Grand Erg Oriental — Ksar Ghilane Dune Edge Wild Camping

Ksar Ghilane is the end of the Douz piste, and the dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental start just outside the oasis. Overlanders pull off into the sand a few kilometres out to get away from the tourist camps and quad traffic. You get open dune crests, a huge sky, and quiet once the day-trip jeeps leave. Expect fine, wind-sculpted sand, no facilities, and no shade. Bring everything you need, including water, fuel and a way to shelter from the wind. Nights in winter drop close to freezing, and summer is brutally hot.

You need a proper sand-capable 4×4, deflated tyres, a shovel, traction boards and a recovery strap, and you should never run these dunes alone. Stick to existing tracks and take your trash out. The area sits within the Jbil National Park and nearby military zone. Check current rules, registration and permit requirements in Douz before you leave. Local camp operators in Ksar Ghilane can tell you where camping is tolerated on a given season. Verify before you go, because access rules change. Have a dirty day.

Sahara dune camping at the end of the Douz piste