Get a unique experience with this 2 day desert tour marrakech. Although short, it offers an action-packed adventure through the stunning High Atlas Mountains, providing a glimpse into Morocco’s dramatic landscapes.
The highlights of the trip will be the many Berber villages and impressive Kasbahs, such as Aït Ben Haddou and Tamnougalte. You’ll pass through fertile valleys dotted with palm and fruit trees, and enjoy seasonal rivers and lush oases. Along the ancient caravan routes, you’ll feel a connection to Morocco’s rich history, where merchants once traveled for months, carrying valuable goods from Mali and Niger. The tour also includes visits to renowned pottery cooperatives and the Qoranic Library, home to exquisite manuscripts and calligraphy. As the day ends, you’ll ride camels at sunset, enjoy a traditional Moroccan meal, and experience Berber music around a campfire in a luxurious desert camp.
The Marrakech to Zagora desert trip begins at 8:30 am with a departure from your Marrakech hotel or traditional riad, traveling in a 4×4 across the High Atlas Mountains and the iconic Tizi-n-Tichka pass (2260m). The breathtaking views of the valleys and adobe Berber villages perched on the mountain sides are unforgettable.
After crossing the mountains, you’ll pass through the smaller Tizi-n-Infinite pass (1660m) before reaching the Draa Valley at Agdz. For a brief time, the route diverges from the main road, following part of the ancient caravan trail that once connected the mountains to the river. As you pass through various villages and lush gardens, you’ll gain insight into the traditional Berber way of life in the oases.
Upon arriving in Zagora, you’ll go on Zagora desert camp experience to the dunes, where you can enjoy a spectacular sunset. Alternatively, you can choose to drive to the camp in your 4×4. While the dunes here are smaller compared to those further south or east, they offer the Desert Tour trip Marrakech on a two-day trip.
Your night is spent in a luxury desert camp featuring private bathrooms, king-sized beds, and handmade Moroccan furnishings, all designed to your experience of the serene beauty and quiet of the dunes.
If you rise early during your Marrakech to Zagora desert trip, you’ll be rewarded with an unforgettable sunrise, where the dunes cast beautiful, long shadows. After breakfast, head south for a visit to the Qoranic library in Tamegroute, home to countless exquisite manuscripts.
Next, stop at the local potteries of Tamgroute, famous for producing the distinctive green pottery seen throughout southern Morocco and in the Marrakech medina.
Leaving the main Marrakech road north of Ouarzazate, you’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aït Ben Haddou, the most iconic Kasbah in Morocco. This historic site has been featured in numerous Hollywood films and played a significant role in Morocco’s past, as it was once a hub for traders bringing goods like slaves, gold, ivory, and salt from sub-Saharan Africa to Marrakech and beyond.
Continuing along the stunning Ounila Valley road, you’ll get a glimpse of rural Berber life before reaching the Telouet Kasbah, once owned by the powerful Glaoui family, Lords of the Atlas. The last Pasha had his property seized after conspiring against the King, and the kasbah now stands as crumbling ruins, especially the 18th- and 19th-century buildings. Sadly, due to the damage from the September 2023 earthquake, the Kasbah is currently closed, but it’s still worth exploring its exterior with a local guide to learn about its fascinating history.
As you head back towards Marrakech, you’ll pass through Berber villages along the river, surrounded by beautiful oleander and poplar trees. The gardens are lush with olives, walnuts, pomegranates, apples, pears, and quinces. Finally, Your Desert Tour trip to Marrakech concludes as you arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon.
Morocco stole my heart Abdelali and the team planned a perfect itinerary including watching sunsets over the dunes and tasting the best tagines I felt so welcomed everywhere we went Highly recommend
