You’ve decided to visit Morocco and you absolutely want to experience the Sahara Desert at least once. Excellent choice!

Our very first thought after deciding on Morocco was that we needed to spend at least 3–4 days in the desert, to really soak it in, feel it in every fiber, and experience the Sahara properly, not just rush through it.

That’s why we chose to stay three nights at Arawan Luxury Desert Camp, in the Erg Lihoudi desert. And honestly, we couldn’t have picked a better place to stay in the Moroccan desert.

If you’re wondering what you can do in the Sahara Desert with kids, this experience pretty much covered everything. 🙂

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1. Where We Stayed in the Desert: Arawan Luxury Desert Camp
2. Erg Lihoudi Desert Safari
3. Desert Picnic Among Acacia Trees and Campfire Moments
4. Tajine Cooking Class: A Traditional Moroccan Experience
5. Camel Ride Through the Dunes at Sunset
6. Sandboarding in the Desert: The Kids’ Favorite Activity
7. Campfire Evenings and a Sky Full of Stars in the Sahara
8. Other Articles in the “Morocco with Kids” Series
9. Conclusion

Where We Stayed in the Desert: Arawan Luxury Desert Camp

Arawan Luxury Desert Camp is a traditional camp located in the Erg Lihoudi desert, in southern Morocco. We’ve already written a separate article about it (which you can find here), so here’s the short version of why it’s worth staying here. If you’re looking for a traditional desert camp where you can truly feel the Amazigh spirit, be surrounded by dunes instead of ATVs, and wake up to the sunrise instead of jeep engines, this is it.

Even better, it’s located right in the middle of the Erg Lihoudi desert, with no other camps nearby. That meant we could let the kids run freely on the dunes without constantly worrying if they were okay, lost, or about to be run over by a jeep.

If you’re a parent, you know exactly how valuable that kind of peace of mind is.

Erg Lihoudi Desert Safari

Salem, the owner of Arawan Camp, made it his mission to show us what the desert really means. So he organized a series of incredibly fun and meaningful activities for us. Out of all of them, the desert safari was probably the highlight.

It was our first safari ever — and not just any safari. We kicked off the adventure perched on top of Salem’s jeep. The kids were absolutely thrilled, but honestly, so were we.

After a long and bumpy ride through the desert, we reached a herd of wild camels. We stopped to watch and photograph them, but they weren’t exactly in the mood for cuddles, no matter how much the kids hoped otherwise. Still, no hard feelings. Riding on top of a jeep through the desert makes you forget everything else.

After many camels and many miles, we spotted an ostrich. Apparently, Salem knows it, so it’s somewhat used to people. So used, in fact, that when Mihai offered it a piece of flatbread, it almost took his hand along with it. Let’s just say that cured him of wanting to pet wild animals. :))

Desert Picnic Among Acacia Trees and Campfire Moments

At one point, we stopped in a small acacia grove for something truly special: a picnic in the middle of the desert. Our Berber friends prepared a fire, grilled skewers, made “Moroccan whisky” (aka green tea), and put together a meal that was not only delicious but incredibly photogenic.

Meanwhile, we kept a safe distance from the ostrich, took Indiana Jones-style photos on top of the jeep, sipped tea, and relaxed by the fire.

It wasn’t anything extravagant—but that’s exactly what made it memorable: silence, simple food, and endless desert views. These are the kinds of places we love discovering and sharing.

Tajine Cooking Class: A Traditional Moroccan Experience

Another surprise from Salem was a traditional Moroccan cooking class. And what’s more traditional than tajine?

We chopped and grated vegetables, seasoned the meat, shaped meatballs, and carefully arranged everything in clay pots before placing them over the fire.

Salem guided us step by step and shared a bit of history too. Tajine is an ancient Moroccan dish, cooked for centuries by Amazigh nomadic families. The name comes from the clay pot it’s prepared in — a vessel with a conic lid designed to circulate steam and keep the food tender and flavorful, even when cooked slowly over a low fire in the desert.

