Azawad Luxury Desert Camp

Our stay in Azawad Luxury Camp, among the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga, felt both comfortable and very much connected to the Sahara. The tents were roomy, spotless, and fitted with good beds and private bathrooms. Staff were welcoming and attentive throughout. Traditional Moroccan meals were delicious, and we loved watching the sunsets and hearing Berber music under the stars. It made for a memorable night, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a mix of comfort and an authentic desert atmosphere.

Stepping straight from the camp onto the dunes was lovely, and arriving as the sun went down felt almost unreal. The sky stayed clear at night, with stars everywhere. For somewhere in the desert, Azawad Luxury Camp had everything we wanted: an ensuite bathroom, air conditioning, and thoughtful extras. The team worked hard to make our stay memorable. After dark the place looked completely different, glowing under warm lights while live music played. We booked two nights at the desert camps and two at the riad, and were glad we did. Such a little slice of paradise, definitely worth a night.

The camp had a few organizational problems, even though the hotel in Merzouga itself was good enough for us to give it five stars. Staff were generally fine, but responses and arrangements could be slow. We also waited half an hour for our luggage because of a mix-up. The sunset dromedary ride was okay, but we had to ask the guide to stop at a dune so we could actually watch the sunset. Erg Chebbi is beautiful and deserves more care in how the experience is run.

This didn't feel worth the price. There was no drinking water in the tent, and they should have provided some for us to take back. Dinner was good, but the tent's air conditioner didn't work when it was 42 degrees Celsius, or 104 Fahrenheit. After spending much of the day in desert heat, you want to come back to a cooled room. None of the rooms had been cooled down, and the tent was so hot that even the sheets and sink felt warm. Breakfast was basically gone when I arrived at 6:45 a.m. The bread was there, but a large group had eaten and taken everything else. I mean no food at all, not even coffee or juice, and nobody was around in the kitchen or dining area to help. I spent a lot for a private tent and expected a nice evening, good food, and a decent start to the day. That didn't happen, and I can't call this a luxury camp. The entertainment could have started around 8:30, but it began very late and carried on until about 11:00 or 11:15. After that, people need to sleep before traveling, not listen to music.