The gates of the desert

Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).

In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.

It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.

ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.

• "Calinette" type moistened wipes for quick cleansing and maintaining good hygiene
  
• Earplugs or Hears, your choice
  
• Notepad and pen, a good book, a deck of cards...
  
• A small pillow, inflatable or not, for added comfort
  
• A laundry bag, so you can separate your dirty clothes from your clean clothes in your main bag.
  
• Sleeping bag: comfortable, adapted to your size, rather mummy-shaped (closer to the body and with a hood that closes) with a side zip closure for opening at your convenience.
  
  It is necessary to adapt your sleeping bag to the temperatures encountered, determined according to your travel dates and the region visited. We advise you to choose a sleeping bag that is comfortable at 10°C below the lowest average temperature encountered (for example, if you are traveling in the Moroccan desert, in the Ouarzazate region in January (see temperature chart), you need a sleeping bag that is comfortable at: 2 - 10 = -8°C).
  
  A sleeping bag that's comfortable at -10°C will also be comfortable at 0 or 10°C; simply open it to allow air to circulate inside. Conversely, if you already have a sleeping bag that's comfortable at 0°C, for example, a fleece sleeping bag liner will make it about 5 or 6 degrees warmer.
  
• Cotton sleeping bag liner
  
• Toiletry bag and towel
  
• Small personal pharmacy
  
• Sunscreen cream and stick (face and lips)
  
• Headlamp with spare batteries and bulbs
  
• A 1.5-liter (minimum) water bottle, lightweight and insulated, or a 2-liter hydration bladder. The latter has the advantage of allowing direct drinking thanks to its drinking spout, thus avoiding having to take off your backpack to grab your bottle. This way you drink more regularly, and in small amounts, which is recommended for proper hydration. Tip: having two containers allows you to drink from one while the other is being processed.
  
• A multi-purpose pocket knife is preferable (note: it must be packed in your checked luggage!).
  
• Toilet paper + lighter for destruction
  

Clothing, from head to toe:

• Low-cut hiking boots (with rigid soles): these are perfectly adequate and you'll be more comfortable than in heavy, warm, high-top boots, but their drawback is that sand tends to accumulate. You might prefer walking sandals to avoid this problem, but beware of the abrasive friction from the sand (again!). Tip: while not the most stylish option, you can wear socks in walking sandals, thus solving both problems!
  
• Tennis shoes or sandals: whatever your trip, they are very comfortable to slip on during stops in towns, villages or in the evening at the campsite, but they must be taken in addition to the shoes mentioned above.
  
• Socks: light for the day and warm (wool or looped) for the evening.
  
• Canvas trousers and Bermuda shorts (avoid shorts or skirts).
  
• Swimsuit (pool, river, sea or hammam, you never know!)
  
• On your skin: it's your first line of defense, so take care of it. Cotton is very well suited to the desert.
  
• Shirts or T-shirts
  
• Warm sweater or fleece: the latter has the advantage of being durable, warm, lightweight, and quick-drying, with the added benefit of being soft to the touch. The best-known fibers are Polartec, Carline, and Ulfrotté.
  
• Rain cape or Kway in case of rain and/or wind.
  
• A hat or cap with neck protection, and/or a shemagh: the first two offer the advantage of also protecting your face from the sun, which the shemagh (long voile scarf) does not. However, the shemagh is very useful for protecting yourself from the cold, the heat, the sand, and the wind. You will be able to purchase one upon arrival if you wish. Be aware that you may not find them everywhere during your tour.
  
• Category 3 sunglasses
  

For the coldest evenings in the heart of winter (December, January and February), you will also need:

• Warm and windproof jacket: down or Gore-Tex jacket. The most effective jackets against wind and rain are made of Gore-Tex or Micropore, "breathable" materials that allow for rapid wicking of perspiration while maintaining perfect insulation.
  
• Cap
  
• Gloves