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Heading into the desert (which should be part of any Morocco itinerary!) and don’t know what you will need? After a few visits to various deserts around the world, I am comfortable putting together a solid desert trip packing list for you.
Whether you plan a road trip through the Atacama desert, spend a weekend at Joshua Tree National Park or go on a camel trek to the Sahara desert – this list has you covered!
Important things that belong on any desert trip packing list
What you will need for your desert adventures will mainly depend on the time of year you are going and what kind of activities you have planned.
Driving in the desert
Driving in the desert is something you should not undertake alone. Driving over sand dunes is a skill and not to be taken lightly. When in doubt rather go with a tour guide or experienced driver.
If you prefer to drive yourself you will need a jeep and add some safety measures. Make sure to never drive alone and drive with two vehicles minimum, take walkie-talkies and a GPS (cellphone reception in most deserts is spotty at best and so is Google Maps), a first aid kit (for yourself and your car), and plenty of water.
Sun protection
Regardless of what time of the year you are heading into the desert, you will need sun protection as there won’t be much shade. At the very least you should have:
- A hat with a wide brim (or scarf if you are heading into the Moroccan Sahara)
- Sun lotion and lip balm with at least SPF 30 – I like the one from Aesop & face sticks from Shiseido
- Sunglasses
- Long pants & a top with long sleeves
Depending on your activities this can be loose-fitting cotton clothes or something more practical like hiking pants or leggings. The latter are a better choice if you are going desert hiking, sandboarding, or planning to ride a camel.
Staying a night in the desert
If you are planning to stay in the desert you may need to bring some extra layers as it gets cold at night. Depending on the season it might be actually freezing.
Check beforehand what your accommodation will be like – there are many luxury desert camps these days that provide you with proper beds, duvets, and a fireplace at night. Sometimes though, camping in the desert will be a bit more rustic. If that is the case, make sure to pack:
- A sleeping bag or liner depending on the season.
- Some more long-sleeved shirts that you can change into after a desert hike.
- Warm clothes like a hoodie and some cozy sweatpants to sleep in.
Another good idea when camping in the desert is a day pack with insect repellents, flip flops or good old Birkenstocks (beware of hot sand!), hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and eyedrops. These are especially essential if you wear contact lenses like me.
And if you can’t live without shiny hair, dry shampoo will become your best friend in the desert!
Water
It doesn’t matter how long you stay or what you do in the desert, water is your best friend. You may need a gallon of water but you are probably better off taking a refillable water bottle. Chances are there is a water source that you can use to refill your own bottle.
If you are unsure if the water is drinkable get a bottle from Grayl that you can use to filter and purify water before drinking.
Electronics & Camera gear
You probably won’t have much space so the right gear is essential when planning a trip in the desert. Unless you are staying at a very fancy camp taking a power bank to recharge your phone is a great idea.
Make sure that your camera batteries are fully charged and take all the lenses that you may need. Chances are you may want to take pictures of the night sky and with that, a tripod is an essential item that belongs on your desert trip packing list. If you don’t want to carry a big one, a small Gorilla tripod for your phone is a great option for the desert.
Have you been to the desert? What is on your desert trip packing list?
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