traditionally, Bedouin tribes use goats and camels for dairy products, meat, and wool. It is a staple of their livelihood.
Bedouin lifestyle
Tour a Bedouin camp
While we were driven in an SUV, the more popular way to visit the Bedouin or Berber camps is on a tour, via camel. These typically include staying in the Sahara desert at night, in a more luxurious tent than we saw. However, it is still a tent in the desert and may have no running water, toilets, or heat. At times it gets surprisingly cool overnight.
Either of these two top-rated tours seem to be good options:
Marrakech to Merzouga 3-day desert safari
If you are starting in Marrakech, you will need more time to get out to the desert, and this three-day safari is a great option. You will travel at first in an air-conditioned minibus, but don’t worry, there will be a camel trek in the desert.
Your first night will be in a four-star hotel in Tinghir, and the second night at a desert camp at Erg Chebbi. It includes breakfasts and dinners, as well as private accommodations and access to toilets and showers at both locations. Both sunset and sunrise will be enjoyed in the desert. This small group tour starts on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Reserve your desert safari here.
One night camel trekking tour in Merzouga desert camp
This tour includes one night in the deep desert in a nomadic tent. You will arrive and depart via camel (1-hour ride) and enjoy stunning views and photo opportunities until you reach the desert camp. You can choose from the standard tent or a luxury private tent with its own bathroom. After your dinner, you will be entertained by a performance of Berber drumming music. You will get to enjoy both sunset and sunrise in the desert. Reserve your camel trek through the Moroccan desert here.
Bedouin Camp or Berber Camp?
Morocco’s population is predominately Arabs, Berbers, and Europeans. Traditionally, Bedouins are Arabs; although, today the term often describes wanderers whether Arab or not. However, Berbers are the descendants of the pre-Arab inhabitants of North Africa. Therefore, there is some question as to whether we should have referred to our visit as a Bedouin camp or if Berber camp may have been a better name.
Our Moroccan road trip
We spent 32 days in Morocco travelling first by train between Fes and Marrakesh. Then, we rented a car and drove through central Morocco, first to Essaouira, then south to Agadir, and then east to the Sahara. In Merzouga, we stayed at Kasbah Azalay, and the owner was our guide to the Bedouin camp.
Veronica Lee
What an amazing experience! Love the photos.
Happy 2020!
Shiju Sugunan
Amazing photos! Love how the colors of their shawl contrast with the dull surroundings.
Morocco desert tours
I’m very happy to see this amazing pictures of the berber nomads in the desert.
Just want to let you know that the Bedouin means Arabic Nomads, and the nomads of the north of Africa all of them are berbers, so it could be better if it was ( Visiting the Berber camp … )
Thanks for visitng Morocco and for your support with this amazing blog.
Jackie Smith
Just getting caught up on some of my blog reading and wanted you to know how much I enjoyed your Bedouin experiences. We also saw and visited such camps in Jordan. It is a fascinating lifestyle and one with such history and tradition.
Rhonda Albom
Jordan is the top of my bucket list, yet for some reason, we just haven’t’ gotten there. We have been close, in other middle eastern countries.
Nancie McKinnon
I had a similar experience in Egypt. We went into the desert on camels (not my favorite form of transportation). We camped with the bedouin at an oasis. They had everything set up and did all the cooking. It was magical sleeping in the desert under the stars. I must look for my Egypt photos. That was back in 2004 so could be an adventure just to find them 🙂 Love your photos.
Rhonda Albom
Please let me know if you find and share your photos, I would love to see them.
Jim ~ ReflectionsEnroute
What an incredible experience!#wkendtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
I hope you and Corinne get there some day too.
Kreete
This is crazy how they live like that. That teddy bear didn’t make me smile at all, I got the creeps haha! Very nice photos though, really pass on the feel and atmosphere.
Rhonda Albom
Sorry to creep you out with the teddy bear. It was hanging to keep it off the ground, not to be cruel.
Megan Jerrard
Wow, amazing photos! I would love to visit a Bedouin camp, they’re one of the most fascinating cultures and this to me is real travel – seeking out an authentic experience which is so different to anything else you can experience elsewhere.
Looking forward to seeing more of your archived photos as you go through that 40,000!!
Rhonda Albom
Exactly. This is the type of experience we seek out.
Rob+Ann
Oh my gosh…SO want to do this! Morocco, in general, has long been on our Bucket List. Between the Sahara and the Atlas Mountains, and the beautiful souks and cities…definitely need to go. As always, awesome photos!
Rhonda Albom
It was on my list for a while as well, and it is one country that actually exceeded our expectations.
Mar Pages
I’ve heard about the amazing hospitality in these places. Staying in a Bedouin camp must have really been a unique (and hot?) experience.
