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Zagora desert and dunes tour – overview:
For a brief but perfect glimpse of Saharan dunes, we suggest taking this two-day Zagora desert tour. Although short, it is nevertheless an adventure-packed excursion to the other side of the High Atlas Mountains.
The greatest memories of this trip will surely be the innumerable Berber villages and Kasbahs such as those of Aït ben Haddou and Tamnougalte, the fertile valleys with their palm and fruit trees, walnuts and almonds, seasonal rivers and green oases.
You will experience a sense of Morocco’s historic past along the ancient caravan route. Over many months the caravans used to traverse the Sahara laden with precious goods from Mali or Niger.
Another particular feature of the tour is a visit to the well-known pottery co-operatives, and the Qoranic Library, full of marvellous manuscripts of magnificent calligraphy.
You will have the thrill of a sunset camel ride, followed by a traditional Moroccan meal and an evening of Berber music round a campfire in a luxury camp.
Experience the majesty and wonder of our completely unique range of Marrakech desert tours. The journey starts here!
2-day desert tour from Marrakech to Zagora – highlights:
- Driving over the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass and the High Atlas Mountains
- Exploring the famous Kasbahs: Telouet, Aït ben Haddou, Tamnougalte
- Traversing the Ounila and Dra’a Valleys full of gardens and fields
- Riding a camel to the camp in Zagora to watch the spectacular sunset
- Sleeping in your own private luxurious tent at the edge of the dunes
- Visiting the green pottery co-operatives and the ancient Qoranic Library
What is included on this 2-day desert tour from Marrakech:
- Transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle; 4×4 Toyota Prado TX or deluxe van and fuel
- Pick-up from and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Marrakech
- Experienced local English, French, Spanish or Italian-speaking Berber and nomad driver/guide
- The night in a spacious and beautifully decorated luxury tent with private bathroom
- All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner and with vegetarian and vegan options available on request
- A camel ride with a guide. If you wish to do some sandboarding, just speak to the camp staff!
- Option to go to and return from the camp by 4×4
- Luggage service to the camp
- Berber drumming and music
- Free time to explore sites like Aït ben Haddou, the Dra’a valley, for walks, photos, and tea/coffee breaks
- The opportunity to ask the driver to stop when and wherever you wish
- Entrance fees and local guide at the famous sites
- Tea, coffee, as well as mineral water in the desert
What is not included:
- Drinks
- Tips
- Extras
What to know about this Zagora desert tour from Marrakech:
- This Zagora dunes desert tour can be customised to be more personal and special
- Zagora is a black and rocky desert with small dunes. For more expansive dunes, you would benefit from the 3-day trips to the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga or those in Erg Chegaga.
- You can always consult your driver about skipping some spots in order to spend more time elsewhere
- Here is a downloadable packing list to help plan for your Moroccan desert tour
- We require a 30% deposit of the total price to book the car. The balance is payable to us in the office in Ouarzazate
- We accept payment through PayPal, bank transfers in Europe, by credit card, or cash (USD, euro, GBP or MAD)
- We offer a 25% discount for children under 12, and one child under 3 per family travels free of charge
- These prices are liable to fluctuation according to the current exchange rate
- Our prices can be subject to an increase over the busy season, and, in particular, the Christmas and New Year’s Eve period
Prices per person
| No Days | Meals |
|---|---|
| All-inclusive | |
| Total price | |
| 2 PERSONS |
|---|
| 275 € * |
| 550 € * |
| 3 PERSONS |
|---|
| 235 € * |
| 705 € * |
| 4 PERSONS |
|---|
| 215 € * |
| 860 € * |
| 5 PERSONS |
|---|
| 195 € * |
| 975 € * |
| 6 PERSONS |
|---|
| 195 € * |
| 1170 € * |
Private Marrakech to Zagora 2-day desert trip – itinerary:
1st day: Marrakech – Zagora
It’s an 8.30 am departure in a 4×4 from your Marrakech hotel or traditional riad accommodation, taking you across the High Atlas Mountains and the famous Tizi-n-Tichka (2260m). From these mountains, the views over the valleys and the adobe Berber villages clinging to the mountainsides are quite breath-taking.
South of Ouarzazate located on the far side of the mountains, you cross another smaller pass, Tizi-n-Tinfifite, (1660m) to reach the head of the Dra’a Valley at Agdez. For a short while, we go away from the main road, along some of the ancient caravan route between the mountains and the river. Passing the many villages and gardens, you will gain a clear image of the Berber way of life in the oases.
Once in Zagora, there is the much anticipated camel ride to reach the dunes, from where you can watch the spectacular sunset. You can also drive to the camp in your 4×4, if you prefer. These dunes are small in comparison with the others further south and in the east. However, they are the nearest to Marrakech for a trip to the desert over two days.
You spend the night in a luxury desert camp with private bathroom, king-sized beds, hand-made Moroccan furnishings and lamps tastefully arranged to enhance your enjoyment of the silence and beauty of the dunes.
2nd day: Zagora — Marrakech
If you get up early enough to see the incredible sunrise on your Zagora desert trip, you will be rewarded by the wonderful shadows cast by the dunes. After breakfast, you turn south a short distance to visit the Qoranic library in Tamegroute, which has innumerable exquisite manuscripts.
Another stopping off point is the local potteries of Tamgroute, which produce the green pottery you will see all over the south and also in the Marrakech medina.
North of Ouarzazate, you leave the main Marrakech road to reach the visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ait Ben Haddou. This kasbah is the most famous in Morocco and is an essential part of any visit to the south. It has been used for many Hollywood films. More significantly traders brought slaves, gold, ivory and salt from sub-Saharan Africa here and then onto Marrakech and beyond. So the Kasbah forms an important part of Moroccan history.
Along the truly magnificent Ounila Valley road northwards, you gain another insight to the life style of rural Berbers. At the top of this road, you reach Telouet Kasbah, which belonged to the Lords of the Atlas, the Glaoui family. The last Pasha had his property confiscated for having plotted against the King and the buildings are now crumbling ruins with the buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries in particular disrepair.
Unfortunately, the whole Kasbah is now closed due to the damage caused by the earthquake that struck Morocco in September 2023. Nevertheless, it is still worth visiting the exterior with a local guide to discover its rich history.
Back on the main road to Marrakech, you pass many Berber villages along the river bordered by beautiful oleander and poplar trees. The gardens are full of olives, walnuts, pomegranates, apples, pears and quinces.
Your desert adventure concludes when we reach Marrakech at the end of the afternoon.
