What to Wear for a Camel Ride in Marrakech: Packing List and Dress Code Tips

One of the girls in our group showed up in sandals and a sundress, looking great honestly, but by the end of the hour she was not having a good time. Sunburned shins, sand everywhere, and her shoes basically ruined. The rest of us had read a packing list beforehand and were completely fine. Marrakech Camel Ride activities really aren’t difficult to prepare for, but what you wear genuinely changes how much you enjoy the hour, and we learned that the hard way watching someone else learn it.

So here’s the actual list, the stuff that matters and why, based on what worked for most of us and what clearly didn’t for the one person who skipped it.

Long Pants and Closed Shoes, Non-Negotiable

Long trousers first. The saddle isn’t padded the way you’d hope, and after even thirty minutes, bare legs against it gets uncomfortable. Doesn’t need to be anything special; just full length, light material is fine for the heat.

Closed shoes are the other big one. The ground out there is rocky and uneven, occasionally with small thorny plants depending on where you’re riding. Sandals offer basically zero protection, and your feet are sitting in stirrups that aren’t designed for open footwear anyway. Trainers, hiking shoes, or anything closed-toe with a decent sole works fine.

Neither of these is about looking a certain way; it’s just genuinely more comfortable, and the difference becomes obvious pretty quickly once you’re actually up there.

Sun Stuff, Hat, Sunscreen, Sunglasses

The sun out in the desert is stronger than it feels in the city, even on days that don’t seem that hot. A hat makes a real difference, a wide brim if you’ve got one, a baseball cap if that’s what you’ve got; either is better than nothing.

Sunscreen, properly applied before you start, not just a quick swipe, is essential. Shoulders, neck, the backs of hands, or anywhere that’ll be exposed for the full hour. Reapplying partway through isn’t really practical once you’re riding, so getting it right before you start matters more here than on a normal beach day.

Sunglasses too, partly for the sun itself but also just generally useful with dust kicking up occasionally. A cheap pair is fine; just bring something.

If You’re Doing a Sunset Ride, Bring a Layer

This one catches people off guard a lot. During the ride itself, especially if it’s late afternoon, it’s warm, sometimes properly hot. But once the sun actually goes down, the temperature drops fast, faster than most people expect.

If your ride includes anything after sunset, dinner, tea, or sitting around at camp, bring a light jacket or something you can throw on. You probably won’t need it during the ride itself, but you’ll be glad to have it for afterward. We saw a few people who’d dressed only for daytime heat shivering by the time it got dark, easily avoided with one extra layer packed.

What Not to Wear, Learned From Watching Someone Else

Sandals, flip-flops, anything open-toed—just don’t. Already covered why, but worth repeating since it’s the one thing that seems to trip people up most.

Tight clothing is the other one. You’re sitting in a position for an extended period, and anything restrictive gets uncomfortable fast. Loose, breathable clothes work much better than anything fitted, both for comfort and honestly for temperature too.

And maybe obvious, but anything you’d be upset about would get dusty. It’s not filthy out there, but a fine layer of dust on clothes and shoes by the end is pretty normal. Nothing you’re precious about is the general rule.

Protecting Your Phone and Camera

Dust is the main enemy here, not so much for you but for your electronics. A zip pocket or a small bag that closes properly is worth having, rather than just loose in an open pocket or hanging around your neck the whole time.

That said, don’t keep everything zipped away the entire time either; the photos from this are genuinely worth getting. Just take it out for the shots you want, then put it back away rather than holding it the whole ride. We found alternating worked well: a few minutes of photos at good spots, then tucked away again while riding.

If you’ve got a case or cover for your phone, even better, but honestly just keeping it protected when not actively using it covers most of the risk.

Comfort Really Does Change the Whole Thing

None of this is complicated, and most of it is stuff people already have in their suitcase anyway; it’s just about actually wearing the right combination on the day rather than whatever feels easiest to grab.

The difference between being comfortable and not comfortable for that hour is honestly the difference between really enjoying it and just getting through it. Our friend in the sandals still had a good time overall; she’s not the type to let small stuff ruin a day, but she’d be the first to say she’d dress differently if she did it again.

Before you head out, it’s worth a quick check against the full Camel ride Marrakech Morocco preparation guide just to make sure you’re not missing anything specific to whichever package or timing you’ve booked. But honestly, get the basics right: proper shoes, long pants, sun protection, and a layer for later if needed, and you’re set for a genuinely comfortable hour out there.