2 Days to Zagora from Marrakech

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This is our 2 days to Zagora from Marrakech, run privately with your own driver and an air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan. Two days is enough to cross the High Atlas, sleep out by the dunes in the Draa valley, and be back in Marrakech the next evening. You set the pace, and we stop wherever you want a photo or a glass of mint tea. It’s the quickest way to reach the Sahara from Marrakech if you’re short on time but still want a night under the stars, and the road down through the kasbahs is a big part of why people love it.

Trip highlights

• Private trip with your own driver and an air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan
• Explore the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the mud-brick ksar from the films
• Camel trek into the Zagora dunes
• Follow the palm groves of the Draa valley
• Visit the film studios and kasbahs of Ouarzazate

Day 1: Marrakech to Zagora

We pick you up after breakfast and climb the Tizi n’Tichka, the pass that carries the road up and over the Atlas at more than 2,200 metres. We stop at Ait Ben Haddou to walk up through the old earthen kasbah, the one you’ve likely seen in the films, then push on past Ouarzazate and the Anti-Atlas at Agdz into the Draa valley, where the palm groves run for miles along the river between the ruined kasbahs. Late in the day you reach the small dunes near Zagora, close to the old sign that reads fifty-two days to Timbuktu by camel. A camel takes you out over the sand to camp, and it’s worth climbing a little higher on foot to watch the light drop.

Route: Marrakech, Tizi n’Tichka pass, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Agdz, Draa valley, Zagora. Sunset camel ride, night in a desert camp.

Day 2: Zagora back to Marrakech

Get up for the sunrise over the dunes if you can; the camp is quiet and the light comes up fast. After breakfast a camel brings you back to the vehicle and we start the drive home. We come back through the Draa palm groves, Agdz and Ouarzazate, with time to stretch your legs and eat lunch along the way. There’s usually a last stop at a viewpoint over the valley before the road turns up into the mountains. We cross the Tichka a second time and reach Marrakech by evening, and we drop you wherever you’re staying.

Route: Zagora, Draa valley, Agdz, Ouarzazate, Tizi n’Tichka, Marrakech.

Hotels, standing and route match our operated tour; the exact accommodation and the full list of what’s included are confirmed when you book.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a private tour?

Yes. You travel with just your own group, your own driver and vehicle. Nobody else joins, so the stops and the pace are yours to set.

Where do we sleep along the way?

You spend a night in a desert camp in the dunes, reached by camel, plus nights in kasbah hotels or guesthouses on the road. The standing is the same as our operated tour, and we confirm the exact places when you book.

When is the best time to go?

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable. Summer days get very hot and winter nights in the desert are cold, so bring layers whatever the season.

Can we change the itinerary or the pick-up point?

Yes. Because it is private, we can add nights, swap stops, or start from a different city or airport. Tell us what you have in mind and we will adjust the plan.

Book the trip

Price on request. Send us a message on WhatsApp for dates and a quote, or hold your spot online with a deposit.