This 3-day tour from Marrakech to Zagora Desert offers a slower and deeper exploration of southern Morocco than the express 2-day version. You’ll cross the High Atlas Mountains, discover the kasbah of Aït Benhaddou, travel through Ouarzazate and the Draa Valley, and enjoy camel rides and nights under the stars in the desert.
Unlike Merzouga tours, Zagora is closer and features smaller dunes, but the cultural stops and palm groves along the Draa make this tour especially unique. It’s the perfect balance of history, landscapes, and desert adventure in just 3 days.
Expect a journey that mixes culture, nature, and desert tranquility. You’ll see fortified kasbahs, palm oases, and Berber villages along the way. Nights are spent in comfortable accommodations, with one night in a traditional desert camp.
The highlight is riding camels into the dunes at sunset, dining around a campfire, and gazing at the night sky in complete silence.
Depart Marrakech early in the morning and cross the High Atlas Mountains via the winding Tizi n’Tichka Pass. Stop at viewpoints and Berber villages before reaching Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage kasbah and famous film location. Continue to Ouarzazate for lunch and a short visit of Kasbah Taourirt or the film studios. By afternoon, follow the scenic Draa Valley, lined with palm groves and kasbahs, until reaching Zagora. Dinner and overnight in a local guesthouse or riad.
After breakfast, drive further south to Mhamid, the last village before the Sahara. From here, enjoy a camel ride through the dunes at sunset, experiencing the beauty of the desert up close. Dinner and traditional Berber music around a campfire await you at the desert camp. Overnight in tents beneath the stars.
Wake early to watch the sunrise over the desert dunes, followed by breakfast at camp. Ride camels or take a 4×4 transfer back to Zagora village. Begin the return journey through the Draa Valley, stopping in Ouarzazate for lunch and photos. Cross the High Atlas Mountains again, arriving in Marrakech by evening.
