2 days
Ouarzazate and Zagora: Two Days to the Gate of the Desert
Two days over the Atlas: saffron at Taliouine, a camel ride at Erg Lihoudi and a night in a desert camp, then Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou home.
- Duration
- 2 days, 1 night
- Languages
- English / French
- Getting there
- Hotel pickup
- Group size
- Up to 30 people
The experience
About this trip
Two days is enough to get over the Atlas, sleep in the desert and come back with Ouarzazate on the way. It is the shortest of our desert trips and the one that fits a tight schedule.
Day one runs through Berber villages and over the mountains via Tazenakht to Taliouine, the saffron capital, where you eat. Then on to Zagora and out to Erg Lihoudi for a camel ride as the light goes. The night is in a camp with private tents, with music from the nomads around the fire and no town lights for miles.
Day two goes back through Agdz to Ouarzazate, the so-called gate of the desert, where the Draa and Dades valleys meet. After lunch you visit the kasbah at Ait Benhaddou and drive home through Taroudant, arriving late in the afternoon.
Why this one
Highlights
- Berber villages and the crossing of the Atlas
- Taliouine, the saffron capital, with lunch
- A camel ride at Erg Lihoudi as the light drops
- A night in a desert camp with private tents
- Nomad music around the fire, and stars without town light
- Ouarzazate and the kasbah at Ait Benhaddou on the way home
Your day
How the day runs
Day 1, 08:00 Departure
We collect you and climb into the Atlas through Berber villages.
Day 1, midday Taliouine
Lunch in the saffron capital. Not included.
Day 1, afternoon Zagora
On to Zagora and out to Erg Lihoudi for the camel ride.
Day 1, evening Camp
Private tents, dinner, nomad music around the fire and the stars.
Day 2, morning Agdz
Breakfast, then the road to Agdz and on to Ouarzazate.
Day 2, midday Ouarzazate
Lunch, then the kasbah at Ait Benhaddou.
Day 2, afternoon Home
Back through Taroudant, arriving in Agadir in the late afternoon.
What is included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off (Agadir, Taghazout & Tamraght)
- 4x4 transport for both days with a driver-guide
- One night in a desert camp with private tents
- Camel ride at Erg Lihoudi
- Dinner and breakfast
- Visits to Taliouine, Zagora, Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou
Not included
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Entry fees where charged
What to bring
- Warm layers, the desert night is cold
- Closed shoes for the camel ride
- A scarf for the sand
- Sun cream, sunglasses and a hat
- An overnight bag
- Cash for lunches and entry fees
Know before you go
- Two days and one night, leaving at 08:00 on day one
- The night is in a desert camp with private tents
- Departures run on set days
- Lunches are not included
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is the camp like?
Private tents in a desert camp, with dinner, breakfast and music from the nomads around the fire in the evening.
How long is the camel ride?
Long enough for the light to change. It is timed for the late afternoon rather than the middle of the day.
Is Ouarzazate worth the stop?
Yes. It sits where the Draa and Dades valleys meet, which is why it is called the gate of the desert, and the kasbahs and ocher villages around it are the reason film crews keep coming back.
Are meals included?
Dinner and breakfast are. Lunches are not.
How cold is the night?
Cold. Bring a fleece or a jacket whatever the daytime temperature was.
When does it depart?
On set departure days. Check the calendar when you book.
Ready when you are
Book Ouarzazate and Zagora: Two Days to the Gate of the Desert
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