Caravanserai Luxury Desert Camp

Arrival here usually means a camel, not a car. Guests ride out across the red sand of Erg Chebbi as the light drops, reaching camp in time for the fire to be lit and the drums to start. The camp sits deep in the dunes near Merzouga, reached by transfer from town rather than direct road access. Tents come in four sizes: single, double, triple and family, each with its own bathroom, woven blankets and locally made furnishings. Rooms face the dunes directly, so the view from bed is sand and sky. Dinner is served in the camp restaurant, built around seasonal Moroccan cooking: tajines, couscous, salads, and cakes made on site. It gets properly dark out here. Nights are colder than the days suggest, but the hand-woven blankets are enough even in winter. The camp keeps a staff on hand around the clock, and the restaurant serves guests only. It is a quiet, self-contained base at the edge of the Sahara.