2-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Zagora

A 2-day desert tour from Marrakech is the shortest way to spend a night in the desert, and Zagora is where it goes. You cross the High Atlas, stop at Aït Benhaddou, follow the palm groves of the Draa Valley south and ride a camel to a camp for the night, then drive back the next day.

2 days / 1 night

Marrakech, round trip

Private tour

Your riad or hotel

2-day desert tour from Marrakech at a glance

Price on request

On this page

Marrakech to Zagora and the Draa Valley

If you only have two days, Zagora is the closest place to Marrakech where you can sleep in the desert. The route crosses the High Atlas, passes the ksar of Aït Benhaddou and follows the Draa Valley, where the river feeds a long strip of palm groves and earthen villages between the mountains.

Be ready for a lot of road: about seven hours of driving each day, with stops. The dunes around Zagora are smaller than those at Merzouga or Erg Chigaga. With a third day you could go further; ask us.

Highlights

The Tizi n'Tichka pass over the High Atlas, at 2,260 metres
The ksar of Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site
The palm groves and kasbahs of the Draa Valley around Agdz
A camel ride to a desert camp near Zagora at sunset
Tamegroute, with its old library and green pottery, on the second morning

Day-by-day itinerary

How the two days go, from your pickup in Marrakech to the drop-off.

Day 1 · Marrakech to Zagora

Pickup at your riad or hotel early in the morning. The road climbs to the Tizi n’Tichka pass and drops to Aït Benhaddou, where you walk up through the ksar. After Ouarzazate you cross the Tizi n’Tinififft pass to Agdz and follow the Draa Valley palm groves south to Zagora. In the late afternoon a camel takes you to the camp in the dunes for sunset, dinner and the night.

Day 2 · Tamegroute and back to Marrakech

Sunrise over the dunes and breakfast at camp, then a short stop in Tamegroute to see the old library of Koranic manuscripts and the workshops that make green-glazed pottery. The drive back follows the same road over the High Atlas, and you reach your riad or hotel in the evening.

What is included and not included

Included

Private vehicle and driver for the two days
Pickup and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Marrakech
One night at a desert camp near Zagora with dinner and breakfast
Camel ride to and from the camp
Fuel and road costs

Not included

Pickup, best time to go and what to bring

Pickup points

We pick you up at your riad or hotel in Marrakech at the time you choose. If your riad is in a lane cars cannot enter, the driver waits at the nearest square or gate and someone from the riad walks you there.

Best time to go

October to April is the most comfortable time. Days are warm and nights cool, and in December and January the desert can drop close to freezing at night. From June to August the afternoons are very hot, so we start early and rest in the middle of the day.

What to bring

Layers, with a warm jacket for the desert night from November to March; a hat, sunglasses and sun cream; a scarf against wind and sand; shoes you can walk in on sand; a head torch; a small bag for the camp night, since your main luggage stays in the vehicle; cash in dirhams for drinks and tips; a power bank.

Good to know

Carry cash in dirhams: camps and small villages rarely take cards, and the last cash machines are in towns such as Ouarzazate, Zagora and Erfoud. Phone signal is often weak in the dunes. Camps have toilets and showers, shared at standard camps and private at luxury ones. Keep cameras and phones in a bag when the wind lifts the sand, and ask before you photograph people in the villages. Your main luggage stays locked in the vehicle overnight.

Price, deposit and cancellation

Price on request

Prices are per person and depend on the size of your group. You book with a 20% deposit by card or PayPal and pay the balance on the first day of the tour.

If you cancel 30 days or more before the start, we refund the deposit in full; after that the deposit is kept. You can change the date once for free if you ask 14 days or more before. The details are in our Cancellation Policy.

Questions about the 2-day desert tour from Marrakech

How far is Zagora from Marrakech?

About 360 km, roughly seven hours of driving over the Tizi n’Tichka pass and down the Draa Valley. With stops at Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate, the first day is a full one.

Are the dunes near Zagora big?

They are small next to Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga. You get the camel ride, the camp night and the desert sky, but the high dunes are further away: Merzouga needs at least three days from Marrakech.

Is two days enough for the desert?

It is enough for one night in the dunes, but most of the two days is driving. If you can add a day, the 3-day trip to the Erg Chebbi dunes gives you more time in the desert itself.

How big are the dunes at Zagora?

Smaller than the dune fields of Merzouga and Erg Chigaga. You still get the camel ride, a camp in the sand and a dark sky for stars.

What is the desert camp like?

You sleep in a tent at a camp in the dunes, with dinner and breakfast. Tell us the level of comfort you want and we suggest camps that fit.

Can we travel with children?

Yes. It is a private trip, so you choose the stops and the pace. The long drives are the main thing to plan for with young children.

How do I book?

Send an enquiry with your dates and group size and we reply with availability and a quote. When online booking is open for this tour, you can also reserve with a deposit by card or PayPal and pay the rest on the first day.

Book this tour

Price on request

Send your dates and group size and we reply with a quote.

Private tour, only your group
Free enquiry, no obligation

Questions? Call +212 667 897 512

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