{"id":15058,"date":"2024-03-06T18:27:19","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T18:27:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/"},"modified":"2024-03-08T05:02:54","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T05:02:54","slug":"sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/","title":{"rendered":"Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: The magic of Merzouga"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n<p><\/p>\n<p>On my list of things to do at least once in my life, there has always been <strong>sleeping in the desert in Morocco<\/strong> and lying on the cold sand under the bright stars of the African sky. In January 2024, after spending a month in the small surfing village of Taghazout, I had the opportunity to make my wish come true by traveling to Merzouga, the gateway to the Moroccan part of the Sahara Desert, a vast sea of golden sand, characterized by undulating dunes that stand as monuments to nature&#8217;s grandeur.<\/p>\n<p>Do you also want to sleep in the desert in Morocco and<strong> have one of the most beautiful<\/strong> (and cold)<strong> experiences<\/strong> of your life? Then read on as I explain well how to plan your trip!<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_62 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">In questo articolo<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69fb6da3310f8\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69fb6da3310f8\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#Sleeping_in_the_desert_in_Morocco_How_do_I_get_to_Merzouga\" title=\"Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: How do I get to Merzouga?\">Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: How do I get to Merzouga?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#Day_1\" title=\"Day 1\">Day 1<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#Day_2\" title=\"Day 2\">Day 2<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#The_Dunes_of_Erg_Chebbi\" title=\"The Dunes of Erg Chebbi\">The Dunes of Erg Chebbi<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#What_is_it_like_to_spend_a_night_under_the_stars_in_the_desert\" title=\"What is it like to spend a night under the stars in the desert?\">What is it like to spend a night under the stars in the desert?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#Sleeping_in_the_desert_in_Morocco_How_do_I_dress\" title=\"Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: How do I dress?\">Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: How do I dress?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#Conclusion_What_are_the_pros_and_cons_of_the_Civitatis_guided_tour\" title=\"Conclusion: What are the pros and cons of the Civitatis guided tour?\">Conclusion: What are the pros and cons of the Civitatis guided tour?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#Pros_of_sleeping_in_the_desert_in_Morocco_with_Civitatis\" title=\"Pros of sleeping in the desert in Morocco with Civitatis  \">Pros of sleeping in the desert in Morocco with Civitatis  <\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#Against\" title=\"Against\">Against<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sleeping_in_the_desert_in_Morocco_How_do_I_get_to_Merzouga\"><\/span>Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: How do I get to Merzouga?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To get to the desert you have two possible choices: rent a car and drive from Marrakesh to Merzouga (they are about 9 hours apart), or book an organized tour. I will preface this by saying that I am not a fan of group tours because I like to go on adventures and mingle among the locals. However, I did not have many days left in Morocco and did not have the option of renting a car, so I opted for the Civitatis organized tour, and I must say it was a very interesting experience!<\/p>\n<div data-show-code-text=\"true\"> <\/div>\n\n<div style=\"text-align:center;\"><script>function loadScript(url, callback){var script=document.createElement('script'); script.type='text\/javascript'; if (script.readyState){script.onreadystatechange=function(){if (script.readyState=='loaded' || script.readyState=='complete'){script.onreadystatechange=null; callback();}};}else{script.onload=function(){callback();};}script.src=url; document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(script);}loadScript('https:\/\/www.civitatis.com\/f\/js\/vendor\/iframeResizer.min.js', function(){iFrameResize({checkOrigin:false,initCallback:function(iframe){setTimeout(function(){var resizeEvent = window.document.createEvent('UIEvents'); resizeEvent.initUIEvent('resize', true, false, window, 0); iframe.dispatchEvent(resizeEvent);});>})<\/script><iframe class=\"civitatis-iframe\" src=\"https:\/\/www.civitatis.com\/widget-activities\/?affiliated=12531&#038;display=cosy&#038;cant=1&#038;lang=it&#038;currency=EUR&#038;destination=6&#038;activities=4877&#038;transfer=0&#038;cmp=3_giorni_nel_deserto_di_Menzouga_&#038;width=100%&#038;hideButton=0&#038;centerContent=1&#038;typeSelection=manual&#038;color=f70759&#038;typography=Montserrat&#038;removeBackground=1&#038;showShadow=1&#038;roundedButtons=1\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" data-maxwidth=\"100%\" style=\"max-width: 100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>In case you <span style=\"letter-spacing: 0.05em; color: #444444;\">decide to rent a car, I still recommend <\/span> that you do<strong style=\"letter-spacing: 0.05em; color: #444444;\">not drive directly to Merzuoga<\/strong><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0.05em; color: #444444;\">, but make several stops because you will find places along the way that are definitely worth visiting<\/span>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Day_1\"><\/span>Day 1<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>I tell you about the excursions done with the Civitatis tour, but you can very well do the exact same route again even if you decide to rent a car and do it all on your own.<\/p>\n<p>The organized tour <strong>departs from Marrakesh at<\/strong> about <strong>8 a.m.<\/strong>, heading for the High Atlas Mountains, passing through the Tizi N&#8217;Tichka pass, which features spectacular scenery to say the least. You can do the same if you decide to travel by car.