3 days · 2 nights
Private tours from Marrakech
2-Day Marrakech to Zagora Desert Tour
A short desert escape from Marrakech — Ait Benhaddou, the palm-lined Draa Valley and a sunset camel ride to a desert camp near Zagora.
- Duration
- 2 days · 1 night
- Departure
- Marrakech
- Destination
- Zagora desert (Draa Valley)
- Ends in
- Marrakech
Overview
If you only have two days, this route gives you a genuine taste of the south: the High Atlas, the famous ksar of Ait Benhaddou and the palm-lined Draa Valley, ending with a camel ride and a night at a desert camp near Zagora.
It is a full first day on the road, so it suits travellers who are happy with longer drives in exchange for a lot of scenery in a short time. If the great dunes are what you are after, the three-day tour to Merzouga is the better choice — Zagora has a rocky, stony desert landscape with smaller dunes.
Route
- Marrakech
- Tizi n'Tichka
- Ait Benhaddou
- Ouarzazate
- Agdz
- Zagora
- Marrakech
Highlights
- Cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m)
- Visit the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Benhaddou, a famous film location
- Follow the Draa Valley and its long ribbon of palm groves
- Sunset camel ride and a night in a desert camp
- Taourirt Kasbah and the film studios of Ouarzazate
Photo gallery
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Marrakech – Ait Benhaddou – Ouarzazate – Draa Valley – Zagora
We leave Marrakech in the morning and cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) to Ait Benhaddou, the UNESCO World Heritage ksar seen in films such as Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator and in Game of Thrones. After a visit and time for lunch, we continue to Ouarzazate, the "door of the desert", then over the Anti-Atlas through the Berber village of Agdz and along the palm groves of the Draa Valley to Zagora. Here you swap the 4×4 for a camel to ride out for sunset, followed by dinner and a night in a nomad-style desert camp.
- Overnight:
- Desert camp near Zagora
Day 2
Zagora – Draa Valley – Ouarzazate – Marrakech
Wake early for sunrise, have breakfast and ride back by camel to meet your driver. We drive back up the Draa Valley to Ouarzazate to visit the Taourirt Kasbah and the film studios, with time for lunch on the way. In the afternoon we return over the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech, stopping for photographs, and drop you at your accommodation.
What's included
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation or the airport
- Private transport in an air-conditioned 4×4, including fuel
- English-speaking driver
- 1 night in a luxury desert camp with private bathrooms
- Camel ride (one camel per person)
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stops at points of interest along the route
- Berber drumming evening at the camp
What's not included
- Flights
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Tips
Accommodation
- Night 1: desert camp near Zagora
Practical information
- Tour type
- Private tour with your own driver and vehicle
- Pick-up
- Your accommodation or the airport in Marrakech
- Good to know
- Zagora is the closest desert experience to Marrakech. For the high sand dunes of Erg Chebbi, choose a tour of three days or more to Merzouga.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private tour?
Yes. Our tours are private: you travel only with your own group, with a dedicated driver and vehicle. You will not be joined by other travellers.
Where does the tour start and finish?
The tour starts in Marrakech, with pick-up from your accommodation or the airport, and finishes in Marrakech. If you would like to start or finish somewhere else, let us know — the starting and end points can be adapted.
How much does this tour cost?
The price depends on the number of travellers, your travel dates and your choice of accommodation. Send us your dates and group size by WhatsApp or email and we will reply with a personal quote.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. Every itinerary can be adapted to your pace, interests and budget — you can add nights, skip stops or combine routes. Tell us what you have in mind when you enquire.
Related tours
- 3 days · 2 nights
4 days · 3 nights
3 days · 2 nights
Ready to plan your Morocco journey?
Tell us when you would like to travel and who is coming. We will reply personally with ideas, availability and a quote.
WhatsApp +212 633 136 786 · greatmoroccoexperience@gmail.com