--- title: Private Photography Tour in Merzouga: Dunes, Night Sky & Nomads url: https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/private-photography-tour/ description: A private photography tour around Erg Chebbi timed for the best light: golden-hour dunes, camel caravans, the night sky and respectful portraits of nomad life. --- # Private Photography Tour of Erg Chebbi Golden hour, the Milky Way and the dunes at their best light. - Duration: 2 days, 1 night (or longer) - Starts: Merzouga - Ends: Merzouga - Best for: Photographers and content creators ## In short A private 2-day photography tour of Erg Chebbi from Merzouga (longer on request): afternoon scouting by 4x4, a camel caravan session at sunset, night photography of the Milky Way away from the camp lights, sunrise on a high dune and portraits with a nomad family. With a local guide who knows where the light falls. - **Duration:** 2 days, 1 night (or longer) - **Route:** In and around Merzouga - **Price:** Price on request - **Run by:** Merzouga Online, a local team in Merzouga ## Overview The dunes change every hour. This private tour puts you in the right place at the right time: the long shadows after sunrise, a camel caravan crossing a ridge at golden hour, the Milky Way rising over a quiet corner of the desert away from camp lights. Your guide knows where the light falls and how to approach nomad families respectfully for portraits. We plan the timing around the moon phase and your gear. ## Highlights - Sunrise and sunset at the best dunes for the light - A camel caravan on the ridge for your photos - Night sky away from camp lights - Respectful portraits of nomad life - Timed around the moon phase ## How it works ### Day 1: Golden hour and night sky Afternoon scouting by 4x4, a camel caravan session at sunset, dinner at camp, then night photography away from the lights. ### Day 2: Sunrise and nomads Sunrise on a high dune, breakfast, then a visit to a nomad family and Khamlia. Back to Merzouga by midday. ## Included - Private guide and 4x4 - Camel caravan for photos - Night at camp - Dinner and breakfast ## Not included - Photography equipment - Tips and payment for portrait sessions ## Built around the light On a normal tour, the timing follows the group. On this tour, it follows the light. Your guide plans every hour around golden hour, blue hour and the darkest part of the night, and takes you to the dunes, ridges and viewpoints that look their best at that moment. If the light is good, we stay. If a crest needs another ten minutes, we wait. It's a private tour for one photographer or a small group, with a 4x4, a driver-guide and camels available for the shots you want. Our guide isn't a professional photographer, but he knows the dunes, the light and the camels, and he'll help you get the shot you have in mind. ## The shots this tour is designed for - A camel caravan silhouetted on a crest at sunset, with a handler leading the line - Long shadows and sharp ridgelines in the last and first hour of light - Abstract patterns: ripples, wind lines and the curves of the dunes - The Milky Way over the dunes and the camp, far from any light pollution - Sunrise from one of the highest dunes of Erg Chebbi - Environmental portraits of a nomad family and of our camel men, with their consent ## Day 1: scouting, sunset and the night sky We pick you up in Merzouga in the early afternoon and scout by 4x4 along the edge of the dunes, looking at the light and the wind to choose the best spots for the evening. Two hours before sunset, the camels and their handlers meet you at the chosen place for the caravan session. You direct the scene: where they walk, how often, which crest. After sunset you move to the camp for dinner, then head out into the dark with your guide for night photography. Away from the camp lights, on a moonless night, the sky over Erg Chebbi is one of the darkest you'll find in North Africa. ## Day 2: sunrise and portraits An early start to climb a high dune in the dark and set up before sunrise. As the light comes, the whole sand sea turns from blue to pink to gold, and the shadows are at their longest. After breakfast, you visit a nomad family for tea and, with their agreement, portraits in their tent and with their animals. Then a short visit to Khamlia and its Gnawa musicians, whose white clothes and colourful hats make strong pictures, before returning to Merzouga around midday. ## Planning around the moon and the season For Milky Way shots, choose dates within a few days of the new moon. The bright core of the Milky Way is visible in the evening from roughly March to October; in winter the sky is just as dark but the core is not up at night. For dune shots with a moon, a few days after the first quarter gives soft moonlight on the sand after sunset. Spring and autumn give you comfortable temperatures day and night. Winter has the clearest air and the coldest nights. Summer has long evenings and warm nights for star photography, but very hot middays, so we rest in the middle of the day. ## Gear and sand Fine sand is the photographer's enemy. Bring a rain cover or a plastic bag for your camera, change lenses inside the vehicle or the tent, and carry a blower and microfibre cloths. A sturdy tripod with wide feet works better on sand. Spare batteries are essential, as cold nights drain them fast; you can charge at camp. A wide lens (14 to 24 mm) for the night sky and the vast dunes, a standard zoom, and a telephoto (70 to 200 mm or more) for caravans and compressed dune layers cover almost everything. Phones do well too, especially with a small tripod for the night. ## Extend it to three days or more Two days gives you one sunset, one night and one sunrise. If photography is the main purpose of your trip, three or four days give you more chances at the perfect light, a second night sky in case of cloud or wind, and time to explore further: the black volcanic hills around the dunes, the oasis of Merzouga, the ksar of Rissani and the old mines near