<\/p>\n<p>In my opinion, the highlight of the day was undoubtedly the <strong>visit to the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou<\/strong>, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Once you arrive at your destination, you will feel as if you have been catapulted into some period movie.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-14913 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4215-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"visit to Ait Ben Haddou\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4215-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4215-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4215-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4215-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4215-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4215-1200x900.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Air Ben Haddou, in fact, has been the <strong>film set of<\/strong> such <strong>famous movies<\/strong> as &#8220;Gladiator,&#8221; &#8220;The Mummy,&#8221; &#8220;Star Trek,&#8221; &#8220;Lord of the Rings,&#8221; &#8220;Jesus of Nazareth,&#8221; and many more. The guide told us that they, the locals, were pleased to be able to attend the filming of such famous and important movies, partly because very often the registries paid them to be extras in their films.<\/p>\n<p>But before it became one of the world&#8217;s most famous movie sets, Air Ben Haddo anciently <strong>was a trade route and strategic point between Marrakesh and the Sahara<\/strong>. As of today, only 10 families live in this old village; all the others have moved to the &#8220;new town&#8221; built across the bridge.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14934 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4254-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"the new city of Air Ben Haddo\" width=\"443\" height=\"591\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4254-scaled.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4254-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4254-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4254-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4254-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4254-1200x1600.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 443px) 100vw, 443px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After the guided tour, you can decide to stay overnight there. According to what the guide told me, those who do not depend on any tours would be better off staying overnight there, because <strong>after 5 p.m. the city empties out<\/strong> and is much nicer to experience, as most tourists come there on guided tours.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Day_2\"><\/span>Day 2<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Have you ever heard of the<strong> Todra Gorges<\/strong>? It is one of the <strong>most spectacular canyons in the world<\/strong>. I had honestly never heard of it before, but it is definitely a place worth visiting.<\/p>\n<p>Located on the eastern slope of the Atlas Mountains near the town of Tinerhir, the gorges are formed by the Todra River, which has cut into the rocky terrain, creating vertical rock walls that rise up to 300 meters in height.<\/p>\n<p>These canyons are characterized by<strong> numerous trails that wind along the canyon floor<\/strong> and along the rock walls. They are, in addition, home to many nomads in the area, who spend at least a few months a year in the famous caves.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14931 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4461.jpg\" alt=\"The Todra Gorge Morocco  \" width=\"421\" height=\"561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4461.jpg 480w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4461-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 421px) 100vw, 421px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-14928\" src=\"http:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4430.jpg\" alt=\"nomads at the Todra caves\" width=\"394\" height=\"525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4430.jpg 480w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4430-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 394px) 100vw, 394px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I had the opportunity to be told the story by one of the nomads in the area, who told me that the caves were a paradise for the nomads, as it offered them pure water and a cozy place to rest and graze their animals. I told him that in a way I too was nomadic like him, only I am a little more &#8220;digital&#8221;!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14925 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4369-scaled-e1709748391988.jpg\" alt=\"Where to sleep in the desert in Morocco: en route to Menzouga\" width=\"456\" height=\"608\"><\/p>\n<p>He told me, laughing, that globalization had annoyed them a bit, and that nowadays it has become very difficult to &#8220;hide&#8221; from curious tourists who try to take their pictures while they live their lives in the caves. In any case, if you head to that area, you will see a lot of nomads in the paths selling their handicrafts to tourists passing by.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14919 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4463-rotated.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"402\" height=\"536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4463-rotated.jpg 1512w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4463-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4463-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4463-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4463-1200x1600.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-14922\" src=\"http:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4474-rotated.jpg\" alt=\"nomads in the todra gorges  \" width=\"408\" height=\"544\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4474-rotated.jpg 1512w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4474-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4474-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4474-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4474-1200x1600.