Grab your camel and go.
If you love sticking your toes in the sand, get your fix on a dune-bound Moroccan retreat. Departing from Merzouga, about 16 miles west of the Algerian border, you’ll don a turban (a must for when the wind kicks up sand), mount a snorting camel, and follow experienced guides into the Chebbi desert. Though there’s plenty of padding, no combination of cushions will disguise the fact that your rolling perch is an ungulate’s hump. However, as the town gives way to massive dunes spanning endlessly in every direction, you’ll soon forget about your bumpy ride. A colorful goat-hair-tented campsite marks the end of the two-hour trip, and after settling into rustic-but-cozy digs (a mattress and blanket are provided), join fellow trekkers for a traditional Moroccan meal served community style and storytelling around the campfire. Following dinner, pose for pictures with ornery camels, hike to the top of a dune to drink in the vast Sahara, and watch un-challenged constellations light up the night sky. Prices start at $66 per person.
—Anita K. Henry