Mifis. We can also combine the photography days with a multi-day tour from Marrakech or Fes, with stops planned around golden hour at Aït Benhaddou, Skoura and the gorges. ## A sample shooting timetable (spring) - 14:00 Pick-up in Merzouga, scouting along the dunes by 4x4 - 17:00 Set up on the chosen ridge, test shots - 18:00 to 19:15 Camel caravan session through golden hour and sunset - 19:15 to 19:45 Blue hour over the dunes - 20:30 Dinner at camp - 21:30 to 00:30 Night photography: Milky Way, star trails, the camp under the stars - 05:30 Climb to a high dune in the dark - 06:30 to 07:30 Sunrise and first light - 09:00 Breakfast, then the nomad family and Khamlia - 12:00 Back in Merzouga Times move with the season and are adjusted to the sun and moon on your dates. ## Working with the camels and handlers The caravan session is the highlight for most photographers. Our camel men will walk the line of camels along the crest you choose, again and again, at the pace you want, with or without riders. They know how to keep the line tight, stop at the right moment and stay out of the shot when needed. Please remember they're working animals and people, not props: we keep sessions within reasonable limits, give the camels breaks, and the handlers are paid for their time. A print sent to them afterwards is always appreciated. ## Night photography tips for Erg Chebbi The darkest sky is away from the camp lights, so we walk or drive a few minutes into the dunes. Use a sturdy tripod, a wide lens at its widest aperture, and exposures of 15 to 25 seconds at a high ISO for the Milky Way; longer exposures and stacking for star trails. Light painting the dunes or a tent with a dim torch can add foreground, and your guide can hold a light where you need it. Bring a red head torch so you don't spoil everyone's night vision, warm clothes even in summer, and spare batteries in an inside pocket to keep them warm. ## Before you book Tell us your dates, the kind of images you want, your gear and your experience, and whether you're shooting for yourself or for a client. We'll check the sunrise, sunset and moon times for your dates, suggest the best number of days, and prepare the camels and handlers for the caravan session. If the weather looks poor for your dates, we'll tell you honestly and help you choose others if you can. ## What to bring - Tripod for night shots - Spare batteries (cold nights drain them) - Lens cloth and a bag against sand ## Good to know - The darkest skies are around the new moon. - Drones need special permission in Morocco. ## Best time to go We run private trips all year and shape the route around the season: mountains and gorges in spring and autumn, more time in the desert in winter, and early starts with long shady lunches in summer. [Live weather & month guide ](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/#plan) ## Photos The sky after the fire dies down Erg Chebbi, late afternoon Resting before the ride ## Questions about this tour **Do I need professional gear?** No. A phone with a night mode works well too. **Can we extend it?** Yes, three or four days lets you shoot the gorges as well. **Can I fly a drone?** Drones are restricted in Morocco and may be confiscated at customs. Ask us before you travel. **Can I photograph people?** Yes, with their consent. Your guide asks for you and explains. Nomad families and musicians usually appreciate a small payment or a print sent later. **Can I use a drone?** Drones need special authorisation in Morocco and are often confiscated at customs. Please don't plan on flying one. **Can I bring a model or do a commercial shoot?** Yes. Tell us what you're planning; commercial shoots may need extra arrangements and we'll help you organise them. **Do you have a 4x4 for the whole tour?** Yes, a private 4x4 with a driver-guide for both days, plus camels and handlers for the caravan session. **What's the best time of year for photography?** Spring and autumn for comfortable temperatures and clean light, winter for the clearest air, March to October for the Milky Way core. Avoid full-moon dates if stars are your priority. **Is the tour suitable for beginners?** Yes. You don't need to be a professional; the tour simply puts you in the right place at the right time. Phones and compact cameras are welcome. **Can a non-photographer partner come along?** Of course. They can ride the camels in the caravan shots, relax at camp, or join a nomad visit while you shoot. **What if it's windy or cloudy?** Wind lifts sand and can make dramatic pictures, but we protect gear and adjust the plan. With an extra day you have a second chance at the light. **Is the night at camp in a luxury tent?** You choose: a standard Berber tent or a luxury tent with a private bathroom and sockets, which many photographers prefer for charging batteries. [More answers on our FAQ page ](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/faq/) ## Ready when you are Send us your dates and how many you are. We reply with availability and one clear price, usually within a few hours. **Price on request** One clear quote, usually within hours ## Book or ask a question Your request comes to us by email. We reply with availability and a clear price. Prefer to chat? [Ask about this tour on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/212679216663) ## You might also like About 3 hours ### [Sunrise Camel Trek to the Highest Dune](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/sunrise-camel-trek/) **Price on request** One clear quote, usually within hours 2 nights, 3 days ### [Two Nights in the Sahara](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/two-nights-in-the-sahara/) **Price on request** One clear quote, usually within hours Any length ### [Custom Private Tour](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/custom-private-tour/) **Price on request** One clear quote, usually within hours [All private & custom ](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/private-morocco-tours/)