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 408px) 100vw, 408px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Also, if you have time to hike the Todra Gorges until sunset, you will see how<strong> the canyon lights up with warm shades of orange and red<\/strong>, creating a breathtaking spectacle.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Dunes_of_Erg_Chebbi\"><\/span>The Dunes of Erg Chebbi<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>After two days of travel, <strong>the long-awaited moment finally<\/strong> arrived <strong>:<\/strong> the arrival in the desert to contemplate the sunset as the last rays of the sun enveloped this immense sea of sand.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11284\" src=\"http:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/africa.jpg\" alt=\"Where to sleep in the desert in Morocco: Merzouga  \" width=\"384\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/africa.jpg 384w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/africa-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-14937\" src=\"http:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26CE2F17-5C2A-4179-8006-466E80913714.jpg\" alt=\"my experience in the desert in Morocco  \" width=\"409\" height=\"511\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26CE2F17-5C2A-4179-8006-466E80913714.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26CE2F17-5C2A-4179-8006-466E80913714-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26CE2F17-5C2A-4179-8006-466E80913714-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26CE2F17-5C2A-4179-8006-466E80913714-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26CE2F17-5C2A-4179-8006-466E80913714-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26CE2F17-5C2A-4179-8006-466E80913714-1200x1500.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 409px) 100vw, 409px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I recommend that you equip yourself with a scarf, hat, sweaters, and a nice heavy jacket. <strong>Don&#8217;t be fooled by the desert heat during the day<\/strong>, because once the sun goes down you will start to freeze!<\/p>\n<p>To arrive at the campsite at sunset, my tour included a camel ride. Let me preface this by saying that I am against the exploitation of animals so the idea did not appeal to me at all. Before I got on it, I tried to ask the Bedouins, owners of the camels, how many times a day they had them carrying tourists, what their life was like, and whether they gave them enough rest.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14940 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_8602-rotated.jpg\" alt=\"camels in the desert of Merzouga  \" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_8602-rotated.jpg 480w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_8602-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Of course, I can never know the 100% truth, but they told me that they only did one tour a day and spent the rest of the time free near their campsites. Again, I can&#8217;t know if it was true or not, I only know that (at least those camels I saw), they did not look shabby or desnourished. In any case, you can choose not to get on the camels and pay for the quad bike that takes you to the campsite (renting the quad bike for 10 minutes costs about 30 euros extra).<\/p>\n<p>In case you decide to go on <strong>a do-it-yourself excursion<\/strong>, it is still <strong>mandatory to enter the desert with the Bedouins and pay for overnight stay in one of their campsites<\/strong>. You can choose between traditional and luxury camping. I, of course, chose the traditional one, partly because the Bedouins told me there was not much difference. The only real difference is that the luxury campsite is located a little further from the desert entrance, the beds are a little bigger, and there is a private &#8220;bathroom,&#8221; but everything else is the same. I put &#8220;bathroom&#8221; in quotes because they are actually fake bathrooms, in the sense that there is no flushing, you have to flush with buckets of water, because (obviously) there is no running water.  <\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_it_like_to_spend_a_night_under_the_stars_in_the_desert\"><\/span>What is it like to spend a night under the stars in the desert?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Sleeping in the desert in Morocco was an extraordinary experience<\/strong>, out of the ordinary, even for me who had traveled halfway around the world. Once we arrived at the campsite, I remember being excruciatingly cold. It is always cold in the desert at night, even in August, though obviously less than in January.<\/p>\n<p>That night, while the desert Bedouins played drums and sang their typical songs around the fire, I lay on the sand to look at the stars, and it was magical to the point of being able to<strong>  feel the presence of my mom<\/strong>, who left this land about a year ago. I was one with Mother Earth, until then I had never felt my mother so close to me. It was an incredible experience.<\/p>\n<p>The immensity of the desert you feel it, it&#8217;s inevitable, you feel it anyway, you don&#8217;t need to have lost a loved one to be moved by such beauty.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14943 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_8509-rotated.jpg\" alt=\"sleeping in the desert in Morocco with Bedouins  \" width=\"398\" height=\"530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_8509-rotated.jpg 480w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_8509-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-14946\" src=\"http:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_8545-rotated.jpg\" alt=\"desert experience in Morocco  \" width=\"398\" height=\"530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_8545-rotated.jpg 480w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_8545-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>One of the Bedouins, after shelling out half a bottle of gin (but weren&#8217;t they forbidden to drink alcohol?), suggested that I and a select few others go and take pictures from the top of one of the dunes with a professional camera. At first I wasn&#8217;t sure I wanted to follow this half-drunk Bedouin into the Sahara desert (it almost sounds like a joke!), but in the end my instincts decided to agree, and this was the result:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14949 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_6408.jpg\" alt=\"sleep under the stars in Morocco  \" width=\"493\" height=\"610\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_6408.jpg 1034w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_6408-242x300.jpg 242w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_6408-827x1024.jpg 827w, https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_6408-768x951.