We are sitting around the campfire. Berbers are playing the drums. We are dancing around the fire, singing songs from our cultures and telling each other riddles about the desert.

Above us the milky way with its millions of stars.

Next to us the desert with its kilometers of endless dunes.

Among us the magic of the desert .

Ahead of us the new year of 2023.

Welcome to the world of Tatooine, the desert planet of Star Wars rebuilt in the desert of Erg Chebbi.

BYOND TRAVELING rating – ★★★★★

Tatooine Stars Camp was founded by Suzanna, a spanish woman, a statistician by profession but a nomad at heart. She built the camp beginning of 2020, right before covid hit, and reopened only in autumn 2022.

For whom?
For couples, honeymooners and families alike that are looking for a few days in the tranquility of the desert.

When to go?
The best time to visit the desert is in spring (March to April) and autumn (October to November) when temperatures are mild. In summer the sun is unbearably hot while in winter night-temperatures plummet to minus degrees. However, spending the new years eve in the desert can also be a magnificent experience. 

Location & Reachability ★★★★☆
Tatooine Stars Camp is located on the outskirts of the Erg Chebbi desert next to the city of Merzouga. Erg Chebbi is one of the biggest desert areas of the country reaching 22 km from North to South. The highest dune is 150 meters high. The camp can only be reached with a 4×4 vehicle. Moha, the camp manager, picked us up from a spot nearby the camp where we could also safely park our car. Reaching Merzouga is quite a journey, however, it is totally worth the 9 hours drive from Marrakesh. 

Amenities ★★★★★
The camp has 4 “domes” made out of wood instead of simple tents making it a more comfortable and private experience. When you’re looking for exclusivity, this is the place to go. All domes are fully equipped with a king size bed and a en suite bathroom. The dining area, a beautifully decorated lounging area with Moroccan details, is fully tented. A few chill out areas are distributed around the camp. 

Service ★★★★☆
The service is great. Suzanna and Moha are taking good care of the guests fulfilling all the requests. When the water boiler broke on our day of arrival the two of them did everything to fix it within a few hours. The staff were locals growing up in the middle of the dunes, hence gave us great insights into the life of the Berbers. 

Kitchen ★★★★★
Oh my god this food. The best we had in the whole of Morocco. Breakfast is continental while Dinner was a mix of Spanish and Moroccan cuisines. Everything we ate, from the Spanish antipasti to the Moroccan Kefta Tagine were absolutely delicious. The camp also serves Moroccan red and white wine.

Sustainability ★★★★☆
The camp is very luxurious and simultaneously truly eco-friendly lodge. The domes are fully incorporated into its environment. Unseen for visitors, the lodge has its own solar panels providing enough energy to run the camp mainly on renewable energy. The water boiler runs on wood instead of gas. This all has been done in love for the Moroccan desert. The only point of improvement: the plastic water bottles could be replaced.

Value for money ★★★★★
Tatooine Stars Camp is a hidden gem offering tranquility as well as stunning landscapes. The price per dome per night at the camp is around 150€ depending on the season (including half board). NYE is more expensive: rates are at 400€. However, this includes a special menu, additional celebrations at midnight including snacks and bubbles as well as some additional time around the fire. It’s not a cheap shot but totally worth it!

What we loved the most
Exclusivity – Due to the size of the camp (4 domes only!) our stay was very exclusive. It truly is an escape from the rush of the big city life.