Zagora Desert Tour: Camel Ride & Berber Camp (2-Day)

Desert sunrise after a night under the stars, then camel back to the van for the drive to Marrakech

A 2-day tour from Ouarzazate to Zagora in the Sahara, with stops at the UNESCO ksar of Ait Ben Haddou and the Draa Valley's palm oases. You ride a camel at sunset on day one, sleep in a Berber desert camp, catch the sunrise on day two, and ride back before the drive to Marrakech. The tour includes overnight accommodation, both camel rides, dinner, breakfast, a professional driver speaking your language, and air-conditioned transport throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Ouarzazate to Zagora via Ait Ben Haddou

• Pick up from Ouarzazate hotel
• Visit UNESCO Ait Ben Haddou ksar
• Lunch with Kasbah views
• Stop at Agdz and Kasbah Tamnougalt
• Arrive Zagora and camel ride at sunset
• Dinner under stars at desert camp
• Overnight in Berber desert camp

Day 2: Zagora to Marrakech via Draa Valley

• Watch desert sunrise
• Breakfast at desert camp
• Camel ride back to main road
• Drive through Draa Valley and Tizi N’Tichka Pass
• Arrive in Marrakech by evening

The experience

You start in Ouarzazate and head south toward Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar whose mud-brick buildings and fortified walls have stood for centuries. The village sits on a hill with panoramic views across the landscape and the river below. It's also the filming location for Gladiator and Game of Thrones, so the narrow alleys and earthen architecture are instantly recognizable. After a photo stop and lunch with views of the Kasbah, you continue through the Anti-Atlas Mountains into the Draa Valley, where you can visit Kasbah Taourirt or the Cinema Museum depending on the day's pace.

You arrive in Zagora in the late afternoon and mount a camel for the ride into the desert. At the camp, you have free time to explore the surrounding scenery and meet other travelers before dinner is served under the stars, with your nomad hosts playing traditional tamtam drums around the fire. You sleep overnight in your tent (either a luxury or standard option, your choice at checkout) in the heart of the desert.

Day two starts with an optional desert sunrise. After breakfast at the camp, you climb back onto a camel for the ride back to the main road, where your minibus is waiting. From there, the drive takes you through the Draa Valley's palm oases and over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass. You stop for lunch, then continue to Marrakech, arriving around 6 PM to end the 2-day journey.

What’s included

• Professional driver in an air-conditioned minibus.
• hotel pickup in Ouarzazate.
• camel ride at sunset on day one and sunrise ride back on day two.
• overnight in a Berber desert camp with your choice of standard or luxury tent.
• dinner under the stars with traditional music.
• breakfast at the camp.
• visits to Ait Ben Haddou, Agdz, and the Draa Valley with stops at Kasbah Taourirt or the Cinema Museum.

Options for this experience

2 options

Trip with standard tentGuide in 6 languages · 12:00Pickup is included

Trip with luxury tentGuide in 6 languages · 12:00Luxury tent in the desert camp, pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 12:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (18 to 25 years) · Senior (26 to 80 years) · Youth (15 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 14 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, 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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Red City Tours Marrakech

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you have two days between Ouarzazate and Marrakech and want to sleep in the desert rather than rush the route in a single day. The overnight camp and both camel rides are what make the Sahara feel real instead of like a quick detour. The fixed itinerary means you move with other travelers and share the cost of the guide and vehicle.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (15 to 17 years); Child (3 to 14 years); Infant (under 3).

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 Ait Ben Haddou and why do people visit it on this tour?

Ait Ben Haddou is a UNESCO-listed ksar: a traditional Moroccan earthen settlement with mud-brick buildings and fortified walls built on a hilltop. It's famous for its appearances in films like Gladiator and Game of Thrones, and the narrow alleys and ancient structures offer panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and river. The tour includes a photo stop and lunch there on day one.

What happens during the camel rides, and when do they occur?

You ride a camel at sunset on day one, heading into the desert from Zagora to reach your camp. On day two after breakfast, you ride back to the main road where your minibus is waiting. Both rides are included in the tour price.

Where do I sleep, and what is the difference between the standard and luxury tent options?

You sleep overnight in a Berber desert camp in Zagora. The tour offers two tent options (standard or luxury), which you select at checkout. Both are included in the tour price, and both nights are under the stars with dinner and breakfast provided.

What time do I arrive in Marrakech on day two?

You arrive in Marrakech around 6 PM on day two, after the drive through the Draa Valley and over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, with a lunch stop included along the way.

What is included in the tour price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

The tour includes overnight accommodation in the desert camp, both camel rides, dinner on day one, breakfast on day two, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a professional driver. Lunch and drinks are not included and are your own expense.