Zagora is the closest taste of the Sahara from Marrakech. The town sits in the Draa Valley in south-eastern Morocco, at the end of a long ribbon of palm groves and earthen kasbahs, with the desert opening up beyond it. It is the destination we recommend when you have only two days for the desert. This guide explains what to see, how to get there and how Zagora compares with Merzouga.
The journey is as much the attraction as the town itself. From Marrakech the road crosses the High Atlas, passes the kasbahs of Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, then follows the Draa Valley, carved by Morocco's longest river and lined with date palms, fortified villages and kasbahs. Near Zagora you leave the asphalt for the desert: rocky plains, small dunes, a camel ride at sunset and a night under the stars in a desert camp.
Between Agdz and Zagora the valley is one of the most beautiful drives in the south: tens of kilometres of palm groves, mud-brick villages (ksour) and old kasbahs, with the bare mountains of the Anti-Atlas on both sides. Dates are the main crop of the valley, and the harvest takes place in autumn. Stop to walk in a palm grove and see the traditional irrigation channels that keep it alive.
Both offer a night in the desert, but they are different experiences. Zagora is much closer to Marrakech, which makes it the better choice for a 2-day trip; its desert is a mix of stony plains and smaller dunes. Merzouga has the high golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, but it is about 9 to 10 hours from Marrakech, so we recommend at least 3 days. Read our Merzouga guide to compare. For the wild dunes of Erg Chegaga, further south via M'Hamid, see our 3-day tour from Ouarzazate to Erg Chegaga.
From Marrakech: a full day on the road, usually 7 to 8 hours of driving with stops, via the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m), Ouarzazate and Agdz. Our private 2-day tour from Marrakech to Zagora includes Ait Ben Haddou, a camel ride, a night in a luxury desert camp, dinner and breakfast.
From Ouarzazate: around 3 hours through Agdz and the Draa Valley. On the way, read our Ait Ben Haddou guide and Ouarzazate guide.
The best period is from October to April, with warm days and cool to cold desert nights; bring a warm layer for the evening in winter. Summer is very hot in the Draa Valley, so a desert night is best kept for spring or autumn. See the best time to visit the Sahara for more detail.
Zagora is the better choice for 2 days, as it is much closer to Marrakech. For the high Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga, we recommend at least 3 days.
Usually 7 to 8 hours of driving with stops, via the Tizi n'Tichka pass, Ouarzazate and the Draa Valley. That is why it is normally done as a 2-day trip with a night in the desert.
Yes, but they are smaller than in Merzouga. The desert around Zagora mixes stony plains and modest dunes; for the big dunes, choose Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) or Erg Chegaga.
The Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass, the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate and the palm groves and kasbahs of the Draa Valley.
From October to April. Summer is very hot in the Draa Valley, while winter nights in the desert are cold, so bring warm clothes.
Ready for a night in the desert? We organise private trips to Zagora from Marrakech and Ouarzazate, with your own driver and a luxury desert camp. Contact us with your dates for a tailor-made quote.
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