Rhonda Albom
We didn’t stay, we just visited. However, it was quite hot and unique.
Rajlakshmi
The Bedouin camp looks so lonely and vulnerable in the dessert… This was a fascinating read. I have never seen anything like this in real. I wonder how they would select a spot to build their camp on.
Rhonda Albom
It does have that look from the distance, but with all the hills and dunes I don’t think it would be easy to find if you didn’t know where to go, making it safer. Unless you are referring to vulnerable from the elements.
Alissa A Apel
This looks like an amazing adventure. I love earth homes. How cool you got to see them making a rug!
Rhonda Albom
It was interesting to watch them weave the rug.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
I am totally fascinated by this look at a Bedouin camp. It must have been incredible to experience it in person. I am so glad you came across these photos so that you could share them with us. Did you get to try any of the bread baked in that oven?
Rhonda Albom
We didn’t try any of this bread, as they don’t bake it in the heat of the day. However, we did learn how and make bread with a Berber family on a different day in a similar style oven. It was delicious.
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
What an amazing experience. I love the teddy bear.
Rhonda Albom
I am surprised you are the first person to mention the teddy bear.
Bryna | Dotted Line Travels
Some really amazing photos. I imagine it would have been a really rare experience to visit one of these camps.
Rhonda Albom
I am sure for us it was a once in a lifetime.
Paula McInerney
Would love to experience a Bedouin camp, stunning photos
Rhonda Albom
Paula, I am sure you and Gordy will get to one someday.
Aileen Adalid
Those are such amazing photos!! I haven’t been to this part of the world yet though – but I would absolutely love to! After all, this is one interesting place that I’d love to see. Thanks for introducing this place to us!
Rhonda Albom
We found most of Morocco to be very different than our New Zealand life, and we loved it all.
David
I didn’t get a chance to visit a Bedouin camp, but did visit a Berber camp up near Todra Gorge which sounds like a similar experience to yours. It was great to see how they lived and the kids in particular were pretty fun to interact with, even if one of the kids didn’t particularly like us being there. The Sahara is such a magical place and you’ve captured it wonderfuly.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks David. We also stayed with a Berber family in a different part of Morocco. They were not nomads. We cooked along side them and they taught us how to make the bread and their methods for doing everything in the kitchen.
Marlene Marques
It’s so great when we start search old photos and remember some of the travels that we did on the past and how beautiful they were. I’ve never been to the Sahara desert but it’s definitely on my bucket list. To be able to visit a Bedouin village it’s in fact a privilege.
Rhonda Albom
Honestly, I loved everything about our time in the Sahara. The desert is just so fascinating, and so are it’s people.
Vicki Louise
It’s great to take a sneak peak at a nomadic Bedouin camp. The structures look so flimsy – you have to wonder how they manage in the windy months. But as they’ve lived this way as a society for years, I’m sure they have got it covered!
Rhonda Albom
Keep in mind they only use this camp for half a year at most.
Kerri
What a fabulous experience. This is totally something I would love to do. Was fascinated by the size of the kitchen and the mere fact that they have “normal” operational facilities like this out in the desert, especially given their nomadic existence. Fabulous photos and yes, I would definitely do something like this and love it.
Rhonda Albom
I wouldn’t really call it “normal”, but rather functional.
Christina
When you consider the enormous wealth of some of the sheikhs in the Middle East, it’s mind boggling to think that they were once Bedouins living in the desert. I think it would be an eye-opening experience to stay in Bedouin camp for a period of time. I’m glad you got the chance to visit one Rhonda.
Rhonda Albom
I am not sure I could have adapted well to the lack of the running water.
Brooke
I haven’t visited a Bedouin Camp, but it sounds like you got a rare opportunity to see a different part of life. I like how your photos looked all aspects from the landscape to the people. Always interesting to see the world in a different way.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Brooke, I do try to capture the essence of a destination.
Anda
What a great yet humbling experience, Rhonda! I envy you for that. Who knows if I’ll ever get to Sahara… it seems like a very faraway dream for now. It’s interesting to observe how similar the Bedouins are to the Gypsies in Europe. The same kind of ‘migrating’ lifestyle.
Rhonda Albom
Interesting. I don’t know anything about the Gypsies from Europe. I would love to learn more.
Trekking with Becky
I can only imagine how incredible this whole experience was! I hope I have a chance to do this some day. 😀
Rhonda Albom
I hope you do too.
Paul Pietrangelo
Thanks for writing to me about the questions I asked you about. You are quite a person to do that. Thanks.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
I will always answer your questions 🙂
Kim-Ling
What an eye opening experience! We visited Morocco, but only for a day. I would love to go back though and explore it more. Did you go with a guide? How long did you stay at Bedouin Camp? I love it when you go through photos from previous trips and get to relive them again!