Fun fact: tajine is cooked very slowly, essentially steamed, and can take up to 4 hours. But at Arawan, that’s not a problem, when you have a huge sandy playground for the kids.

The kids were fully involved and loved it. Alex made the vegetable tajine, while Mihai handled the meat version. It even brought back memories from Albania, where we had a similar cooking experience.

If you’re curious, the classic tajine is surprisingly simple: vegetables (potatoes, carrots, onions, tomatoes), meat (chicken or beef), spices (cumin, turmeric, ginger), a bit of olive oil, and water. Everything is layered in the pot and left to cook slowly, without stirring. It basically does its own magic.

And that’s exactly what we loved most—the slow pace, completely opposite to the usual “let’s eat quickly and move on”.

Camel Ride Through the Dunes at Sunset

We couldn’t leave without a camel ride! It was one of the main reasons we came in the first place. Even though Arawan is quite isolated, Salem has Berber friends who brought their own camels and took us on a tour of the surrounding dunes.

It was a gentle, swaying ride, just enough “wow” for a first desert experience. You feel part explorer, part tourist, part movie character, especially when you see the long shadows of the camels stretching across the sand at sunset.

Camel rides perfectly complement the relaxed desert vibe. But they’re not what makes the experience truly special. What really matters is the time you spend there, the pause, the stillness, the feeling of breathing in the desert and letting the silence sink in.

Experiences like this in the Sahara, especially with kids, are hard to replicate anywhere else.

Sandboarding in the Desert: The Kids’ Favorite Activity

Even though it wasn’t an “organized” activity, it quickly became a family favorite. We had access to a sandboard all the time, so naturally, we used it all day long. Of course, there were a few arguments (one board, two kids—classic), but we got past that quickly.

Sandboarding is similar to snowboarding, but not quite. The board doesn’t glide as fast on sand, which actually makes it easier for beginners.

You don’t need boots, gloves, or winter gear. But you might be picking sand out of your ears (and other places…) for the next two weeks. :)) Still, the unanimous verdict: totally worth it.

Campfire Evenings and a Sky Full of Stars in the Sahara

At night, we brought out the telescope and managed to see the Moon’s craters in incredible detail, along with Orion’s Belt and nebula, Sirius, Jupiter with its four moons, and the Pleiades. In the desert, far from light pollution, the sky really does look different.

When it got cold, we gathered around the campfire, listened to traditional Amazigh music, clapped along, and eventually even did a cultural exchange! We sang a few Romanian folk songs too. It was one of those authentic desert experiences you don’t forget.

If you plan to go in the desert, here are a few practical tips:

• bring warm clothes for the evening (temperature drops are significant)
• don’t underestimate how dark it gets without artificial light
• if you’re traveling with kids, this will likely be their favorite part

Other Articles in the “Morocco with Kids” Series

👉 Our full one-month itinerary through mountains, desert and cities (coming soon)

👉Our campervan road trip and why it was the best decision (link here)

👉 Three dreamy nights in the Sahara, at Arawan Luxury Desert Camp (link here)

Conclusion

Three days in the desert felt just right. Not like a quick stop, but a complete experience. You don’t just visit the Sahara, you start to understand life there: simpler, slower, but somehow fuller.

Arawan isn’t about ticking activities off a list, even though there are plenty. It’s about how everything comes together: the silence, the dunes, the people, the food, the cold evenings, and the absurdly star-filled sky. And the kids, who — without screens or rush — find their own ways to play in the sand for hours.

If you’re looking for ATVs, loud music, and crowds, this isn’t the place. But if you want to experience the Sahara as it truly is, then yes, this is exactly where you should be.

If you enjoyed this article, feel free to share it or follow along for more.
And if you have a place or experience that fits our style, we’d love to hear from you. We believe in collaborations that come naturally, from real, lived stories.

Happy exploring!