Zagora Desert Tour: Camel Rides & Berber Camp

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.64 (764 reviews) 76% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/12

Duration2d

GroupUp to 100

LanguagesEN · AR +3

PickupAt your hotel

Desert camel ride and overnight camp under a star-filled sky at dawn and dusk

A 2-day tour from Marrakech that crosses the High Atlas Mountains to Zagora, where you ride camels at sunrise and sunset and sleep in a Berber desert camp. The package includes hotel pickup, transport by air-conditioned minivan, overnight accommodation, two meals, and a bilingual driver who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language. Entrance to Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah and lunch are paid separately at the time of travel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Atlas Mountains and Desert Adventure

Explore High Atlas Mountains with driver-guide
Stop for photos of stunning landscapes
Take lunch in the Atlas Mountains
Visit Ait Ben Haddou kasbah with local guide
Stop in Ouarzazate city and visit studios
Enjoy camel ride at sunset in desert
Dinner and overnight at desert bivouac

The Experience

The route starts in Marrakech and climbs through the High Atlas Mountains, stopping at the Tizi-n'Tichka Pass for photos of the landscape below. From there you descend toward Ouarzazate, where the itinerary includes a visit to the film studios and the Kasbah of Taourirte (optional). Lunch happens in the Atlas Mountains before the drive continues to Zagora, the desert town where the camel rides begin. A bilingual driver handles the transport in an air-conditioned minivan, and the pace gives you time to absorb the terrain rather than rush through it.

At Zagora, a one-hour camel ride carries you into the desert at sunset, arriving at a Berber camp where you'll spend the night. Dinner is served at the camp with traditional Berber music and a campfire; the camp provides access to a shower and toilet. You wake before dawn for a second camel ride at sunrise, then return to the camp for breakfast. The overnight stay in the desert camp is the centerpiece of the tour—it is not a hotel with a desert view, but an actual camp in the sand where the night sky is unobstructed.

The second day winds back toward Marrakech with a stop at Aït Ben Haddou, where a local guide meets you to explore the historic Kasbah and explain its architecture and history. The return to Marrakech completes the loop. A vegetarian meal option is available if you request it when booking. Children travel free on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available. The tour suits all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Marrakech.
transport by air-conditioned minivan with a bilingual driver.
one breakfast and one dinner.
overnight accommodation in a Berber desert camp.
two camel rides (one at sunset, one at sunrise).
access to shower and toilet facilities at the camp.
and entertainment around a campfire with traditional Berber music.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Marrakesh Travel Services

Is this one for you?Two days is long enough to cross the mountains, spend a night under the desert sky, and ride camels at both sunrise and sunset—but short enough to leave the rest of your Marrakech trip untouched. If you want the desert experience without committing to a longer expedition, this tour holds the essentials.