Private desert tour
2 Days Tour From Marrakech to Zagora Desert
A private overnight run from Marrakech to the desert at Zagora, over the Atlas and down the Draa Valley through the longest palm grove in Morocco. Camel trek at sunset, dinner and a night in a camp, and back in Marrakech the following evening.
- Duration
- 2 days / 1 night
- From
- €250 per vehicle
- Starts
- Marrakech
- Ends
- Marrakech
A starting price for one comfortable 4x4 carrying up to 4 people — not per person. What you finally pay depends on your dates, the accommodation you choose and any changes you make to the route. Zagora is the shortest desert route, which is why it is the least expensive.
Be clear about what this trip is, because a lot of sites are not: Zagora is not Erg Chebbi. The dunes here are small and scattered, not the 150-metre sand mountains you have seen in photographs — those are at Merzouga, seven hours further east. What Zagora gives you is a genuine night in a desert camp, a real camel trek and the extraordinary Draa Valley, inside two days.
If your photographs matter more than your calendar, go to Merzouga instead. If you have two days and want the desert anyway, this is the honest way to do it.
Trip highlights
- Tizi n'Tichka pass and the kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou
- The Draa Valley — 200 km of continuous palm grove
- Camel trek into the Zagora dunes at sunset
- Night in a desert camp with dinner and Berber music
- The 'Timbuktu 52 days' caravan sign at Zagora
- Back in Marrakech by early evening on day two
Day by day
-
Day 1
Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Draa Valley → Zagora camp
An early start — 7am — because there is real distance to cover. Over the Tizi n'Tichka pass with a stop at the summit, then Aït Ben Haddou for an hour in the ksar and lunch below it. Ouarzazate, then south over the Tizi n'Tinififft into the Draa Valley, following the river through unbroken palm groves and mud-brick villages to Zagora. At the edge of the dunes, camels take you the last stretch to camp for sunset. Dinner around the fire and a night in the tents.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner Night: Desert camp near Zagora
-
Day 2
Zagora → Draa Valley → Ouarzazate → Marrakech
Sunrise over the camp and breakfast before the heat, then camels back to the vehicle. The return follows the Draa north with stops at the Tamegroute pottery kilns and its Koranic library, and at the Agdz kasbahs. Lunch in Ouarzazate, back over the Atlas, and into Marrakech in the early evening.
Meals: Breakfast
What is and is not included
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle, fuel and tolls
- English- or French-speaking driver-guide
- 1 night in a desert camp near Zagora, half board
- Camel trek at sunset and in the morning
- Pick-up and drop-off at your Marrakech accommodation
Not included
- Lunch on day 2 and all drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Tips and personal expenses
Good to know
Are the Zagora dunes as big as Merzouga's?
No, and we would rather say so. Zagora's desert is stony with modest scattered dunes; Erg Chebbi at Merzouga is a proper sand sea with dunes up to about 150 metres. Zagora is the right choice when you only have two days. If the classic Sahara photograph is what you are after, take three days and go to Merzouga.
Is two days too rushed?
It is a lot of driving — around seven hours each way — and we will not pretend otherwise. Because it is private, we can start earlier and stop where you like, which helps. Many guests do it happily; guests who dislike long car days should look at the 3- or 4-day tours.
What is the camp like?
Traditional Berber tents with beds and blankets, shared bathrooms with running water, dinner cooked on site and music after. Simple rather than luxurious. Upgraded camps with en-suite tents are available near Zagora if you would prefer.
Does the price change if there are more of us?
No. The price is for the vehicle, not per person, so two travellers and a party of four pay the same €250 — it simply works out at less each. Tell us how many of you there are when you write and we will confirm the vehicle.
Worth reading before you go
Ready to see the Sahara?
Send us your dates and we will tailor this 2 days / 1 night tour to you — no obligation, and a real reply from a local team.
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