Full Camp Privatization
The entire camp, every tent, every space, every member of staff, reserved exclusively for your party. No other guests while you are here.
Your Private Desert Camp in the Sahara
An exclusive-use buyout of Erg Chegaga, from 2 to 18 guests, the whole camp yours alone
Private Exclusive
The Camp Is Yours.
The Desert Is Yours.
Erg Chegaga sits 60 kilometres beyond M'Hamid El Ghizlane, the last town on the paved road. No passing traffic. No other tours. No coincidences.
When you book a private buyout, 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.
This is private glamping in Morocco: an exclusive-use desert camp, quoted only for your party. From 2 to 18 guests, families or friends, with no other guests while you are here. Privatisation is possible for any request, subject to availability, and never a requirement: couples, families and friends can also book one or a few tents and share the camp with only a few other guests.
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, and close circles of friends who booked the whole camp for the same reason. 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 Buyout Includes
A fully staffed, fully private experience from the moment you land
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 class on the scale. Your resident astronomer guides private night sessions with premium telescopes.
Security & Full Discretion
Ground security on request, absolute discretion from 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 to 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
Bortle Class 1 Skies, 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
01
Confidential Inquiry
Submit your details through our private form or contact us directly. We will respond within 24 hours.
02
Confidential Written Exchange
A written exchange with UMNYA. We understand your group, your vision, your requirements, nothing more is committed at this stage.
03
Bespoke Proposal
A fully tailored proposal: itinerary, menus, add-ons and logistics, within 24 hours. Adjusted until it reflects exactly what you have in mind.
04
Contract & Deposit
Simple agreement, secure payment. We block your dates immediately and begin the detailed preparation.
05
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 24 hours. Complete confidentiality is guaranteed before any information is shared.
Prefer to speak directly?
WhatsApp +212 (0)6 00 66 66 16Questions
Common questions about private buyouts
Can two people privatize the whole camp?
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Yes. The whole camp can be reserved for two: every tent, every space and every member of staff held for your party alone, with no other guests present.
What is the best group size for a private buyout?
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Private buyouts work well for any party from 2 to 18 guests, and when you take the whole camp, it is yours alone. Larger parties requiring expanded infrastructure are considered on request.
What does a private buyout include?
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All 8 canvas suites and every shared space, exclusively yours: a private chef and butler, 24/7 concierge, and a resident astronomer under Bortle Class 1 skies. Arrival is by private 4x4 convoy or helicopter, arranged entirely by our team.
What is a full camp buyout at Umnya Desert Camp?
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A full buyout 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.
Is a private buyout priced per person?
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No. The whole camp is quoted as one global rate, set case by case according to your dates and request, never per person. Every stay is quoted individually, with a written proposal within 24 hours.
How do we request a private buyout?
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Complete the form on this page, or write to us directly. UMNYA replies personally within 24 hours with a written proposal for your dates and party size.
How far ahead should we book a private buyout?
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Good weeks go 8 to 10 months ahead, so early booking is strongly recommended. Short notice is sometimes possible too: a single cancellation can free the whole camp.
When can we come for a private buyout?
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The camp is open from September to June and closed in July and August. Private buyouts are available throughout that season, and October to April is generally the most comfortable window, with warm days and cool nights.
How does the helicopter transfer work?
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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.
Can the helicopter land at the camp itself?
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Yes. The camp has its own private helipad. Your team meets the aircraft and escorts you directly to your tent.
What is the minimum stay for a buyout?
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From 1 night. Private groups can stay 3 to 5 nights, or longer. We occasionally accommodate 7-night sabbaticals.
Are children welcome at private buyouts?
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Absolutely. We adapt every element, meals, activities, sleeping arrangements and pacing, for families with children of any age.
What is your confidentiality policy?
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Confidentiality is absolute for all private buyouts. All staff members are under confidentiality agreements. Your identity, guest list and stay details remain entirely private.
As Featured In
Condé Nast
Traveler Spain
Condé Nast
Traveler España NÓMADAS, OTOÑO 2020
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Greece
The
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MR. TRIPPER TRAVEL INTELLIGENCE
Suitcase
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L'Escale
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Harper's
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Journey BAREFOOT LUXURY
TelQuel MAROC
L'Officiel
Lithuania
Green
Latitudes
Rime C
L'Escale
Journal
The Sun
Anne Menke
What a buyout costs
One flat rate for the whole camp
Taken privately, the whole camp is a single flat rate rather than a per-person one, set case by case according to your request.
Every stay is quoted, because dates, group size and programme all change what it takes to run properly. A five-night executive programme with visiting speakers and a four-night group stay are different products at different levels, and we would rather price yours than send you a rate card that fits neither.
The quiet luxury philosophy
No phone signal, no crowds, no noise. Why silence is the ultimate luxury
How Umnya redefines luxury through absence rather than abundance
Helicopter arrival guide
Marrakech to Erg Chegaga by helicopter, 1h40
All helicopter details: routes, timing, operators, what to expect
To celebrate over several days
The private caravan: chef, butler, drivers, massage, yoga and festive evenings around the fire →For groups
Other ways to take the whole camp
- Private caravan and celebrations Three days or more, a chef, a butler and a night in the dunes
- Sahara training camps Clubs, gyms and teams, with 4x4 support and a kitchen for athletes
- Team building No signal, one table, real effort and nothing to escape to
- Bring your community Studios, gyms, clubs and companies selling places to their own people
- Group trips Up to twenty travelling together, with the whole camp to yourselves
- A family buyout Three generations, the whole camp, the sleeping map sent before you book
- Executive offsites A leadership team, two or three nights, no signal and one long table
- Board offsites Confidentiality, close protection and arrival by helicopter
