I'm in my early 60s and have degenerative disc problems. Over the past 30 years, I've seen the disc spaces in my lower back get smaller and smaller. A couple of lower discs are herniated and L5-S1 disc is almost totally gone. For this reason, I am very careful about activities which result in a lot of hard bouncing, such as speed boat rides, jet skis, ATVs, or other things that have given me back pain in the past. I don't recover easily or quickly from those sorts of things.

My intuition tells me to avoid doing a camel ride in the desert. Maybe I would just mount the camel, go a few feet, and then get off, to say that I tried it and get a photo. Or I could just say no to the entire activity.

If you have similar types of back problems, have you tried getting up on a camel and was it OK for you? Or did you regret it? I don't want to ruin my vacation with back pain.

I have the same back issues and my doctor advised me NOT to ride the camel on our trip.
You would be better off asking your doctor than strangers on the internet.

Agree you should discuss with your doctor.

The one and only time I "rode" a camel, it was more of a sit - I got on, the camel rose to its feet and walked a wee bit, a photo was taken and I got off. The end.

Of course you should discuss this with your doctor. But I also agree that you should avoid taking a ride through the desert on a camel. When we went, we had a car take us to our campsite since my husband also has difficulty sitting on a camel for an extended period of time.

This reminds me of the old joke. Doctor asks, "Does it hurt when you do that?"

"Yes."

"Then don't do that."

Fellow travelers are welcome to disagree with me of course, but riding camels has never been a fun thing for those of us with no experience.
I dunno, might veteran horse-riders be better-equipped to go through that?
I seldom read TRs wherein the camel rider-who-had-no-previous-experience remarked, "Man THAT was fun!"
Instead, I've come across any number of accounts describing one painful Ouch after another.
Saddle rash. Hip pain. Back pain.

I too have chronic back issues and wouldn't touch a camel ride with a barge pole (thx hetmisj2).
See them, learn about them, enjoy them at arm's length - all those make more sense for someone our age.

I am done. the Merzouga shuffle

I’m also in my early 60s but don’t have any back issues. We did a camel ride in Doha this past April. I had read reviews where people were upset that the ride was “only” 10 minutes. Well, that was probably 5 minutes longer than I needed! Those are big animals and it hurt to stretch my legs across to straddle it. I can’t imagine going longer than 10 minutes, at least not on the ones we had. That said, if you’re happy with just a photo opp, maybe you can sit sidesadled while the camel is kneeling down, that might not hurt your back.

Our camel rides were about 30 minutes long which was enough. I was surprised that the experience was easier than I had expected it to be.

I have disc issues - central bulge and herniation along with degeneration; I rode a camel for twenty plus minutes and was perfectly fine. I ride horses - have done all day horse drives where we are trotting and/or loping and galloping for hours - none of these bother me. If I rake leaves for too long, or shovel snow - I'm in bad shape. If I bend over too long, I'm in bad shape. The point being everyone is different. I wrecked my back a few weeks ago in Scotland helping my daughter move out of her apartment - if I had done that while on vacation somewhere, it would have been awful. If you have any concern, why in the world would you risk the end results? Nobody can tell you for certain, but there are plenty of stories on the travel blogs of people falling off - I am sure THAT would wreck your back.

Ask yourself--is it worth the risk? Your entire trip could be ruined because of a camel ride. Why do it if there's even a 1% chance you'll be injured?

I've done it and you're not missing a thing.

Thanks to everyone who replied. Camel riding seems to be a highlight at the desert camps, according to the many reviews of that activity. While I don't want to miss out, I also don't want to be stupid considering my condition. I appreciate you guys weighing in, especially those of you who have been on a camel previously. I asked the question because, for all I knew, riding a camel might have been gentle and OK. Sounds like I should skip it and just get a photo with one, instead!

I have ridden camels on several occasions and have back problems (though not the same as yours). My personal view is that it wouldn't present too many problems,. I have always found riding camels to be a soothing and relaxing experience especially when compare with riding a horse (although to be fair, I have rarely managed to ride a horse without falling off , sometimes in spectacular fashion.

If you want to have a go, dont be the first, have a look to see how your other travel companions get on and then decide. The chances are you will probably find it a much smoother ride than in the 4X4 through the desert!

also have back problems and rode a camel without any problems. way less jostling and easier to get on a camel than a horse.

I agree. Why take a chance?

I've ridden a few camels in my time and agree with Zebec.

That's it.
I'm done!


No, actually not done.

Why is this thread posted with a Western Sahara tag.

Not sure that "country" is a big tourist hotspots now...well, maybe hot, but not for tourists. More people are trying get leave the place, other than get in!!

Quasi-related:
Nelson once posted a NYTimes photo of a massive camel herd at a waterhole in Chad. One may see that remarkable image as part of discussions in the below post.
The Travel Book: a journey through every country

I am done. the camelz