Best Time to Visit Sahara Desert

October to April

Months to avoid: June to August (40-48°C daytime temperatures, dangerous for dune hiking, most bivouac camps reduce operations)

Recommended stay: 3-5 days

Plan Sahara Desert for October to April. Give it 3-5 days. The window to avoid is June to August (40-48°C daytime temperatures, dangerous for dune hiking, most bivouac camps reduce operations).

What the season gets you

• Sunrise from the top of Erg Chebbi, a 40-minute dune climb in the dark that ends with the entire Sahara turning gold below you
• The drive from Ouarzazate through the Draa Valley is as much the destination as the dunes, kasbahs, palmeries, and dry riverbeds for 200km
• A night in a desert bivouac away from the main camp clusters, no generators, no phone signal, stars so dense the sky looks wrong