Zagora Desert Trip from Marrakech – 2 days

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2-day desert tour from Marrakech to Zagora- overview:

This Zagora desert tour from Marrakech is an ideal option for travellers who don’t have that much time but still want to experience a desert adventure. On this private Marrakech to Zagora 2-day desert trip, you will travel over the high Atlas Mountains and drive via the famous pass of Tizi-n-Tichka. All along the road, enjoy splendid views of the often snow-covered mountains and the fertile valleys. Stop for a tea break in one of the beautiful Berber villages barely distinguishable from the mountain’s entourage.

Stop by the film studios to photograph intact film sets of many familiar cinematic works.  After lunch in Ouarzazate, visit Kasbah Tamnougalte, an adobe-built kasbah that is still inhabited. Explore Dra’a Valley palm tree fields and wander the green oases. Go off-track through the ancient Road of the Caravans and along fortified Kasbahs standing tall among the palm trees. Stop by Zagora, the last town before the desert.

Enjoy a sunset camel ride around the Zagora desert and photograph your party wearing blue turbans. Dine under a starlit sky, enjoy nomad dancing, and sing around a fire camp. Sleep in your own comfortable nomad tent in a desert camp in the middle of nowhere.

Visit the green pottery local workshops and learn how to make your favourite pottery coffee mug. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, and the former palatial residence, Kasbah Telouet. End your 2 days Marrakech to Zagora desert tour by crossing the Atlas Mountains and arriving back at your hotel.

Zagora desert trip tour from Marrakech 2 days – highlights:

• Travel over the Atlas Mountains and drive via the Tizi-n-Tichka pass
• Stop at panoramic viewpoints to admire the views of the valleys and the Berber villages
• Discover the film sets in the Atlas Studios outside Ouarzazate
• Drive over the Middle Atlas Mountains, via the famous Tizi-n-Tinfifite pass
• Visit Kasbah Tamnougalte and wander Dra’a Valley’s palm tree fields
• Drive off-road along the ancient Road of the Caravans and along fortified Kasbahs
• Ride camels in Zagora desert and witness the spectacles of the sunset and sunrise
• Dine in a magical place under a starlit sky and dance to Berber music and around a fire camp
• Sleep in your own comfortable nomad tent in a Zagora desert camp
• Pay a visit to the green pottery co-operatives and learn how to make pottery
• Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou and Telouet Kasbah
• Cross the often snow-topped Atlas Mountains and arrive back at Marrakech

What is included in this 2-day Marrakech desert tour:

• Private transportation in a 4×4 air-conditioned comfortable vehicle or a luxury minivan
• Pick-up from and drop-off at your accommodation in Marrakech
• Experienced English/French/Spanish-speaking Berber driver/ guide
• Overnight in an authentic/ luxury desert camp in Zagora desert dunes
• All meals, 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner with vegetarian and vegan options
• Option to go to and to come back from the camp on camelback or in the 4×4 car
• Camel ride for an hour to an hour and a half and free sand-boarding
• Free tea, coffee, and mineral water during your stay in the desert
• Berber music and drumming around fire camp under the stars in the dunes
• The opportunity to ask the driver to stop for breaks whenever you wish
• Entrance fees and local guides in the relevant places

What is not included:

• Soft drinks
• Tips
• Extra

Good to know about Marrakech to Zagora desert tour:

• This 2 day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Zagora can be tailor-made to fit your individual areas of interest
• This Zagora desert tour is free of hidden costs, cheap tourists’ traps, or forced shopping
• You can choose to go to the camp on camelback or by 4×4 car (then, you go for a camel ride)
• Please note that Zagora desert dunes do not offer big sand dunes as Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga or Erg Chagaga dunes beyond M’hamid.
• You need at least 3 days to go from Marrakech to the big dunes in the Sahara Desert.

Price details

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Zagora desert trip from Marrakech 2 days – itinerary:

1st day: Marrakech – Zagora Desert

Kick off your Zagora desert trip from Marrakech by morning departure from your riad or hotel towards the Zagora desert dunes. Travel across the Atlas Mountains and drive via the fascinating pass of Tizi-n-Tichka, the highest mountain peak in Africa.

All along the road, you will stop at panoramic viewpoints to take breaks, to photograph the beautiful views of the valleys and the beautiful Berber villages perched on the side of the mountain’s entourage. After crossing the pass, you continue descending the mountains to arrive in Ouarzazate which will be the venue for lunch.

Afterwards, Agdz, situated at the edge of the valley, you will stop at Kasbah Tamnougalte, which you will visit with a local guide. This is the oldest kasbah in the Dra’a Valley and is still partly inhabited.

Next on your Zagora desert tours itinerary, you will go off-road along the Dra’a Valley’s unlimited palm trees and drive along the ancient Road of the Caravans to get a better the fortified kasbahs and the green oases before arriving at Zagora.

Here in the Zagora desert, an hour’s camel ride leads to the top of the dunes from which the sunset is spectacular. At the campsite, you will be welcomed by traditional tea and Moroccan biscuits and almond.

At night, dinner is served under a starlit sky, followed by an evening of Berber music and drumming around fa fire camp. sleep in a comfortable nomad tent in a desert camp in the middle of the dunes.

2nd day: Zagora Desert – Marrakech

Get up early enough to witness the spectacle of the sunrise of your Zagora desert tour from Marrakech. You will be rewarded by a wonderful play of shadows across the wind-blown sand dunes. On the summit of the dunes immerse yourself in moments of pure peacefulness.

Following breakfast in the camp, there will an opportunity to go on a second camel ride around the dunes. Shortly after, you drive to Tamegroute village, where you will visit the green potter co-operatives and learn how to make pottery.

After Ouarzazate, you continue to the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. This kasbah is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where many Hollywood blockbuster was filmed including “Gladiator”, “Alexander”, and some scenes of the famous TV series “Game of Thrones”. Visit the kasbah with a local guide for greater insight into the rich history of this site.

Afterwards, you travel along the beautiful Ounila Valley as far as the Kasbah Telouet. This kasbah once served as a palatial residence to the Lord of the Atlas and the Glaoui Tribe. Some parts of the kasbah are in ruins, while others are still intact and are a good representation of Moroccan tiling, and wood craftsmanship.

After lunch, you continue your Zagora desert trip travelling through Berber villages, along the green valleys, bordered by roses, olive trees, and herbs of goats searching for grass and herbs, and over the often snow-topped Atlas Mountains. We arrive back at Marrakech by the end of the afternoon to end your 2 days desert trip from Marrakech.

Map of 2-day desert tour from Marrakech: