Shine So Bright, Camping the Sahara

Welcome to my second Morocco post!  I try and keep it bright and shiny here on Sparkles and Shoes but I must tell you – I was pretty devastated that when I was in the Sahara Desert earlier this month while I was in the middle of shooting the stars my DSLR camera broke.  In order to get a clear picture you need to keep the lens open for at least 30 seconds, often more like 60 seconds, so there was no chance an iPhone photo was going to cut it.  Therefore, I got far fewer photos than I was planning on getting and I think the quality could have been better but for what I did get, take a look at my top three star photos.  But first, let me explain how I got to the Moroccan / Algerian border. 

When I read the itinerary of the group trip to Morocco I chose the extended version for the sole reason that we got to visit the dessert.  After driving nearly all day we arrived mid afternoon in the small town of M’Hamid, known to be the gate-way to the Sahara.  At this point I changed into my traditional caftan that I had purchased in Marrakech and the guide helped me wrap my extra long scarf into a turban to protect against the sands.  Then it was time for a two-hour camel ride (well, really more like a trek) to the highest dune in the region with a Bedouin camp set up at the base.  After each claiming a tent and dropping our bags we quickly enjoyed a cup of tea before climbing the dune to take in the sunset mid-sand storm. 

Then it was back down to the campsite for dinner, a round of drinking games, and then when it was dark we headed back up the dune and to the other side to eliminate all light so as best to see the stars.  It was magical.  I have never seen the milky way like that and to be honest, I kind of thought shooting stars were a joke, but I saw at least two. Take a look at the shots I got. 

After only a few hours sleep we were up again before dawn, leaving the camp from the opposite direction and hiking another dune so as to take in the sunrise.  It was quite chilly and even with long pants and a fleece I wish I had had another layer but it was worth it when the sun came up! 

Have you ever been to the Sahara?