2 days · Marrakech
2-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Zagora
Overview
Only two days in Marrakech but still want a night in the desert? This private trip crosses the High Atlas, follows the old caravan road down the Draa Valley and puts you on a camel at the edge of the Zagora dunes by sunset. You sleep in a private tent in a Berber camp and drive back the next day via Aït Benhaddou.
Best for: Short stays and a first taste of the desert.
Highlights
- Tizi n'Tichka pass, 2,260 m, the highest road pass in North Africa
- Draa Valley, a ribbon of palm groves and mud-brick villages
- Camel ride and sunset over the Zagora dunes
- Dinner by the campfire and a sky full of stars
- Aït Benhaddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar seen in Gladiator
Day by day
Marrakech – Atlas Mountains – Draa Valley – Zagora desert camp
Your driver-guide picks you up at your riad at 8 am. The road climbs into the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with stops at Berber villages and viewpoints. After lunch in Ouarzazate, you cross a second pass, Tizi n'Tinififft (1,710 m), and drop into the Draa Valley. The road follows palm groves down to Zagora, where camels take you to the camp. Watch the sunset, have dinner by the fire, and sleep in your private tent.
Zagora – Ouarzazate – Aït Benhaddou – Marrakech
After breakfast, you drive back up the Draa Valley, stopping in traditional villages. In Ouarzazate you can visit Kasbah Taourirt and the film studios. Next comes Aït Benhaddou: walk up through the ksar and have lunch with a view. The road back over the Atlas passes Telouet and valleys of olive groves and orchards. You reach Marrakech in the late afternoon.
What's included
- Private air-conditioned car with your own English-speaking driver-guide, pickup and drop-off at your riad
- 1 night in a Berber desert camp, private tent
- Camel ride, one camel per person
- Dinner and breakfast at the camp
- Sandboarding (optional)
- Passenger insurance in the vehicle
Not included
Flights, lunches, drinks, entrance fees, tips and personal expenses.
Questions about this tour
Is Zagora the real Sahara?
Zagora sits on the edge of the Sahara with smaller dunes than Merzouga. If you want the tall golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, take the 3-day tour.
How long are the drives?
About 7 hours each day with stops, because the road crosses the High Atlas twice.
Can we start from another city?
Yes. Every tour is private, so we can start where it suits you.
Where would your road take you?
Tell us your dates and group size. Abdou or one of the team will reply with a route and a price within 24 hours.