What is a full camp buy-out at Umnya Desert Camp?

A full buy-out means the entire camp, all 8 tents, every member of staff, every service, is reserved exclusively for your party for the duration of your stay. No other guests are present at any time.

How does the helicopter transfer work?

We work with certified private helicopter operators for a direct transfer from Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) to the camp's private helipad, approximately 1h40 flight time. Available one-way or return.

What is the minimum and maximum group size?

Buy-outs are available for groups of 2 to 20 guests. For intimate family getaways, couples, or groups of up to 20. Larger parties requiring expanded infrastructure are considered on request.

We offer a mutual NDA as standard for all private buy-outs. All staff members are also under confidentiality agreements. Your identity, guest list and stay details remain entirely private.

What notice period is required?

We ask for a minimum of 4 weeks for a standard buy-out, and 8 weeks if a helicopter transfer or significant bespoke add-ons are included. For urgent requests, contact us directly, we will do our best.

No Other Guests. Ever.

A complete private world in the most remote dunes of the Sahara

Private Exclusive

The Camp Is Yours.
The Desert Is Yours.

Erg Chegaga sits 90 kilometres from the last paved road, 150 kilometres from the nearest town. No passing traffic. No other tours. No coincidences.

When you book a private buy-out, every tent, every staff member, every sunrise belongs to your party alone. This is not an upgrade. It is a different category of experience entirely.

Discretion Above All

For Those Who No Longer Need to Explain Themselves

Umnya Desert Camp does not communicate about its guests. And its guests do not communicate about Umnya Desert Camp. This is understood from the very first exchange.

We have hosted families who simply wanted the dunes entirely to themselves. Founders who needed four days of genuine distance. Those whose presence would change the atmosphere of any room — and chose not to enter rooms at all. Each arrived for the same reason: a place that asks nothing of them.

If the question is whether Umnya Desert Camp is discreet enough, the answer is yes.

What Every Buy-Out Includes

A fully staffed, fully private experience from the moment you land

Full Camp Privatization

The entire camp, every tent, every space, every member of staff, reserved exclusively for your party. No other guests, ever.

Arrival by Helicopter or 4×4

Private helicopter from Marrakech in approx. 1h40, or a curated 4×4 convoy through the Atlas Mountains and the Drâa Valley. Both arrivals are orchestrated entirely by our team.

Private Chef & Bespoke Menus

A dedicated chef crafts each meal around your preferences, allergies and cultural requirements. From Berber breakfast under the dunes to a candlelit gala dinner under the stars.

Personal Butler & 24/7 Concierge

A dedicated concierge manages every request from the moment you make contact. Available 24/7 by phone, WhatsApp and in person at the camp.

Resident Astronomer & Telescopes

Erg Chegaga sits at Bortle Class 1, the darkest skies on Earth. Your resident astronomer guides private night sessions with premium telescopes.

Security & Full Discretion

Ground security on request, NDA on all staff, and complete confidentiality. Your stay, and your guest list, remain entirely private.

The Arrival

Two Ways to Reach the Dunes

Both departures leave from Marrakech. Both arrivals are orchestrated entirely by our team.

Option 1

Private Helicopter

From Marrakech Menara Airport to the camp's private helipad in approximately 1h40. The flight crosses the High Atlas peaks, descends into the desert basin, and delivers you directly to the heart of the camp.

Approx. 1h40 flight
Up to 6 passengers per flight
Available one-way or return

Option 2

Private 4×4 Convoy

A curated overland journey through the Atlas Mountains, the Drâa Valley and the piste leading into Erg Chegaga. The road itself is part of the ritual, a gradual departure from the ordinary world.

Approx. 9–10 hrs from Marrakech
Scenic stops arranged on request
Unlimited passengers, full fleet

Bespoke Add-Ons

Every experience below is arranged exclusively for your party

✦ Buggies, ATVs, Sandboarding and Golf Experiences
✦ Pottery and Sand's Bread Ateliers
✦ Vintage Land Rover fleet for private dune excursions
✦ Berber music ensemble for dinner or sunrise ceremony
✦ Master calligrapher workshop under candlelight
✦ Desert spa: massage, hammam, sound healing
✦ Camel caravan overnight to a remote bivouac
✦ Private Gnawa healer ceremony
✦ Film & photography crew for brand activations
✦ Fireside storytelling with local Saharan guides
✦ Yoga & breathwork at dawn on the dunes
✦ Astrology reading under Bortle 1 skies

Bortle Class 1

The Darkest Skies on Earth, Reserved for You

Erg Chegaga registers a Bortle score of 1, the lowest possible measurement of light pollution. On a clear night, the Milky Way casts a visible shadow on the dunes.

Your resident astronomer sets up premium telescopes before dinner and runs private sessions adapted to your group, from children's introduction to the cosmos to advanced deep-sky imaging for serious astrophotographers.

This is not a shared tour. The telescope is yours. The astronomer is yours. The sky is yours.

How It Works

A confidential process from first contact to the moment you arrive

Confidential Inquiry

Submit your details through our private form or contact us directly. We will respond within 6 hours.

NDA & Discovery Call

A 20-minute conversation with UMNYA. We understand your group, your vision, your requirements, nothing more is committed at this stage.

Bespoke Proposal

A fully tailored proposal: itinerary, menus, add-ons and logistics, within 48 hours. Adjusted until it reflects exactly what you have in mind.

Contract & Deposit

Simple agreement, secure payment. We block your dates immediately and begin the detailed preparation.

Arrival by Helicopter or 4×4

Your dedicated team awaits at the dunes. Whether you descend from the sky or emerge from the desert road, from this moment, everything is yours.

Private Inquiry

Begin the Conversation

All inquiries are handled personally by UMNYA. We respond within 6 hours. A mutual NDA is available on request before any information is shared.

Prefer to speak directly?

WhatsApp +212 (0)6 00 66 66 16

Questions

Common questions about private buy-outs

What is the minimum stay for a buy-out?

From 1 night. Most private groups stay between 3 and 5 nights. We occasionally accommodate 7-night sabbaticals.

Can the helicopter land at the camp itself?

Yes. The camp has its own private helipad. Your team meets the aircraft and escorts you directly to your tent.

Are children welcome at private buy-outs?

Absolutely. We adapt every element, meals, activities, sleeping arrangements and pacing, for families with children of any age.

Is the camp open year-round for private bookings?

Yes. Private buy-outs are available across all seasons. Summer (June–August) brings extreme heat during the day but extraordinary evenings and virtually guaranteed solitude.

As Featured In

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