I went glamping in the Sahara Desert. I thought I'd hate it, but even the freezing temperatures didn't get me down.

21.06.2024 - 21:13 / insider.com

I don't require five-star accommodations to be comfortable, but I have spent most of my adult life avoiding camping, convinced I would hate it.

When I travel, I like having hot showers, reliable electricity, and a warm place to sleep at night. Those basics aren't a guarantee with camping, but they do often come with glamping.

Glamping varies widely but generally consists of accommodations and facilities more luxurious than a basic tent. Sometimes, it also involves sleeping in a yurt, cabin, or unique structure — after all, the glamping industry is booming in the US amid the rising demand for unique travel experiences.

So when I booked a group tour to Morocco with my two kids that included overnight camping in the Sahara Desert, I was down to give it a try.

I paid $4,256 for the three of us for the entire group tour, which included accommodations, a sunset camel ride into the dunes, dinner, and breakfast during the two days in the Sahara Desert.

When I signed up for the trip, I naively assumed a desert in North Africa would be comfortable in December.

Only later while frantically searching what I would need to camp in the Sahara did I learn its temperatures in the winter could fall to 25 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

I started to panic. The tent I was staying in did not have heat. I rush-ordered a merino wool base layer and hoped for the best.

I read reviews past travelers left saying that even though the camp I was staying in had showers, I could forget about using them because it would be far too cold.

At the last minute, I packed a few baby wipes so I could give myself a sponge bath in the desert if needed. I was no longer convinced this would be a very glam experience, but it was too late to change my plans.

My camp in the Sahara — El Borj, located in Erg Chebbi — was anything but basic. Improbably, it had a cozy, home-like feel.

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Throughout the campsite, beautiful Moroccan rugs were carefully arranged over the sand. Each structure had pops of color on its exterior, too.

The camp had a welcoming walkway lined with solar-powered lights, which was great at night.

My tent was huge. Much to my relief, it was also insulated.

The camp had electricity, although I had been warned that the power source was unreliable and could fail at any moment.

A day in the desert was just as magical as I had hoped.

I vowed that riding a camel into the sunset, watching the sun disappear over the vast desert, and sliding down enormous sand dunes would not be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

At night, I bundled up and enjoyed a feast with roasted olives, traditional Moroccan tagine, couscous, and fresh fruit sprinkled with cinnamon.

As the temperature dropped, I huddled by the fire and stared in awe at the