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Standard vs Luxury vs Deluxe Desert Camps with A/C
Desert camps are not all the same. Here we explain the real differences between standard tents, luxury tents with private bathrooms and deluxe tents with air-conditioning, so travellers from New Zealand can choose the right comfort for their night in the Sahara.
Which tent should you choose?
Every guest shares the same core experience: the camel ride or 4×4 transfer, the Erg Chebbi dunes, a home-cooked dinner, breakfast and music around the fire. What changes is the comfort of your tent and bathroom.
Pick a standard tent for the authentic experience at a fair price if a shared bathroom is fine. Pick a luxury tent for your own bathroom with hot shower. Pick a deluxe tent with air-conditioning for the hot months – handy if you travel during the New Zealand winter holidays – or for maximum comfort.
- Backpackers and budget trips: standard tent
- Couples and families: luxury tent
- Summer visits and maximum comfort: deluxe tent with A/C
- Groups: mix tent types to suit everyone
What each tent offers
- Standard tent – Private Berber tent with real beds and blankets; clean shared toilets and showers.
- Luxury tent – Larger tent with double or twin beds and an ensuite bathroom with hot shower.
- Deluxe tent with A/C – Luxury comfort plus air-conditioning – perfect from June to September.
- Same food – Dinner and breakfast are the same for every guest, served in the restaurant tent.
- For every group – Tents for 1 to 5 guests; families and friends can stay together.
- Same location – All tents are in the dunes of Erg Chebbi, with sunset and sunrise views.
Standard vs Luxury vs Deluxe
Prices are per person per night, including dinner and breakfast. The prices of standard and luxury tents update automatically from our booking system.
| Standard | Luxury | Deluxe with A/C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom | Shared, clean | Private, inside the tent | Private, inside the tent |
| Hot shower | Yes (shared) | Yes (private) | Yes (private) |
| Beds | Real beds | Double or twin, quality linen | Double or twin, quality linen |
| Air-conditioning | No | No | Yes |
| Best season | October–May | October–May | All year, ideal June–September |
| Price | From €40 | From €70 | On request |
Standard camp: authentic and good value
Our standard camp is the classic Merzouga experience. Every tent is private, with proper beds, clean bedding, warm blankets and Berber carpets. Toilets and showers are shared and cleaned throughout the day. It is a great choice for backpackers, students and anyone who wants the real desert experience at a fair price.
Luxury and deluxe: comfort in the dunes
Luxury tents are larger, with double or twin beds, quality linen and a private bathroom with hot shower, sink and toilet. They are the favourite choice of couples, honeymooners and families. Deluxe tents add air-conditioning, which makes a big difference in summer, when the afternoons can be above 40 °C.
How to choose
- Visiting in July or August? Choose a deluxe tent with A/C
- Travelling as a couple? A luxury tent with private bathroom is ideal
- On a budget? The standard camp offers the same dunes and dinner
- Families: ask for a family tent for 3 to 5 people
- Groups can mix standard, luxury and deluxe tents
- Book early for October, November, Easter and Christmas
Frequently asked questions
No. Standard tents are private, but the toilets and showers are shared and cleaned throughout the day.
Luxury tents have a private bathroom but no air-conditioning. For A/C, choose a deluxe tent.
From June to September it makes afternoons and nights far more comfortable – that is the New Zealand winter, but high summer in the Sahara. From October to May you will not need it.
No. All guests enjoy the same dinner and breakfast and the same evening of music around the fire.
The price depends on the season and the number of guests. Send us your dates and we reply with the current price.
Our prices are in euros. You can usually pay by card and your bank converts the amount, or pay the balance in cash on arrival.
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