When visiting the Sahara, one thing becomes immediately clear: nearly everyone wears a desert turban. From children to elders, locals wrap long scarves around their heads—not just as a fashion statement, but as a centuries-old form of sun protection and cultural identity.
Why wear a desert turban?
The desert sun is no joke. It scorches, blinds, and dehydrates. Add wind and swirling sand, and your face and neck need serious coverage. That’s where the desert turban comes in. Known locally as the cheche, it’s a long cotton scarf that nomads wrap around their head and face in layered folds. However, the desert turban, known also as tagelmust, is more than just sun protection. For the Tuareg people of the Sahara, it holds deep cultural significance, symbolising identity, maturity, and even spirituality.
Wearing a desert turban:
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Protects your head, neck, and face from direct sun exposure
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Shields your mouth and nose from dust and sand
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Creates shade and a cooling effect
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Makes you look like a desert native (and adds a cool travel photo moment)
The turban as a local signature – why do nomads wear turbans?
Turbans are not only practical; they’re also deeply cultural. Their colors, lengths, and the way they’re tied often reveal where a person comes from. Deep blue? That’s typical of Tuareg men. Light beige? A common choice in the Draa Valley.
Interestingly, during the hottest months of the year, nomads may wear cheches up to 15 meters long, wrapping their heads and faces in multiple layers to maximise sun protection. For everyday use, especially in cooler seasons, the standard turban length is usually around 10–12 meters—a style you’ll frequently see around M’hamid.
During our desert tours, you can not only buy your own scarf in a local shop or directly from us, but also learn how to tie it—from someone who’s been doing it since childhood.
How to choose the right desert scarf
Look for a long cotton scarf (at least 3–4 meters, more in the warmer months like May or September). Cotton is breathable, absorbent, and keeps your head cool. Avoid synthetics—they trap heat and block airflow.
Want to go full nomad? You can buy your own desert turban in local shops and learn to tie it properly at our camp in M’hamid.
Add a desert turban to your packing list
Don’t underestimate it—a desert turban is one of the most useful things you can bring to the Sahara. Also, it is multifunctional! We hear from our customers that on desert tours the turban serves as a comfy pillow, or a soft cover during afternoon siesta in the shade of a tree.
If you have a favourite scarf, bring it. If not, you’ll find plenty here. Functional, beautiful, and a meaningful way to connect with local culture.
Because sometimes the best travel gear is what people have been using for hundreds of years—tested by wind, sun… and time.
Inspired?
👉Check out our guide: What to pack for a desert tour.
👉 Learn how to protect skin and eyes from the desert sun.