Douz

Douz, an oasis town in the Nefzaoua region, is known as the gateway to the Sahara: just beyond its palm groves begin the dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental. At the edge of town, camel handlers offer rides from an hour at sunset to multi-day treks, and quad bikes and 4x4 trips are also available. The town has a weekly market on Thursdays, where livestock and local goods are traded, and a small Museum of the Sahara on nomadic life. Every winter, usually in December, the International Festival of the Sahara brings camel races, horsemanship, poetry and music.