Marrakech to Zagora Desert Tour: Camel Ride & Berber Camp

Camel ride into the Sahara at dusk, then wake to the desert at dawn.

A 2-day guided tour from Marrakech to Zagora combines travel through the Atlas Mountains, stops at Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, and a night in a traditional Berber desert camp with camel rides bookended around it. The tour includes an air-conditioned minibus with a professional driver, two camel rides (one hour and a half each), dinner, breakfast, and overnight accommodation. Lunch and drinks are on your own. You depart at 7:30 a.m. and return to Marrakech around 7 or 8 p.m. on day two. Choose your camp tier (Standard, Shared Tent, or Luxury) at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Zagora via Atlas Mountains

• Depart Marrakech at 7:30 AM
• Travel over Atlas Mountains
• Tour Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou
• Lunch at Kasbah cafes
• Visit Ouarzazate Movie Studio
• Travel to Dades Valley and Oasis
• Arrive Zagora town for exploration
• Camel ride to Berber desert camp
• Dinner and overnight in desert camp

Day 2: Return from Zagora to Marrakech

• Early sunrise camel ride back to Zagora
• Meet driver and depart Zagora
• Stop at Agdz to visit fortified Kasbah
• Stop at Ouarzazate for Kasbah photos
• Return over Atlas Mountains to Marrakech

The experience

You leave Marrakech at 7:30 a.m. in a minibus and climb into the High Atlas, stopping at Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. A fortified village that is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the highlight of the route. The complex is yours to explore on foot. Cafés dot the grounds if you want lunch there. After the kasbah, the road descends into Ouarzazate, the gateway to the desert, where you stop at a film studio before heading southeast into the Dades valley. The landscape shifts as you travel: oasis after oasis breaks up the drier terrain, and by late afternoon you arrive in Zagora, a small desert town where the real journey begins.

At Zagora you meet your camel. A one-and-a-half-hour ride takes you out into the small dunes to a traditional Berber camp where you'll spend the night. Dinner and breakfast are included. The camp itself is a cluster of low tents on sand. If you wake early on day two, you can watch the sunrise before the return camel ride back to town. The ride back follows the same rhythm: ninety minutes to Zagora, then the minibus picks you up for the drive home. On the way, you stop at Agdez to see a fifteenth-century fortified kasbah, and at Ouarzazate again for photos of its heritage kasbah from outside. You're back in Marrakech between 7 and 8 p.m.

The tour runs with a live guide who speaks English, French, or Arabic depending on the group. An air-conditioned vehicle and professional driver handle the road. You handle the camel and the camp. The minibus can carry infants in specialized seats, and the itinerary suits all fitness levels. The camel rides are the main physical element, and they move at a walking pace. Lunches and drinks are not included, so budget for meals in Ouarzazate and Zagora.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned minibus with a professional driver and live guide.
• pickup from your Marrakech accommodation.
• entry and a full tour of Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou.
• two camel rides (one hour and a half each).
• one night in a traditional Berber desert tent.
• dinner and breakfast at the camp.
• stops at Ouarzazate and Agdez on the return journey.

Options for this experience

3 options

Shared tent at the desert campGuide in English, French or Arabic · 07:00Standard shared desert camp, pickup is included

Standard Desert CampGuide in English, French or Arabic · 07:00Standard desert camp, includes pickup

Luxury Desert CampGuide in English, French or Arabic · 07:00Luxury camp stay, pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 2d, runs every day at 07:00, from US$ 74 per person, with a live guide in English, French and Arabic and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 17

Live guideEnglish, French and ArabicOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (19 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (11 to 18 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Red City Tours Marrakech

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Marrakech with a free two days and want to see the desert without renting a car or booking separate transport and accommodation: the minibus, the camel, and the camp night are all arranged, so you just show up at 7:30 a.m. Choose the Luxury camp option if you prefer more comfort in the tent. The Standard or Shared Tent options work if you're traveling light and want the experience without the extra cost.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 18 years); Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the camel ride to the desert camp?

The camel ride from Zagora to the Berber camp runs one hour and a half, moving at a walking pace across small dunes. The return ride the next morning is the same length.

What's included in the overnight stay at the desert camp?

Dinner, breakfast, and accommodation in a traditional Berber tent are included. You choose your camp tier (Standard, Shared Tent, or Luxury) when you book, and the difference is in the tent and amenities. All three options include the meals and the night itself.

Do I need to arrange my own lunch on this tour?

Lunches and drinks are not included, so you'll buy meals at cafés in Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, or Zagora. Dinner on day one and breakfast on day two are provided at the desert camp.

What time does the tour return to Marrakech?

The minibus arrives back in Marrakech around 7 or 8 p.m. on day two, after the return camel ride, stops at Agdez and Ouarzazate, and the drive over the Atlas Mountains.

Is the camel ride suitable for someone who has never ridden before?

Yes. The ride moves at a walking pace and the tour suits all fitness levels. Each rider gets one camel, and the guides are accustomed to first-time riders. Specialized infant seats are available if you're traveling with small children.