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 493px) 100vw, 493px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I will never forget that night, it was one of the most beautiful and exciting nights of my whole life, besides the trauma of the tremendous cold during the night!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sleeping_in_the_desert_in_Morocco_How_do_I_dress\"><\/span>Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: How do I dress?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Speaking of cold weather, I decided to offer you a mini-guide on <strong>how to dress for sleeping in the desert in Morocco<\/strong>, because if I could go back, I too would be reading a few blogs to get better informed!!!<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>First, put on some <strong>hiking shoes and hiking socks<\/strong> so that you don&#8217;t come home with half a desert in your shoes as happened to me.<\/li>\n<li>Bring not one but <strong>TWO sweaters and even a sweatshirt to wear overnight<\/strong>, you won&#8217;t regret it!<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wear leggings under your pajama pants<\/strong> (best if you wear wool ones!). During the day, however, I recommend you wear<strong> long cotton pants<\/strong> to be comfortable while hiking, and also a top or T-shirt because you will be hot under the scorching Sahara sun. For men, on the other hand, I recommend wearing a nice <strong>cool cotton shirt<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A hat and scarf could save you from the strong wind<\/strong> blowing in your face. It is not certain that when you go to the desert there will be wind, but there might be, so prevention is better than cure!<\/li>\n<li>Finally, don&#8217;t forget your sunglasses, sunscreen, a brought charger (there are no power outlets in the tents), and of course a nice turban. I bought mine in Air Ben Haddou for the modest sum of 12 euros. Don&#8217;t worry if you are unable to put it on, the Bedouins will help you put it on. I advise you not to choose it in black color because it is very hot during the day, better a light pastel color.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_What_are_the_pros_and_cons_of_the_Civitatis_guided_tour\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion: What are the pros and cons of the Civitatis guided tour?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pros_of_sleeping_in_the_desert_in_Morocco_with_Civitatis\"><\/span><strong>Pros of sleeping in the desert in Morocco with Civitatis  <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>You don&#8217;t have to arrange anything; they take care of everything.<\/li>\n<li>Included in the price (which is really very low for the services offered), is minibus transportation, driver or escort (Italian included), two nights&#8217; accommodation on half-board basis, guided tours provided in the itinerary and the camel ride at sunset.<\/li>\n<li>Travel in total safety because you are accompanied by a Moroccan guide from the beginning to the end of the tour<\/li>\n<li>They tell you stories that maybe traveling alone you couldn&#8217;t hear<\/li>\n<li>You get to know the other people in the group, and perhaps if you are traveling alone it is better to share the experience with other travelers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Against\"><\/span>Against<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>You have to stay with the timing of the guide, so you can&#8217;t just disappear and mind your own business.<\/li>\n<li>You have to eat where they tell you, also because most of the time meals are included.<\/li>\n<li>You will visit places of interest (desert aside because each tour has its own campsite), at the hours most frequented by tourists, so if you are looking for quiet you will not find it.<\/li>\n<li>If, like me, you hate the little shows made especially for tourists in hotels, you&#8217;ll have to put up with a couple of them because unfortunately there are also those on the tour. In any case, as I did, you may as well go to bed early and ignore everyone.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>That said, I wish you a wonderful stay in the Sahara Desert, and I hope that sleeping in the desert in Morocco remains among the best memories of your life, as it was for me!<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:cover --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On my list of things to do at least once in my life, there has always been sleeping in the desert in Morocco and lying on the cold sand under the bright stars of the African sky. In January 2024, after spending a month in the small surfing village of Taghazout, I had the opportunity [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14917,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1019,1014],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: The magic of Merzouga<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How to sleep in the desert in Morocco? Read the article and discover the easiest and most fun way to visit Merzouga\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: The magic of Merzouga\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How to sleep in the desert in Morocco? Read the article and discover the easiest and most fun way to visit Merzouga\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"La World