Why Christmas beats New Year's Eve (in our eyes)
December 31st is the most requested night of the year: full camps, big groups, party atmosphere — magnificent if that is what you are after, and our New Year's Eve page handles it. Christmas is its exact opposite: the desert in slow motion, half-empty camps, and a quality of silence the high season never knows. Same sky, same fire, half the people — and no surcharge anywhere, with us or in the village.
What a December 24th in the dunes looks like
- Afternoon — the track across Lake Iriqui in low winter light, the most photogenic of the year.
- 5:30 p.m. — early sunset: tea on the crest while the camp lights its lanterns.
- 7:30 p.m. — dinner by the fire; on request, the festive version with mechoui and pastries.
- 9 p.m. — the Christmas sky: Orion due south, the winter Milky Way, and silence as the main present.
- Morning of the 25th — sunrise over the erg, a long breakfast, nobody hurrying anybody.
The formats that suit it
All our tours run at Christmas at the usual displayed prices. Families mostly pick the 4-day grand tour (the car-free day lands on the 25th: the children have earned it); couples, the 2-day tour slipped between two stops of their Moroccan trip. To prepare for the evening cold, our packing list has a dedicated winter section.
Frequently asked questions
Is there anything special at the camp on Christmas Eve?
On request, yes: a fuller dinner, a longer fire, and the crew happily plays along with any surprises you bring (presents travel very well by 4x4). But let's be frank: the Christmas show here is the sky. December offers the purest nights of the year, and Orion above the tents beats any string of lights.
Is it too cold for children at Christmas?
No, with the equipment provided: expedition-grade sleeping bags, doubled blankets, hot-water bottles on request. Days are mild (18-22 °C) — perfect for the dunes — and the evening cold (3-8 °C) is managed with fire and wool. Children remember it as a feat, not an ordeal.
How far ahead should we book for Christmas?
Less than for New Year's Eve, which saturates by autumn. For the nights of 23-26 December, two to three weeks ahead is usually enough — unless you want a privatized camp, in which case write to us as soon as your dates are set.
