2 day Zagora desert trip: the closest desert to Marrakech
Quick answer: the 2 day tour from Marrakech to the Zagora desert is the best option if you’re short on time: cross the High Atlas, visit Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, follow the Draa Valley, ride a camel at sunset and sleep in a desert camp before returning to Marrakech the next day.
Zagora is about 7 hours from Marrakech, much closer than Merzouga, so you can go and come back in 2 days with a night in the desert. This 2 day desert trip from Marrakech is perfect for short stays or to combine with other visits.
It’s a private Zagora tour: riad pick-up, only your group, your own driver and flexible stops. Note that the Zagora dunes are smaller than Merzouga’s.
Highlights of the 2 day Zagora tour
2 day Zagora desert tour: itinerary
Day 1Marrakech – High Atlas – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Zagora
Hotel pick-up around 8:00 and drive over the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka. We visit the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, pass Ouarzazate and Agdz and follow the Draa Valley to Zagora. At sunset, camel ride to the camp.
Day 2Zagora – Draa Valley – Ouarzazate – Marrakech
Sunrise in the desert, camel ride back and breakfast. We return via the Draa Valley and Ouarzazate, cross the High Atlas and reach Marrakech in the afternoon.
What’s included in the 2 day Zagora tour price
✔ Included in the price
- Pick-up and drop-off at your riad or hotel
- Private air-conditioned transport
- English & Spanish speaking driver
- Fuel
- 1 night in a Zagora desert camp
- 1 breakfast and 1 dinner
- Camel ride (one camel per person)
✖ Not included
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Local guides (optional)
- Tips (optional)
- Travel insurance
Photos of the 2 day Zagora desert tour
Route map: Marrakech – Zagora
Travel with a local agency specialising in the Sahara
FAQ about the 2 day Zagora tour
How much does the 2 day Zagora tour cost?
The price depends on group size, season and accommodation. As a private tour, the more travellers, the lower the price per person. Message us for a free quote.
Is it a private tour?
Yes: only your group, in an air-conditioned vehicle with your own English or Spanish speaking driver, and we can adapt stops and timings.
Zagora or Merzouga?
Zagora is closer and can be done in 2 days, but its dunes are smaller. For the big Erg Chebbi dunes, choose the 3 day Merzouga tour.
When is the best time to go?
March to May and September to November. See our guide on the best time to visit Morocco.