📅3 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Zagora and Chegaga Dunes

Marrakech to Zagora is more than a route—it’s the gateway to a once-in-a-lifetime adventure into the heart of Morocco’s desert soul. This 3-day desert tour invites you to journey through the majestic High Atlas Mountains, discover the cinematic beauty of UNESCO-listed kasbahs, and explore the breathtaking dunes of Erg Chegaga. Starting from the vibrant city of Marrakech, you’ll travel to Zagora, where the golden sands of the Sahara begin their mesmerizing dance. Along the way, encounter lush palm groves, traditional Berber villages, and authentic desert camps under a canopy of stars. Rich in culture, history, and unforgettable landscapes, this immersive escape offers the perfect blend of exploration, relaxation, and timeless Moroccan charm—crafted especially for travelers seeking depth and discovery beyond the ordinary.

📌Must-see destinations During Marrakech to Zagora trip

• Erg Chegaga Desert
• Zagora
• Drâa Valley
• Ouarzazate
• Aït Ben Haddou
• Lake Iriki
• Berber villages and secret oases

📌Departure and return

• Departure: From your accommodation in Marrakech at 08:00 (please be ready at 07:45).
• Return: To your accommodation in Marrakech
• Dress code: Comfortable, casual clothing, Walking shoes, Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
• Prices: Price varies depending on the number of participants
• Discounts available for groups
• Duration: 3 days / 2 nights

📌What’s included in Marrakech to Zagora

✔️Includes round-trip transfer from and to your accommodation in Marrakech.

✔️Transportation in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle

✔️Professional English or French speaking driver/guide

✔️Accommodation on a half-board basis (dinner and breakfast included)

✔️Overnight stay in a bivouac in the desert with dinner and breakfast

✔️Camel rides at sunset and sunrise

✔️Fuel and mineral water during the ride

📌Not included in Marrakech to Zagora

✖️Lunches and soft drinks

✖️Tips and personal expenses

✖️Entrance fees to the sites

📌Highlights of Marrakech to Zagora Trip

1. Travel across the legendary Tizi N’Tichka pass, the highest mountain road in Morocco.
2. Visit to the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, UNESCO World Heritage Site
3. Unique experience of a camel ride in the M’Hamid desert
4. A magical night in a nomad tent in the Chegaga dunes
5. Traditional dinner and Berber music around the campfire
6. Exploring the palm groves, traditional villages and oases of the south
7. Spectacular sunsets and sunrises over the Sahara dunes
8. Discovering the contrasting landscapes between mountains, valleys, plateaus and desert

📌Detailed itinerary of Marrakech to Zagora trip

📍Day 1: Marrakech – Aït Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Drâa Valley – Zagora

Marrakech to Zagora is the perfect starting point for an unforgettable journey into Morocco’s southern wonders. Begin your day of discovery at 8 a.m. with a departure from the enchanting city of Marrakech, setting out toward the High Atlas Mountains via the spectacular Tizi N’Tichka pass, which peaks at 2,260 meters. As you climb, the scenery transforms dramatically—terraced Berber villages, sweeping green valleys, and panoramic vistas unfold at every turn, offering a photographer’s dream.

Your first major stop is the iconic Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site that rises from the desert like a mirage. This ancient fortified village, famous for its traditional earthen architecture and cinematic history, invites you to wander its maze-like alleys and absorb the timeless spirit of southern Morocco.

From there, the road leads you to Ouarzazate, also known as “The Moroccan Hollywood.” This desert city has hosted blockbuster films and series such as Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Lawrence of Arabia. After a scenic lunch break, your adventure continues through the lush, palm-filled Drâa Valley, one of the longest and most beautiful valleys in the country, guiding you steadily toward Zagora, the gateway to the Sahara.

As the sun sets, settle into a charming local hotel at the edge of the desert, where comfort meets authenticity—an ideal way to rest before your immersive Sahara experience begins the next day.

