Zagora desert
The quickest way to sleep in the desert from Marrakech - but let us be clear. Zagora is two days and one night, against three for Merzouga: you cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka, follow Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, then the fine Draa valley, its palm groves and its earth kasbahs, to the edge of the Sahara. The bivouac, the sunset camel, the fire and the stars are all real. But Zagora's dunes (Tinfou, Erg Lehoudi) are modest, some thirty metres - far from the great Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga or the Erg Chigaga, further south. Zagora is a first taste of the desert, reachable and affordable, not the postcard great erg. Pick it if you have few days. For real great dunes, count three days to Merzouga.
Zagora is an oasis town in southern Morocco, on the Draa river, long seen as one of the gates of the Sahara - here starts the famous ‘Timbuktu, 52 days’ sign that recalls the length of the caravan trip on camel. From Marrakech, you reach it on a long day of road, via the Tizi n’Tichka pass, Aït Ben Haddou and the fine Draa valley with its palm groves. It is the desert closest to reach for a bivouac night - provided you know its dunes are modest: Zagora is a taste of the deep South, not yet the great sand erg you find further out, at Merzouga.
Zagora is the short format for a taste of the deep South. To push further and loop through to Fes, aim for Merzouga - see our Marrakech - Merzouga - Fes circuit.
On your own or on a tour?
What to expect
About half a day. Times are indicative.
Marrakech → Ouarzazate
Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m), stop at Aït Ben Haddou (UNESCO ksar), then Ouarzazate. Lunch on your own.
The Draa valley → Zagora
Down via Agdz into the Draa valley: palm groves and earth kasbahs, through to Zagora.
Camel & bivouac
Camel ride at sunset to the camp, dinner and Berber music around the fire, night in a tent.
Sunrise
Waking at the camp, at the foot of the dunes, and breakfast in morning light.
Back to Marrakech
Return by the same axis, often with the Taourirt kasbah at Ouarzazate. Back in the evening.
What you see there
The Zagora dunes
The bivouac runs in modest dunes - Tinfou, Erg Lehoudi - some thirty metres high. Real Saharan sand, but on a modest scale: fine at sunset, no match for Merzouga's great dunes. Worth knowing before setting out.
The Draa valley
The real prize of the trip: past Agdz, the road follows the Draa palm grove, Morocco's longest oasis, dotted with ksour and earth kasbahs. An end-of-the-world landscape, between desert and palms.
The bivouac night
Berber tent, dinner around the fire, drums and a starry sky away from towns. From the standard camp with shared facilities to the luxury tent with private bathroom.
Zagora and 'Timbuktu 52 days'
The oasis town keeps the famous 'Timbuktu 52 days' sign, the length of the caravan trip on camel. Around it, pisé kasbahs, the Amazrou potters' quarter and, further south, the green pottery of Tamegroute.
What is included
Good to know
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We do not sell the tickets: booking goes through GetYourGuide. The price is the same as direct, a small commission comes back to this guide.
