Zagora Desert Tour: Camel Ride & Ait Ben Haddou from Marrakech

Cross the Atlas, sleep under stars in the Sahara, ride camels at sunrise and sunset

This 2-day tour departs Marrakech and crosses the High Atlas Mountains to the UNESCO-listed kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, then continues through the Draa Valley to Zagora for an overnight stay in a Berber desert camp. You ride camels at sunset and sunrise, eat traditional Moroccan dinners and breakfasts at the camp, and return to Marrakech by late afternoon the following day. A local guide leads the tour in your choice of language; hotel pickup is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Marrakech to Zagora via Ait Ben Haddou

• Depart early from Marrakech
• Drive through High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n’Tichka Pass
• Stop for panoramic photos
• Visit UNESCO Ait Ben Haddou with local guide
• Explore ancient fortified village and alleys
• Climb to top for views
• Continue to Ouarzazate for photo stop
• Travel through Draa Valley to Agdz
• Arrive in Zagora and meet camel caravan
• Sunset camel ride across desert dunes
• Arrive at desert camp and enjoy mint tea
• Have traditional Moroccan dinner under stars
• Listen to Berber music around campfire
• Overnight stay in desert tent

Day 2 — Zagora to Marrakech via Atlas Mountains

• Wake early for desert sunrise
• Breakfast at desert camp
• Camel ride back to meet driver
• Drive through Draa Valley and High Atlas Mountains
• Stop for lunch in Atlas Mountains
• Continue drive to Marrakech
• Arrive in Marrakech around 5 PM

The Experience

The journey starts before dawn from your Marrakech hotel. You drive through the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka Pass at 2,260 meters, stopping for photos of the mountain landscape and traditional Berber villages built into the hillsides. The road itself is part of the experience—winding switchbacks and panoramic views frame the first half of the day.

At Ait Ben Haddou, a local guide walks you through the narrow alleys of the ancient fortified kasbah, climbs to the top for views across the valley, and explains its history as a filming location for international movies. From there, you continue to Ouarzazate, then follow the Draa Valley—a route lined with thousands of palm trees, kasbahs, and mud-brick villages where the desert meets an oasis landscape. By late afternoon you reach Zagora and meet your camel caravan. The sunset ride across the dunes is unhurried; you arrive at the desert camp as light fades. Mint tea, a traditional Moroccan dinner under the stars, and Berber music around the campfire fill the evening.

You wake early the next morning for the desert sunrise, then ride camels back to meet your driver. Breakfast happens at the camp. The return journey retraces the Draa Valley and High Atlas, with a lunch stop in the mountains before arriving in Marrakech around 5 PM. Transport is by air-conditioned minivan throughout; fuel surcharge is included.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned minivan transport from Marrakech through the High Atlas and Draa Valley.
• local guide in your choice of language.
• entry and guided tour at Ait Ben Haddou (guide at the kasbah is optional and costs 3 euros).
• camel rides at sunset and sunrise in Zagora.
• one night in a Berber desert tent.
• traditional Moroccan dinner and breakfast at the camp.
• mint tea at arrival.
• Berber music around the campfire.
• fuel surcharge.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Marrakesh Travel Services

Is this one for you?If your guide speaks your language fluently, you'll follow the commentary on the mountain passes, the history of Ait Ben Haddou, and the Draa Valley villages without strain. The tour runs in English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language, so confirm your language at booking—the guide's fluency is what makes the cultural details and the landscape stories land clearly over two days.

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Top questions

What is Ait Ben Haddou and why does the tour stop there?

Ait Ben Haddou is a UNESCO-listed fortified village (kasbah) built of mud brick in the Atlas foothills. The tour includes a guided walk through its narrow alleys and a climb to the top for views; the site is famous as a filming location for international movies and represents centuries of Moroccan architecture and settlement patterns.

Do I need experience riding camels to book this tour?

No. The camel rides at sunset and sunrise in Zagora are designed for all fitness levels and require no prior experience. The rides are described as peaceful and calm, and you meet the caravan after arriving at the desert.

What happens at the desert camp overnight?

You stay in a Berber tent at a desert camp in Zagora. The camp provides a traditional Moroccan dinner and breakfast, both included. In the evening, you gather around a campfire for authentic Berber music and mint tea in a communal atmosphere.

Is a guide included, and what languages do they speak?

Yes, a local guide is included throughout the tour and speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language. The guide leads the group at Ait Ben Haddou and provides commentary on the landscape, villages, and culture along the route.

What meals and drinks are covered by the tour price?

Dinner and breakfast at the desert camp are included, as well as mint tea upon arrival at the camp. Lunch is not included in the tour price, though a lunch stop in the Atlas Mountains on the return journey is part of the itinerary where you can purchase food.

When does the tour return to Marrakech, and what is the pickup arrangement?

The tour returns to Marrakech around 5 PM on the second day, depending on season and traffic. Hotel pickup in Marrakech is included on the morning of departure; your driver collects you before dawn.