Day 1: Marrakech – Ait Benhaddou Kasbah – Ouarzazate – Zagora [350 km]

This breathtaking adventure to the Moroccan Desert must start early and with a bang in your Marrakech hotel. Thus you have to be at the agreed time at Morocco Desert Friends to meet your friendly, professional driver. We then set off at once to the beautiful Tizi N-Tichka pass, with fantastic heights of 2,260 meters. Thus, you will find the landscape is changing drastically showing amazing panoramic landscapes of deep valleys and quaint Berber villages hanging on the mountain sides. Yes; I very clearly remember riding the pass in the early morning; the air was brisk and fresh, and the red earth beneath was of the deep, nearly violet colour of the thin, high-altitude light.

Then it is down to the historic crown of the south. The first major attraction we have to mention is the world-famous Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a spectacular specimen of pre-Saharan earthen architecture. Indeed, you will know this fortified village in Hollywood blockbusters such as Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia, current television hits such as Game of Thrones. We will then have a good lunch, either in the Kasbah, or in the neighbouring Ouarzazate, the Gate of the Desert. After lunch we take the picturesque road through the bleak and beautiful Anti-Atlas Mountains and eventually lead us to the mystical Draa Valley, with the largest palm plantation and longest river in Morocco.

But finally you reach Zagora and this is the time to prepare the most magical section: to ride your camel through the first Zagora desert landscape. You are going to marvel at the sensational sunset and then settle at your comfortable desert camp in Sahara to enjoy a classic Moroccan meal, with the accompaniment of a lively drumming under a wide sky full of shimmering stars.

Day 2: Zagora to Marrakech [350 km]

You should awaken early to have maximum benefit of the splendid desert sunrise which is best seen on a slightly raised dune by the camp. You will then directly get on your camel to have a serene ride back to meet your vehicle where you will have a hearty breakfast of Moroccan food. We then set off on our way back to Marrakech and first visit Ouarzazate, The Gate Of The Desert. In this case, you will be given the optional chance to visit the ancient Taourirt Kasbah in order to have a glimpse of the renowned Atlas Film Studios where numerous international blockbusters have been filmed which reflects the significance of the region in the cinema industry. Moreover, this is a fascinating place to learn about the two identities of the region: the ancient history of Berbers and modern film industry.

Next, on our way back to Marrakech we pass again through the great Tizi N-Tichka gap and the soaring High Atlas hills. Indeed, the scenery appears quite different when one is heading in the opposite direction, that is, with new photo chances, in particular of the Berber villages hidden in the mountainous slopes. In addition, your old driver in Morocco Desert friends will make sure that there are strategic places to take a coffee and photos which will make the ride smooth and easy. Lastly, your unforgettable 2 Days Zagora Desert Tour in Marrakech shall end with a drop-off at the very place of your accommodation at Marrakech, so your Desert Tour Morocco experience will leave you with memories that have become invaluable and vital. This last leg will highlight the reason why our Morocco Desert Trips are the best.