Zagora Desert in 2 Days

Morning: early pickup in Marrakech and departure over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) into the south. Stop at the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Benhaddou for a guided walk through its earthen lanes.

Midday: continue via Ouarzazate and down the Draa Valley — Morocco's longest river valley, lined with palmeraies and kasbah villages. Lunch en route.

Afternoon: arrive in Zagora and ride camels into the dunes for sunset. The Zagora dunes are lower and rockier than the great sand sea of Erg Chebbi — an honest Sahara taste in half the driving time.

Evening: dinner at the desert camp, music around the fire, and a night in a private tent under the stars.

Morning: optional sunrise over the dunes, breakfast at the camp, and camel ride back to the road. Optional stop in Tamgroute, known for its pottery workshops and historic library, time permitting.

Midday: drive back up the Draa Valley with photo stops at viewpoints and kasbah villages. Lunch en route.

Afternoon: recross the High Atlas to Marrakech with an evening arrival and drop-off at your accommodation.

Want the great dunes instead? Our 3-day Merzouga trip reaches the towering Erg Chebbi sand sea.