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- Marrakech to Zagora and the Draa Valley, 2 Days
Marrakech to Zagora and the Draa Valley, 2 Days
A short private trip from Marrakech over the High Atlas to Aït Benhaddou and down the Draa Valley to Zagora, with a camel ride at sunset and a night at a desert camp.
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About the Tour
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
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.
- Overnight: Desert camp near Zagora
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's 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
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees and local guides at the sites
- Tips
- Travel insurance
Questions About This Tour
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
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 stays adjusted to you
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