Zagora Camel Ride in the Erg Lihoudi Dunes, Day Trip from Zagora
This Zagora camel ride takes you to the dunes of Erg Lihoudi near M’hamid, at the end of the Draa Valley, in a day from Zagora. On the way you stop at Tamegroute, Tagounite and the kasbah of Ouled Driss, and you drive back to Zagora in the evening.
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- ROUTE
- TOUR TYPE
- PICKUP
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Zagora camel ride day trip at a glance
- 1 day
- Zagora · Tamegroute · Tagounite · Ouled Driss · Erg Lihoudi · M'hamid · Zagora
- Private tour
- Riad or hotel pickup
- Best time: October to April
A Zagora day trip to the end of the Draa Valley
From Zagora the road south runs about 95 kilometres to M’hamid, where the tarmac ends and the dunes begin. Erg Lihoudi is the closest dune field to the road, with dunes high enough for a proper camel ride.
On the way you stop at Tamegroute’s library and potters and at the old village of Ouled Driss.
Highlights
- Tamegroute's library and green pottery
- The village of Ouled Driss
- A camel ride in Erg Lihoudi
- M'hamid at the end of the road
- The southern Draa Valley
Read more: M’Hamid El Ghizlane and Tamegroute.
How the day goes
From your pickup in the morning to the drop-off at the end of the day.
Morning · South to the dunes
Pickup in Zagora, Tamegroute, Tagounite and Ouled Driss.
Midday · Erg Lihoudi
A camel ride in the dunes and lunch in M’hamid.
Afternoon · Back to Zagora
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 Zagora
- 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 or guesthouse in Zagora.
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 Zagora camel ride day trip
Can we stay a night in the dunes?
Yes. Our 2-day trip from Zagora or M’hamid to Erg Chigaga includes a camp night, or we can add a night in Erg Lihoudi to this day.
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.
How long is the drive from Zagora to M'hamid?
About 95 km, or an hour and a half on a quiet road that follows the Draa Valley south through Tamegroute and Tagounite. M’hamid and Ouled Driss are the last villages before the dunes.
What is the kasbah of Ouled Driss?
An old earthen kasbah in the palm grove near M’hamid, partly restored, with rooms around a courtyard and a terrace over the palms. It shows how families in the Draa Valley lived before concrete houses.
When is the best time for a camel ride near Zagora?
Late afternoon from October to April, when the sand has cooled and the light is low. In summer we ride early in the morning or in the evening.
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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