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New Year's Eve in the Desert: Celebrate Under the Stars of the Sahara
A New Year's Eve in the Sahara from Marrakech costs between €350 and €650 per person in an all-inclusive package (29 December 2026 to 2 January 2027). Riad Vendôme coordinates New Year's Eve in a bivouac in Merzouga or Zagora: festive dinner under a nomad tent, Gnaoua music, campfire and sunrise over the dunes to start the new year.
In brief: New Year in the Sahara
- A New Year's Eve in the Moroccan Sahara from Marrakech costs between 350 and 650 euros per person all-inclusive, for the period 29 December 2026 to 2 January 2027.
- Riad Vendôme coordinates the bivouac night in Merzouga or Zagora: festive dinner under a nomad tent, Gnaoua music listed by UNESCO, campfire and sunrise over the dunes on 1 January.
- The Merzouga programme runs 6 days and 5 nights via the Tichka pass at 2,260 metres, Ait Benhaddou, the Dades valley and the Todra gorges, with December nights between 5 and 10 degrees.
- Direct booking / WhatsApp: +212 600 608 608
What if this year, your countdown happened with your feet in the sand, gazing up at the Milky Way? Forget packed restaurant halls and fireworks from a balcony. The Sahara offers the most beautiful show of all: an immense silence, a sky loaded with thousands of stars and a crackling campfire while Gnaoua drums mark the final seconds of the year. Riad Vendôme coordinates your New Year's Eve in the desert from Marrakech, all-inclusive from €350 per person. Merzouga or Zagora: two settings, one magic.
What Awaits You on the Night of 31 December
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In the late afternoon, you climb aboard a camel towards the bivouac set up in the heart of the dunes. The sun plunges behind the horizon in an explosion of orange and crimson. Around the campfire, mint tea is shared like a ritual. Then comes dinner: a generous Moroccan feast: slow-roasted mechoui, lamb tagine with prunes, royal couscous, fruit baskets and honey pastries. A group of Gnaoua musicians (traditional Moroccan music, UNESCO-listed) sets up their drums, the rhythms build, hypnotic. An oriental dancer enchants the guests in the flickering firelight. At midnight, look up: your fireworks are the stars of the Sahara. They've never been so close.
Merzouga or Zagora: which desert for your New Year's Eve?
| Package | Duration | Atmosphere | What Makes This Circuit Unique | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zagora & Chigaga | 5 days / 4 nights | Intimate & wild | The most isolated dunes in Morocco: alone in the world | 350 € |
| Merzouga & Erg Chebbi | 6 days / 5 nights | Grandiose & festive | The highest dunes in Morocco (150 m), a film set | 450 € |
| Grand Tour of the 2 deserts | 7 days / 6 nights | Epic & complete | Merzouga + Zagora + Djebel Saghro, two bivouacs, two atmospheres | 650 € |
Prices updated in October 2026. Festive-period rates, conditions apply. Please enquire.
(*) Price per person all included: stay at Riad Vendôme, transport, full board, bivouac, evening of the New Year's Eve with music and animations.
Your day-by-day programme (Merzouga - 6 days/5 nights)
29 December, Arrival in Marrakech. We pick you up from the airport. The riad welcomes you with mint tea on the rooftop and a first candlelit dinner in the patio. The adventure begins gently.
30 December, The grand departure. The road climbs towards the Tichka Pass at 2,260 metres. On the other side of the Atlas, the landscape changes dramatically: ochre earth, rammed-earth kasbahs, and the silhouette of Ait Benhaddou (UNESCO) emerging like a film set. Night in the Dades Valley.
31 December - The most beautiful day. Todra Gorges in morning, the palm grove road in the afternoon, and as the day ends, the first golden dunes of the Erg Chebbi. Camel ride to the bivouac. The celebration begins: sumptuous buffet under a Berber tent, Gnaoua music, drums, songs, oriental dancers, campfire. Midnight arrives before you know it.
1 January - The first morning of the year. The sun rises slowly over the dunes, painting the sand pink, orange, then gold. This suspended moment, you'll never forget it. Breakfast at the bivouac, then return to Marrakech.
2 January, a well-deserved rest. Day at the riad. Traditional hammam, argan oil massage, heated jacuzzi, because after the desert, your body deserves this gift. Strolling in the souks. Airport transfer.
What's Included in Each Package
Airport transfer, stay at Riad Vendôme with breakfasts, air-conditioned transport, full board during the circuit, bivouac with New Year's Eve entertainment (festive buffet, Gnaoua musicians (traditional Moroccan music, UNESCO-listed), campfire), camel rides, guided visits. Optional: 4×4 private, quad in the dunes, bivouac luxury, hammam on return.
Want to experience this New Year's Eve?
New Year's Eve bivouacs fill up from November. Contact Éric by WhatsApp at +212 600 608 608: he organises your tailor-made programme.
› Book your New Year's Eve | › Prefer the New Year's Eve at the riad?
What our travellers say
“An unforgettable experience. The camp under the stars, the Gnaoua music, the sunrise over the dunes… Éric organised every detail with great care. Highly recommended.”
