How cold does the Moroccan Sahara get at night in January?

In January, the Moroccan Sahara can drop to around 0–5°C at night, and occasionally below freezing, even though daytime temperatures are pleasant at 15–20°C. The desert loses heat fast after sunset because there’s no cloud or humidity to hold it, so winter nights are genuinely cold.

Desert camps provide thick blankets and the tents are insulated, but you should still pack warm layers: a fleece or down jacket, a hat, warm socks and thermal base layers for sleeping. The couple of hours around dawn, when you rise for sunrise, are the coldest.

The upside is that winter days are ideal for camel trekking without the summer heat, and the night skies are crystal clear. Just treat it like a cold-weather trip after dark, and you’ll be perfectly comfortable.