Citizen\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lucia.schettino.31\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lucia.schettino.31\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-03-06T18:27:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-03-08T05:02:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4518-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Lucia\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Lucia\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Lucia\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/763ebebdd11a26a976b5012c9476ec05\"},\"headline\":\"Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: The magic of Merzouga\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-03-06T18:27:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-03-08T05:02:54+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/\"},\"wordCount\":2057,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/763ebebdd11a26a976b5012c9476ec05\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Morocco\",\"Travel reports\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/\",\"name\":\"Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: The magic of Merzouga\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-03-06T18:27:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-03-08T05:02:54+00:00\",\"description\":\"How to sleep in the desert in Morocco? Read the article and discover the easiest and most fun way to visit Merzouga\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Portada\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: The magic of Merzouga\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/\",\"name\":\"La World Citizen\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/763ebebdd11a26a976b5012c9476ec05\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/763ebebdd11a26a976b5012c9476ec05\",\"name\":\"Lucia\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Logo-Lucia2_alta-1-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Logo-Lucia2_alta-1-1.png\",\"width\":71,\"height\":136,\"caption\":\"Lucia\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\"},\"description\":\"Italiana di origine e cittadina del mondo, amo scrivere, viaggiare sola per il mondo ed imparare nuove lingue. Non so dirvi esattamente dove vivo, ma solitamente mi trovate tra Barcellona, Rio de Janeiro e la Repubblica Dominicana.\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/www.laworldcitizen.com\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lucia.schettino.31\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lucyschettino\/?hl=it\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/lucia-schettino\/\",\"Lucia\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: The magic of Merzouga","description":"How to sleep in the desert in Morocco? Read the article and discover the easiest and most fun way to visit Merzouga","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: The magic of Merzouga","og_description":"How to sleep in the desert in Morocco? Read the article and discover the easiest and most fun way to visit Merzouga","og_url":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/","og_site_name":"La World Citizen","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lucia.schettino.31","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lucia.schettino.31","article_published_time":"2024-03-06T18:27:19+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-03-08T05:02:54+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1920,"url":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4518-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Lucia","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Lucia","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/"},"author":{"name":"Lucia","@id":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/763ebebdd11a26a976b5012c9476ec05"},"headline":"Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: The magic of Merzouga","datePublished":"2024-03-06T18:27:19+00:00","dateModified":"2024-03-08T05:02:54+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/"},"wordCount":2057,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/763ebebdd11a26a976b5012c9476ec05"},"articleSection":["Morocco","Travel reports"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/","url":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/","name":"Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: The magic of Merzouga","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#website"},"datePublished":"2024-03-06T18:27:19+00:00","dateModified":"2024-03-08T05:02:54+00:00","description":"How to sleep in the desert in Morocco? Read the article and discover the easiest and most fun way to visit Merzouga","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/sleeping-in-the-desert-in-morocco-the-magic-of-merzouga\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Portada","item":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Sleeping in the desert in Morocco: The magic of Merzouga"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/","name":"La World Citizen","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/763ebebdd11a26a976b5012c9476ec05"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/763ebebdd11a26a976b5012c9476ec05","name":"Lucia","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Logo-Lucia2_alta-1-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Logo-Lucia2_alta-1-1.png","width":71,"height":136,"caption":"Lucia"},"logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/"},"description":"Italiana di origine e cittadina del mondo, amo scrivere, viaggiare sola per il mondo ed imparare nuove lingue. Non so dirvi esattamente dove vivo, ma solitamente mi trovate tra Barcellona, Rio de Janeiro e la Repubblica Dominicana.","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.laworldcitizen.com","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lucia.schettino.31","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lucyschettino\/?hl=it","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/lucia-schettino\/","Lucia"]}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4518-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15058"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15058"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15058\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15059,"href":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15058\/revisions\/15059"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laworldcitizen.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}