Zagora Desert Tour: Camel Rides & Berber Camp

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

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Atlas MountainsEntry included25m
2. Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou1h
3. Tizi-n'Tichka Pass1h

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.

Before you book

Lasts 2d, runs Monday to Saturday at 07:20, from US$ 64 per person, with live guides in 5 languages and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 07:20

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Child (5 to 16 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, Italian and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problemsInfants 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.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 16 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.

What is the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou?

The Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou is a historic fortress in the Atlas Mountains that you explore on the first day with a local guide who explains its rich history and architecture. You'll have time to walk through it and photograph the structure.

How does the camel ride work in Zagora?

You take two camel rides during the tour: one at sunset on the first evening and one at sunrise the next morning, each lasting about an hour. Both rides depart from and return to the Berber camp where you spend the night.

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

The overnight accommodation in the Berber camp includes dinner with traditional music and a campfire, breakfast the next morning, access to a shower and toilet, and a bed in the camp. The camp is in the desert itself, not in a town.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Marrakech?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Marrakech are included, and you travel by air-conditioned minivan throughout the 2 days with a bilingual driver who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language.

What meals are covered, and what do I pay for separately?

Breakfast and dinner are included in the tour price. Lunch is not included and you'll pay for it when you stop in the Atlas Mountains. Entrance to the Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah costs €3, paid locally at the site.