And boy, were we glad to do so. An inexplicably epic cultural experience was camping in the Sahara in Merzouga, on the South-Eastern side of the Sahara Desert. Here’s an overview of what we did and why it was, at the risk of sounding dramatic, one of the best days ever, even though words can’t quite capture its magic.

After spending the night in a straw-hut hotel, we awoke to find lines of large silver cars outside waiting for our group. We set off in high spirits, donning fiery red headscarves, over the dunes of the desert, prepared for a ride with unparalleled views. We watched as the cars in the distance left sand trails behind them as the car swerved over rocky and sandy terrain. With the radio playing traditional Moroccan music as the soundtrack, it was hard not to imagine ourselves in a movie.