Rhonda Albom
We went to Morocco planning to stay for 7-10 days but ended up staying for 32. I love the country and the people. We generally travelled on our own, via train en route from Fes to Marrakesh, and we rented a car for the rest. The owner of the riad we stayed at in Merzouga took us deeper into the Sahara and was the one who got us invited to the Bedouin Camp.
Toni | 2 Aussie Travellers
What a fabulous experience. From a photographic perspective alone it would be an absolute dream but to interact with the community and join them for tea would make it even more memorable.
Rhonda Albom
We felt very fortunate for all the reasons you named.
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Hi Rhonda – what a fascinating experience … wonderful you were invited to visit and learn more. We had the film “Theeb” in our Film Society series of films this year – a film that would tie in with your experiences here … I hope you can take a look at it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theeb or perhaps one of your commenters would enjoy it … the desert is extraordinary … such a great treat you had … cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
I just read the description of that movie. It sounds really interesting. Thanks for the recommendation.
Leah
Your photos are beautiful. I visited a Bedouin camp in Jordan and was absolutely fascinated. They were so kind and welcoming.
Rhonda Albom
I would love to go to Jordan someday.
Jessica
What an experience! I would love to get to do this one day. Thanks for sharing your photos!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Jessica
Amy Franks
now that is something I would love to experience!
Rhonda Albom
As a photographer, I know you would enjoy it.
Amila
The photos are really interesting and I can imagine how warmly they welcome their guests.It is a different cultural experience.Anyway,I cant imagine how they live with such facilities and style.
Rhonda Albom
I think it is the running water I would miss the most.
Tracy McConnachie Collins
I would definitely do this – being able to experience how people live their lives is such a privilege isn’t it?
Rhonda Albom
Agreed. And we felt quite privileged.
Ruth
Very interesting Rhonda! The color of the sand is incredible. I once went to an area in Southern Egypt and was invited to a house. This family’s hospitality was beyond anything I have experienced before. I imagine your experience in Morocco was similar. #TPThursday
Rhonda Albom
The sand was incredible, vibrant, colourful and so vast. And, same as you, the hospitality was beyond friendly.
Comedy Plus
I’m guessing they are far happier than most people. They live life on their terms and work together to that end. Excellent.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Rhonda Albom
You make a really good point. The people we met were friendly and happy.
Kat
That must have been such an eye-opening experience. Your photos are really lovely.
Rhonda Albom
It was very interesting.
Lexa Cain
In answer to your question, I wouldn’t visit a Bedouin camp. We have a lot of them in the Sinai, and they’re well-known co-conspirators with Palestinian smugglers and any terrorist organization that’s against Egypt’s military. Many soldiers and policemen have died in ambushes in the Sinai. Mostly , the Bedouins don’t do it, but harbor the ones who do.
Rhonda Albom
Well, this certainly puts a different perspective on things.
Bill Kasman
Now this is something I really would like to do and I would combine it with a trip to the High Atlas Mountains!
Rhonda Albom
Yes, we did the same.
budget jan
We’ve been to Morocco but were not given the chance to visit a Bedouin camp. There were two cars in our group. One had a Berber driver and ours had an Arab driver. The Berber took his passengers to have tea in a Bedouin camp, but our driver did not. I didn’t find out till later that the other group got to do that and I wasn’t impressed. Our driver also didn’t take us to a Berber market, even when I asked him about it. We were there in 2012 also! I hope you are going to do some more Morocco posts now that you have discovered your images.
Rhonda Albom
What a bizarre experience. Seems really unfair that you both didn’t get to visit the same places. Me mostly traveled on our own in Morocco, either by car or train. This visit was a rare day when we had a guide, and he was the proprietor of the Riad we were staying at.
Lolo
Wow! What an interesting experience! Don’t know if I could personally rough it up thhhat much! #wkendtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
I don’t know if I could for a long period of time, but for a visit it is fascinating.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
What an unbelievable cultural experience! I love the photos that give us a virtual look at the Bedouin Camp. Their lifestyle has always captivated me so this would be so interesting to see.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Mary. It was a fascinating experience.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
It must’ve been humbling to see how they live off the land.
Rhonda Albom
Yes, quite humbling.
Paul Pietrangelo
Unbelievable Rhonda. Please explain to me how you felt as you entered their home and what they gave you to eat or drink. Was it hot inside their home or cool. As you can see, I have many questions but that should be enough for now my friend. Once again, unbelievable. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Paul. It was very humbling to visit there. The ability to live happily with so little is quite impressive. We were brought into the tent where it felt cool in contrast to the stark, hot desert sun. We were given tea and I believe dates, but it was a few years ago and my memory of what we ate may be overshadowed by the fact that most Moroccans who invited us in offered mint tea and dates.