What to pack for a night in the Sahara

A night at a desert camp is the emotional centre of most Morocco trips. It is also the part people most reliably under-pack for.

Bring

• A warm layer. Non-negotiable. Sahara nights fall to single digits, and in winter to near zero.
• A scarf or shemagh. For sun, for wind, and for the dust that finds everything.
• Closed shoes. Sand in sandals stops being charming after twenty minutes.
• A head torch. Camps are lit softly and deliberately; you will want your hands free.
• Lip balm and moisturiser. The air is drier than you think.

Leave behind

Hard-shell suitcases, anything you would be upset to see scratched, and the expectation of a phone signal.

One thing people forget

A proper camera strap. You will be on a camel, in the dark, with one hand occupied — and the dunes deserve better than a phone snapshot.