Draa Valley Day Trip from Ouarzazate to Zagora and the Tinfou Dunes
The Draa Valley runs south from Agdz to Zagora and M’hamid as a long ribbon of palm groves and earth kasbahs. On this day trip from Ouarzazate you follow it to Zagora, visit the old library at Tamegroute and ride a camel in the small Tinfou dunes before driving back.
- DURATION
- ROUTE
- TOUR TYPE
- PICKUP
- PRICE
Draa Valley day trip at a glance
- 1 day
- Ouarzazate · Agdz · Draa Valley · Zagora · Tamegroute · Tinfou · Ouarzazate
- Private tour
- Riad or hotel pickup
- Best time: October to April
Zagora day trip from Ouarzazate
The Draa Valley is lined with palm groves for much of its length, and the road from Ouarzazate follows it most of the way to Zagora. The day trip goes as far as the small Tinfou dunes, south of Tamegroute.
It is about three hours each way, so plan on a full day. You can visit the Nkhila dunes near Zagora in place of Tinfou.
Highlights
- The Tizi n'Tinififft pass
- Kasbah Tamnougalt near Agdz
- The palm groves of the Draa
- The library and potters of Tamegroute
- A camel ride in the Tinfou dunes
Read more: Draa River and Tamegroute.
How the day goes
From your pickup in the morning to the drop-off at the end of the day.
Morning · Down the Draa
Pickup in Ouarzazate, over the Tizi n’Tinififft pass to Agdz and along the palm groves to Zagora.
Midday · Tamegroute and Tinfou
The library and pottery of Tamegroute, then a camel ride in the Tinfou dunes.
Afternoon · Back to Ouarzazate
The drive back up the valley.
What is included and not included
Included
- Private vehicle and driver for the day
- Pickup and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Ouarzazate
- Camel ride in the dunes
- Fuel and parking
Not included
- Lunch and drinks
- Entrance fees and local guides at the sites
- Tips
- Travel insurance
Pickup, best time to go and what to bring
Pickup points
Pickup at your hotel in Ouarzazate or at Ouarzazate airport.
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
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 Draa Valley day trip
How far is Zagora from Ouarzazate?
About 160 km, three hours by road over the Tizi n’Tinififft pass and through Agdz.
What is at Tamegroute?
A zawiya with a library of old Koranic and scientific manuscripts, and potters who make the green-glazed Tamegroute ware.
Can we change the timing?
Yes. You choose the pickup time, the stops and how long you stay out.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. Let us know their ages and we adjust the walking and the stops.
Can we add something to the day?
Yes. Tell us what else you would like to see or do, and we suggest how to fit it in.
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.
Do we see real dunes on this day trip?
The Tinfou dunes are a small patch of sand south of Tamegroute, enough for a camel ride and photos. For the big dune fields, Erg Chigaga is a 2-day trip from Zagora or M’hamid.
Can we stay overnight in the Draa Valley?
Yes. Zagora and the palm groves around Agdz have kasbah guesthouses, and we can turn the day into a 2-day trip with a night at a desert camp.
Can we see the Tamegroute library?
Usually, yes. A guide from the zawiya shows visitors the room of manuscripts, and a small donation is welcome.
Book this tour
Send your dates and group size and we reply with a quote.
- Private tour, only your group
- Free enquiry, no obligation
- Private tour, only your group
- Free enquiry, no obligation
- Route and timing adjusted to you
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