The “Zagora desert in 2 days” tour is one of the most sold trips in Marrakech: a night in a tent, a camel ride and back the next day, all at an attractive price. On paper, it is the quickest way to see the Sahara. On the road, it is a little more nuanced. Our drivers make this journey all year round; here is the real itinerary, what you actually see in Zagora, and when it is better to choose Agafay or Merzouga instead.
Where is Zagora?
Zagora is a small town in the Draa valley, about 360 kilometres south-east of Marrakech. The road crosses the High Atlas over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, goes through Ouarzazate, climbs a second pass in the Anti-Atlas, then drops into one of the longest palm groves in Morocco, which follows the river for nearly 200 kilometres towards the desert.
Allow seven hours on the road with stops, each way. That is the point to keep in mind: over two days you will spend about fourteen hours in the car.
The itinerary day by day
Day 1: Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Zagora
- 7.00 am: leave Marrakech and climb to the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m), with photo stops in Berber villages.
- 11.00 am: visit the Ait Ben Haddou ksar, a UNESCO World Heritage site, then lunch.
- 1.30 pm: through Ouarzazate, then across the Anti-Atlas to Agdz.
- 3.30 pm: the Draa valley, its earthen kasbahs and palm groves, with a stop at one of the old restored kasbahs.
- 5.30 pm: arrive in Zagora, camel ride at sunset to the camp.
- Evening: dinner, music around the fire and a night in a tent.
Day 2: Zagora – Marrakech
- Sunrise over the dunes, breakfast at the camp.
- 8.30 am: back by camel or by car, then departure for Marrakech.
- Stops in Agdz and at the Tichka pass.
- 5.00 – 6.00 pm: arrival in Marrakech.
What you really see in Zagora
It is worth being honest about the dunes. Around Zagora they are mostly small, isolated dunes, such as those at Tinfou, about thirty kilometres to the south, and sandy patches between the palm trees. It is pretty at sunset, but it has nothing in common with the great dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga, which rise more than 100 metres high.
The real highlight of the trip is not the sand: it is the road. The Tichka pass, Ait Ben Haddou and above all the Draa valley, with its miles of palm groves and fortified villages, are among the finest landscapes in southern Morocco. If you love mountain roads and kasbahs, you will not be disappointed. If you dream of huge golden dunes, you may be.
Zagora, Agafay or Merzouga: which to choose?
| Agafay | Zagora | Merzouga | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum time | Half a day or one night | 2 days | 3 days |
| Drive from Marrakech | 45 min | About 7 h each way | 9 to 10 h, with a night on the way |
| Landscape | Stony desert facing the Atlas | Draa palm groves, small dunes | Big Erg Chebbi dunes |
| Time in the car | Very little | About 14 h over 2 days | Spread over 3 days |
| For whom | Short stays, families | Lovers of roads and kasbahs | Those who want the Sahara |
Our advice, after hundreds of departures:
- You have a single day or an evening: choose Agafay, 45 minutes away, with sunset and dinner in a tent.
- You have two days and enjoy the road: Zagora is a good choice, especially in a private vehicle, so you can stop wherever you like.
- You have three days: go to Merzouga. The difference in scenery is well worth the extra day, and our 3-day tour itinerary spreads the drive with no exhausting day.
Group or private tour?
Budget Zagora tours travel in 15- to 17-seat minibuses, with fixed times, stops at partner shops and camps that can be very busy. In a private car you leave when it suits you, stop for photos, and the driver can adapt the route, for example by adding the Telouet kasbah or staying at a quieter camp. Our article on private tours with a driver explains the differences.
When to go
From October to April the days are pleasant and the nights cool to cold: bring a proper jacket for the evening and sunrise. From June to August the Draa valley is one of the hottest regions in the country, often above 40 degrees, and we advise against the trip. In winter the Tichka pass can close for a few hours after snowfall. More details in our month-by-month guide.
What to bring
- A warm jacket and an extra layer for the night at camp.
- A cheche or scarf against sand and sun.
- A head torch, useful at camp.
- Cash for tips, drinks and kasbah entrance fees.
- A small overnight bag: large luggage stays in the vehicle.
Booking
If you want to see Saharan dunes, our 3-day Merzouga desert tour goes over the Tichka, through Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades gorges before the caravan and a night in camp. For a first taste with no long drive, choose the Agafay sunset camel ride and dinner. And if it is the road of the kasbahs that appeals, the Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate day trip covers its finest section. The Zagora tour in a private vehicle is arranged on request, from the contact page.
