Merzouga in December: the Sahara, Winter Edition
December is one of the finest months for Erg Chebbi: clear skies, low light on the dunes and mild days. You just need to prepare for genuinely cold nights.
Merzouga in December means around 18 °C by day and very cold nights, about 5 °C in the village and often close to 0 °C in the dunes. Sunny days are ideal for a camel ride, quad biking and sandboarding (from €47). The night in a desert camp is the highlight: choose a camp with a heated tent or at least thick blankets (a night from €62 from Merzouga). From Marrakech, the 3-day tour (from €86-118, 8-9 hours of driving each way in total) is the most-booked option, with over 22,000 reviews for the top-rated one. New Year week is the busiest of the winter in the desert: boutique camps fill up early. To sleep in camp on 31 December with a 3-day tour, leave Marrakech on the 30th.
Plan your stay
The guides and experiences our readers book most for this destination.
The Best Experiences in Merzouga in December
The most-booked tours from Marrakech and activities on site:
| Experience | Rating | Reviews | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Marrakech: 3-Day Merzouga and Sahara Desert Tour | 4.9 | 22,297 | €118 |
| From Marrakech: Merzouga 3-Day Desert Safari with Food | 4.7 | 14,481 | €104 |
| Marrakech: 3-Day Merzouga Desert Experience Camel & Meals | 4.6 | 6,436 | €86 |
| Desert Overnight in Heated Tent & Camel Ride (from Merzouga) | 4.8 | 267 | €62 |
| Erg Chebbi: Adventure Quad Bike Safari & Sandboarding | 5.0 | 130 | €47 |
Ratings, reviews and prices taken from GetYourGuide; they may change.
See desert tours for December· GetYourGuideFree cancellation up to 24h before on most activities · the best time slots sell out first in high seasonReserve now, pay later on many activities
Compare activities on ViatorYou will be redirected to our partner Viator.- The 3-day tour from Marrakech goes via Aït Ben Haddou and the Dadès gorges, with the camp night on the second evening. See the Merzouga desert and the 3-day tour.
- Choosing a camp: see the best camps in Merzouga and a night in a desert camp.
- The desert in winter: see the Moroccan desert in winter.
- For New Year’s Eve: see New Year in the desert.
Camp or Guesthouse?
A camp in the dunes gives you the starry sky and the sunrise, but it is the coldest place to sleep. Guesthouses and kasbah hotels at the foot of Erg Chebbi, in Merzouga or Hassilabied, are heated and often have a pool for the daytime. A good mix: one night in camp, one in a kasbah. See Merzouga or Erg Chigaga.
See hotels and camps in Merzouga· Booking.comFree cancellation on many properties · the best-rated places fill up firstNo prepayment needed on many offers: lock in your room now
Compare flights and hotels on Trip.com· Trip.com
See also Merzouga in January, when to visit Merzouga and Marrakech in December.
FAQ — Merzouga in December
Is the desert cold in December?
Do I need a heated tent in Merzouga in December?
How much is a 3-day tour in December?
How can I sleep in the desert on 31 December?
How long does it take from Marrakech to Merzouga?
In Short
- 18 °C by day, nights near 0 °C.
- Heated tent and warm clothes.
- New Year: leave Marrakech on the 30th.
