1 / 8 
- Duration
- 2 days / 1 night
- Tour type
- Group
- Availability
- All year; desert nights are cold from November to February
- Languages
- English, French, Spanish
- Difficulty
- Easy
Overview
Cross the High Atlas, visit Aït Benhaddou, ride a camel into the Zagora dunes at sunset and spend a night in a desert camp before returning through Ouarzazate.
About this tour
Two days from Marrakech to the Zagora desert: Tizi n'Tichka pass, Aït Benhaddou, the Draa Valley, a sunset camel ride and a night in a desert camp. From $69 per person.
Tour highlights
- Aït Benhaddou UNESCO-listed earthen ksar, seen in Gladiator and Game of Thrones.
- Tizi n'Tichka pass The road over the High Atlas at 2,260 m, with views over Berber villages.
- Draa Valley A long corridor of date palms, kasbahs and oasis villages.
- Sunset camel ride About an hour on a camel into the Zagora dunes.
- Night in a desert camp Dinner, music by the fire and a sky full of stars.
- Ouarzazate Taourirt Kasbah and, if you wish, the Atlas film studios.
Route at a glance
2 days / 1 night · Marrakech, pickup at your accommodation → Marrakech, drop-off at your accommodation
- Marrakech, pickup at your accommodation Starting point
- Zagora
- Ouarzazate
- Marrakech, drop-off at your accommodation Ending point
About this tour
This 2-day desert tour from Marrakech to Zagora is a short way to see southern Morocco: the High Atlas, the earthen ksar of Aït Benhaddou, the palm groves of the Draa Valley and the first dunes of the Sahara, with one night in a desert camp.
From Marrakech, the road climbs over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, at 2,260 m the highest point of the trip, with stops at viewpoints over Berber villages and terraced valleys. Midway through the first day you reach Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site whose earthen walls have appeared in films and series such as Gladiator and Game of Thrones.
In the afternoon you follow the Draa Valley, a long ribbon of date palms, kasbahs and oasis villages, to Zagora. A camel takes you into the dunes at sunset; at camp there is mint tea, dinner, music around the fire and a clear night sky. The second day begins with sunrise over the dunes, a walk in the Zagora palm groves and a stop in Ouarzazate before the drive back to Marrakech.
Day by day itinerary
Print this itinerary-
Day 01
Day 1 of 2
Over the Atlas to the Zagora dunes
Marrakech, Tizi n'Tichka, Aït Benhaddou, Draa Valley, Zagora
Included highlight Sunset camel ride into the dunes
Early pickup in Marrakech and drive south over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with stops at viewpoints and at a women's argan oil cooperative. Visit Aït Benhaddou and have lunch on a terrace facing the ksar.
In the afternoon, follow the Draa Valley past kasbahs and palm groves to the dunes near Zagora. Ride a camel to camp at sunset for dinner, music by the fire and a night in a nomad-style tent.
-
Included
Pickup in Marrakech
Early departure from your accommodation.
-
Tizi n'Tichka pass
Viewpoints over the High Atlas at 2,260 m.
-
Included
Argan oil cooperative
Meet the women who produce argan oil.
-
Aït Benhaddou
Walk through the UNESCO-listed ksar; entrance fee not included.
-
Lunch facing the ksar
Terrace restaurant, at your own cost.
-
Draa Valley
Palm groves, kasbahs and oasis villages.
-
Included
Sunset camel ride
About 45 minutes to 1 hour to the camp.
-
Included
Dinner and night at camp
Mint tea, dinner, music and a night in the desert.
-
-
Day 02
Day 2 of 2
Desert sunrise and the road back
Zagora, Ouarzazate, Marrakech
Included highlight Sunrise over the dunes
Wake early for sunrise over the dunes, then breakfast at camp. Back in Zagora, walk through the palm groves with local families and learn how dates, henna and herbs are grown.
Drive to Ouarzazate to see the Taourirt Kasbah and, if you wish, the Atlas film studios. After lunch, cross the High Atlas again and reach your accommodation in Marrakech in the early evening.
-
Sunrise over the dunes
The first light turns the dunes from blue to gold.
-
Included
Breakfast at camp
-
Zagora palm groves
A walk with local families: dates, henna and herbs.
-
Taourirt Kasbah, Ouarzazate
Entrance fee not included.
-
Optional experience
Atlas film studios
On request; entrance fee not included.
-
Lunch in Ouarzazate
At your own cost.
-
Included
Return to Marrakech
Drop-off at your accommodation in the early evening.
-
What's included
Included
- Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Marrakech
- Driver-guide who speaks several languages
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- One night in a desert camp, in a nomad-style tent
- Camel ride to and from the camp
- Dinner at the camp and breakfast the next morning
- Visit to a women's argan oil cooperative on the way
- Taxes and service fees
Not included
- Lunches and drinks on the road
- Entrance fees: Aït Benhaddou, Taourirt Kasbah, Atlas Studios
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Travel insurance (recommended)
- Tips for the guide and driver
What to bring
- Light, breathable layers for the day
- A warm layer for the desert night
- Sun cream, sunglasses and a hat
- Cash in dirhams for lunches, entrance fees and tips
- Camera with a charged battery and spare memory card
- A small bag for the night at camp
Good to know
Camel ride: about 45 minutes to 1 hour at a walking pace; no experience is needed. If you prefer not to ride, the camp can also be reached by vehicle.
The camp: nomad-style tents with real beds and bedding, and shared bathrooms with running water. It is simple and clean, not a hotel.
The dunes: the dunes near Zagora are smaller than the great dunes of Merzouga, which makes them easy for first-time camel riders.
Long road days: Zagora is about 360 km from Marrakech by road, so both days include several hours of driving with regular stops.
Before you go: read about the currency Morocco uses, safety for tourists and tap water in Morocco.
Moroccan Travel Trips, operated by PROMYTHIC TOURS SARL AU, offers licensed tourist guide services in Morocco. Your guide, Mouhssine Eliouj, holds Ministry of Tourism licence no. 2898.
Frequently asked questions
Is this tour suitable for first-time visitors to Morocco?
Yes. The pace is comfortable, the guide is with you throughout, and Zagora's smaller dunes are easy for first-time camel riders.
How far is Zagora from Marrakech?
About 360 km by road, over the Tizi n'Tichka pass and through Ouarzazate. Both days include several hours of driving with regular stops.
How demanding is the camel ride?
Not demanding: it lasts about 45 minutes to 1 hour at a walking pace, and no experience is needed. If you prefer not to ride, the camp can be reached by vehicle.
What is the desert camp like?
Nomad-style tents with real beds and bedding, and shared bathrooms with running water. The camp is simple and clean rather than luxurious.
Which currency should I bring?
Moroccan dirhams (MAD) in cash, for lunches, entrance fees, tips and souvenirs, since cards are not always accepted in small towns.
Can I book this as a private tour?
Yes. A private tour gives you more freedom over departure time, pace and stops. Send your dates and group size on WhatsApp and we will confirm the price.
Guest reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to tell others how it went.
Leave a review