Draa Valley & Tinfou Dunes Day Trip from Ouarzazate: Camel Ride

The Draa Valley runs through oases and fortified villages that most visitors never see.

This day trip from Ouarzazate takes you through the Anti-Atlas mountains to the Draa Valley and Tinfou dunes, with a one-hour camel ride, lunch at a poolside riad, and a walk through a palm grove. The guide is multilingual and adapts the pace and stops to what you want. Hotel pickup is included, and the full day runs about nine to ten hours. Children from age one are welcome, and the vehicles are air-conditioned throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Draa Valley and Tinfou Dunes

• Depart from Ouarzazate at 8 am
• Drive through Anti Atlas and Tizi N Tinfifite pass
• Stop for photos or breaks as desired
• Visit oases and fortified villages in Draa Valley
• Snack break in Draa Valley
• Arrive at Tinfou dunes
• One-hour dromedary ride in sand dunes
• Lunch at Riad Zagora Palms by the pool
• Swim and walk in Zagora palm grove
• Return drive to Ouarzazate along Draa Valley
• Arrive in Ouarzazate late afternoon

The experience

Departure is around 8 a.m. from Ouarzazate, heading south through the Anti-Atlas toward Agdz. The route climbs through the Tizi N Tinfifite pass at 1,660 meters, where the viewpoints give you the first real sense of the landscape you're moving into: the mountains give way to the old caravan routes and a series of oases that sit in the Draa Valley floor. The driver stops whenever you ask: for photos, to stretch, to grab coffee. The valley itself is formed by two wadis that flow down from the High Atlas and disappear into irrigation channels that feed the palm groves below.

By late morning you reach the Tinfou dunes. This is where you mount a dromedary for about an hour in the sand, moving through the immensity of the landscape at the pace the camel sets. After that, the group heads to Riad Zagora Palms for lunch: a meal served by the pool in the middle of the palm grove. Swimming is free during the break, and after eating you can walk through the grove on foot if you want to move around before the return drive.

The return to Ouarzazate follows the Draa Valley again, arriving in late afternoon. The vehicles are air-conditioned, water is provided throughout the day, and the guide speaks English, Spanish or French depending on the group. Entrance fees to any historical sites you stop at are included, as is the camel ride and lunch. If you don't have a car or are staying in a hotel without transport, pickup is part of the booking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a multilingual guide in English, Spanish or French.
• entrance fees to historical monuments along the route.
• a one-hour camel ride at the Tinfou dunes.
• lunch at Riad Zagora Palms.
• free swimming in the pool during the lunch break.
• a walk through the palm grove.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• and stops on request for photos, breaks, coffee or toilets.

Before you book

Lasts 9h–10h, runs every day at 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00, from US$ 182 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and French, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (1 to 17 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 38 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by DESERT DREAM

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying in Ouarzazate without a car: hotel pickup and a set departure time mean you can fit the Draa Valley and camel ride into one afternoon without coordinating your own transport.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 17 years).

What is the Draa Valley and why does it matter to see it on this trip?

The Draa Valley is a 200-kilometer stretch of oases and fortified villages formed by two wadis flowing down from the High Atlas. It's the old caravan route, and most of it sits away from the main tourist roads. This trip is built to show you the landscape and the settlements that depend on the water running through it, rather than just the dunes.

How does the camel ride work, and what should I expect?

The camel ride lasts about one hour at the Tinfou dunes. You mount a dromedary and move through the sand at the camel's pace. It's a straightforward ride, not a race, and the guide will position you so the landscape is what you're focused on during that time.

Is lunch included, and can I swim during the break?

Lunch is included and served at Riad Zagora Palms, a riad in the middle of a palm grove. Swimming in the pool is free during the lunch break, and you can also walk through the grove on foot if you prefer to move around instead.

What happens if I want to stop for photos or a break along the way?

The guide will stop at your request, for photos, to stretch your legs, to use the toilet, or to grab coffee. The rhythm of the day adapts to what you want, and the driver is trained to find good stopping points along the route.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the starting point?

No, hotel pickup from Ouarzazate is included in the booking. The driver will collect you in the morning around 8 a.m., and you'll be returned to your hotel in the late afternoon.