“New Year's Eve in the Merzouga desert will remain our most beautiful travel memory. The meal was delicious, the atmosphere magical, and the silence of the Sahara at midnight… indescribable. Thank you Éric!”
“Zagora circuit as a couple, 3 days of pure happiness. The riad is sublime, the desert magnificent, and Éric an exceptional host. Unbeatable value for money. We'll be back for New Year's Eve!”
“We did the Grand Tour Merzouga + Zagora with our family (2 children). The kids loved the camels and the desert camp. The journey is long but the landscapes are breathtaking, and the riad is a real haven on our return.”
› Read all guest reviews | Rated 4.2/5 on Google and TripAdvisor
Around your New Year's Eve: the desert circuit FAQ answers the practical questions (vehicles, bivouacs, cold nights), a night in the Agafay desert works as a 45-minute escape before or after the Sahara, and the Jewish heritage itinerary can be added on the Marrakech days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a New Year's Eve in the Sahara desert cost?
All-inclusive packages range from €350 (Zagora 5 days/4 nights) to €650 (Grand Tour 7 days/6 nights). Everything is included: accommodation at Riad Vendôme, transport, meals, bivouac and the New Year's Eve evening with Gnaoua music.
Is it cold in the desert on New Year's Eve?
Late-December nights range between 5 and 10°C. Pack a warm jumper, a jacket and a hat. The campfire warms the evening and the camps provide thick blankets. During the day: 18-22°C.
Is New Year's Eve in the desert suitable for children?
Children love it: camels, desert camp, campfire, music. For families, the Zagora circuit (5 days) is ideal because it's shorter.
When do you need to book?
As early as possible. The camps on 31 December fill up early. Book at least 2 months in advance.
Can you customise the circuit?
Éric tailors each circuit: early departure, quad biking, sandboarding, luxury desert camp. Contact him via WhatsApp for a bespoke programme.
⭐ Google 4.2/5 (617 reviews) · ✈️ TripAdvisor 4.2/5 · 🎉 500+ events organised since 2013
The Riad Vendôme is classified by the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism.
› Explore our complete guide: Marrakech Travel Guide
Days needed, drive times, 4×4 or minibus, best season, nights in the bivouac, children, safety and booking: all the practical answers are on our desert circuit FAQ.
Can I book a last-minute New Year's Eve desert experience from Riad Vendôme?
Yes: Riad Vendôme arranges New Year's Eve desert experiences but recommends booking 3-4 weeks in advance for guaranteed availability (luxury desert camps sell out for 31 December). Last-minute (within 14 days) an Agafay NYE evening is sometimes possible, on quotation. For full Sahara NYE (Zagora or Merzouga overnight), book minimum 7-10 days in advance. Special NYE packages include Berber music, festive Moroccan dinner, midnight champagne toast in the dunes. WhatsApp Éric +212 600 608 608 for real-time availability.
What is the best value New Year's Eve desert package from Riad Vendôme?
The best value NYE desert package is the 2-day Zagora trip departing 30 December and returning 1 January, on quotation, all-in including private 4x4, luxury desert camp NYE dinner with Berber band, champagne toast at midnight under starlit sky, sunrise camel ride 1 January morning, return to Marrakech afternoon. Includes 1 night pre/post at Riad Vendôme. For couples seeking ultimate romance, upgrade to a private tent (on quotation). Compared to Marrakech palace NYE galas (300-€500/person without unique experience), Sahara NYE is unforgettable value.
Merzouga or Zagora: which desert should you choose, Erg Chebbi or erg Chegaga?
Merzouga and its Erg Chebbi are the postcard Sahara: dunes up to 150 m, orange at sunrise, but 560 km and 7 to 8 hours from Marrakech, so 3 days minimum. Zagora and the erg Chegaga (Chigaga) are closer, 360 km and 5 to 6 hours, and work in 2 days / 1 night; the Chegaga dunes are wilder and far less visited, but reaching them adds about 2 hours of 4×4 piste from M'hamid. Short trip: Zagora. Iconic dunes: Merzouga. Both: the 4-day Grand Tour. The full comparison is on our Merzouga vs Zagora page.
Where exactly is Riad Vendôme located in Marrakech?
Riad Vendôme is at 217 Derb El Halfaoui, in the Dar El Bacha district of the Marrakech medina. It is a 7-minute walk from Jemaa El-Fna square, close to the Koutoubia and the souks, so you reach the main sights on foot without needing a taxi. A member of staff meets you at the nearest vehicle drop-off point on arrival.
Can the whole riad be privatised, and for how many guests?
Yes, Riad Vendôme can be hired exclusively. The main riad has 12 rooms and goes up to 20 rooms with a partner riad 100 metres away, for exclusive hire of up to 50 guests. During an exclusive hire there are no other guests: the pool, hammam, jacuzzi and rooftop are reserved for your group alone.
Merzouga or Zagora: which desert for your New Year's Eve?
(*) Price per person all included: stay at Riad Vendôme, transport, full board, bivouac, evening of the New Year's Eve with music and animations.
Want to experience this New Year's Eve?
New Year's Eve bivouacs fill up from November. Contact Éric by WhatsApp at +212 600 608 608, he organises your tailor-made programme. › Book your New Year's Eve | › Prefer the New Year's Eve at the riad?