📍Day 2: Zagora – Tamegroute – M’Hamid – Erg Chegaga Dunes

After beginning your unforgettable Marrakech to Zagora journey, the adventure continues deep into Morocco’s untouched desert landscapes. After a nourishing breakfast, set off toward the far south, where the Sahara slowly reveals its timeless majesty. Your first cultural encounter awaits in Tamegroute, a hidden gem steeped in spiritual heritage. Famous for its ancient Koranic library, home to centuries-old manuscripts, and its distinctive green-glazed pottery, this village offers a rare glimpse into the intellectual and artistic legacy of southern Morocco.

Next, arrive at M’Hamid El Ghizlane, the last village before the road gives way to the vastness of the Sahara. Here, civilization fades behind you as you climb into a 4×4 and venture into the wild expanse. The terrain shifts from rocky plains to windswept sand, until finally, the breathtaking Erg Chegaga dunes rise before you—some soaring over 300 meters high. In the very soul of the desert, where silence speaks louder than words, travelers rediscover a deep connection with the raw beauty of nature.

One of the most magical moments of the journey awaits: a peaceful camel ride at sunset, gliding across golden dunes bathed in amber light. The calm, the endless horizon, the spiritual stillness—it’s an experience that touches something deep and ancient within you.

As night falls, settle into a traditional Berber bivouac nestled in the dunes. Enjoy a hearty dinner under the stars, serenaded by desert drums and warm nomadic hospitality. Choose to sleep in a cozy tent or under the open sky, where countless stars shimmer above. This is the Sahara as it was meant to be lived—authentic, poetic, and unforgettable.

📍Day 3: Erg Chegaga – Lake Iriki – Foum Zguid – Taznakht – High Atlas – Marrakech

Your Marrakech to Zagora desert adventure concludes with a final day full of awe and discovery. Rise early to witness one of nature’s most spellbinding sights: a sunrise over the Sahara. As dawn softly brushes the vast dunes of Erg Chegaga, the desert awakens in a serene ballet of golden and blush tones, unveiling its timeless grandeur in silent splendor. After a hearty breakfast in your desert camp, it’s time to begin the return journey to Marrakech—still through wild, untamed landscapes that hold the soul of Morocco.

You’ll first cross a stunning off-road stretch of the desert, traversing hammada (rocky desert plains) and the ancient bed of Lake Iriki, now a vast and desolate salt flat. Though dry today, this region once welcomed migratory birds and nomadic tribes, and it still exudes an atmosphere of raw, timeless beauty that remains untouched by modern life.

By midday, you’ll reach Foum Zguid, a peaceful desert village nestled at the edge of the Sahara, and soon after, the town of Taznakht. Renowned throughout Morocco for its handwoven Berber carpets, this is a perfect opportunity to dive into the centuries-old art of Moroccan weaving and meet local artisans who preserve this cultural treasure with pride and skill.

The road then leads you back through the changing scenery of southern Morocco: from quiet oases and traditional adobe villages to winding mountain roads. As you ascend the dramatic curves of the Tizi N’Tichka pass, the High Atlas opens once again before you in all its splendor.

You’ll arrive back in Marrakech by early evening, your heart filled with memories of golden dunes, Berber hospitality, starry skies, and powerful moments of discovery. The desert may be behind you—but its spirit will stay with you long after the sand has left your shoes.

📌Unforgettable moments to capture Durring Marrakech to Zagora trip

1. The grandiose landscapes of the High Atlas
2. The ksar of Aït Ben Haddou in the late afternoon
3. The silhouettes of camels in the Chegaga dunes
4. The starry skies of the Sahara desert
5. The contrasts between the oases, the lunar plateaus and the sandy expanses
6. The scenes of life in the Berber villages

ℹ️ Practical information about Marrakech to Zagora

• Professional English and French-speaking guide and driver
• Comfortable transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
• Tour accessible to all except people with walking difficulties
• Meals can be adapted to vegetarian diets
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Baby seat available on request
• Choice of accommodation: standard, economy or top of the range

📌Marrakech to Zagora tour is ideal for

• Lovers of open spaces and adventure
• Those wishing to discover an authentic Morocco, away from the crowds
• Lovers of Berber culture and wild nature
• Couples, families or groups of friends looking to get away from it all

Do you want to get to know the desert in a different way? This 3 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Zagora is much more than just a trip: it’s a total immersion in the soul of southern Morocco, with its traditions, breathtaking landscapes and Berber hospitality.

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