Nomad Bivouac

The toilet and tent were clean, and I stayed one night. The booking price was €9, but the owner asked me for €10. That wasn’t a big deal on its own. Hassan offered to pick me up from the bus station. When I said I wanted to buy food for dinner, he refused and said they could cook at home. The price he quoted for an eggs tajine was more than double what I thought it should be. I told him I wanted to buy something from a shop and didn’t want to pay that much, but he wouldn’t let me. The tent was too cold at night in winter, with no heater. There was a lamp but no power socket in the tent, so whenever I needed to charge something I had to go to his storage room or the toilet. He kept trying to sell me services, like camel rides, ATVs or a desert trip. The prices seemed unreasonable to me. After I said I hadn’t come with lots of money to spend, his manner changed and he became very rude. The next morning I spent almost 15 minutes in the common area saying good morning, but he avoided talking to me or even looking at me. He seemed very rude. Breakfast was included, and he ate with me but barely spoke. He left as soon as he was nearly finished without saying anything. Why invite me to eat with him if he didn’t know how to behave? He seemed unhappy that I paid only €10. I’ve visited a few Middle Eastern countries, so camel riding and going into the desert weren’t new experiences for me. I chose this place because one of his friends recommended it, and I didn’t expect such bad treatment. Before I left, he asked me to walk to the bus station alone. I insisted he take me, since that had been the arrangement when I booked. Otherwise, I would have chosen another option. He dropped me about 300 meters from the station. I was fine with walking that distance, but I don’t understand why he couldn’t take me all the way there. My impression is that Hassan treats you well if you bring money and spend more at his place. After seeing how he treated me, I definitely wouldn’t do that. I understand he needs the business to survive, but with this treatment and no smile, I can’t recommend the place. I’ll avoid it for another 100 years.

Nomad bivouac is peaceful and quiet, a good place to rest, and I’d gladly return. Hassan and his family are genuinely welcoming people. Everything was well arranged, with hot water, comfortable rooms, and a very clean bathroom and toilet. I’d recommend it to everyone.

Hassan is a welcoming host and a true amazigh nomad. We had a comfortable night and the food was great. I definitely recommend taking the camels out to watch sunrise, it was unforgettable.

Hassan was an amazing host and made me feel like family throughout my stay. I arrived very early without giving notice, but he prepared a room for me without any problem. He also booked me an overnight trip to the dessert at a very good price. If you want the real deal in merzouga, this is the place to stay. 100% recommended!