Excursion from Marrakech to Zagora desert 2 days

Excursion from Marrakech to Zagora desert 2 days, The itinerary follows the old caravan route from Marrakech to Zagora, the dunes of the Sahara, returning by an unfrequented route over the majestic Atlas Mountains.

2 days excursion to the desert of Zagora

The itinerary follows the ancient caravan route from Marrakech to Zagora, the dunes of the Sahara, returning by a rarely traveled route over the majestic Atlas Mountains, Ksar ait ben haddou, the Draa Valley, the Berber villages, ouarzazate and the high Atlas Mountains. No other trip offers so much diversity in only 2 days, as it allows us to enjoy the wild nature and the local culture of the Berbers, Jews and Bedouins.
Our route will take us through draa valleys, canyons, palm groves, lakes, rivers, forests and mountains. We will explore mysterious Ksours and kasbahs, Berber granaries and caves, stop for tea in draa velley ( Berber villages ), walk in the shade of palm leaves in the draa valley ( The largest of all Morocco 300 km ).we will cross the Sahara desert of zagora.

Day 1 : Marrakech / Ksar Ait Benhaddou / Ouarzazate / Draa Valley / Zagora Desert:

Departure is scheduled from Marrakech at 7h00 am, taking the road to cross the High Atlas Mountains through the Tizi n’Tichka pass towards the village of Ait Benhaddou, the fortified ksar with its beautiful Kasbahs, Ait Benhaddou has served as a natural decoration for many film producers since the 1960s. Once you arrive in the village of Ait Benhaddou, you will take a walk to climb to the top of the hill and overlook the entire village. Afterwards, you will head to Ouarzazate for lunch next to the famous Kasbah of Taourirt which presents the historical and cultural interest of Ouarzazate. After lunch, you will travel south and cross the second pass which is Tizi N’Tnifift at 1710m and the village of Ait Saoun, the old caravan route for Sahara traders coming from “Tombouktou”, you will reach the first administrative center called “Agdez Village” which marks the source of the Draa Valley, with its 6 successive palm groves indicating (Mezguita palmary, Fezouata…) and Kasbahs indicating the famous Kasbah of Tamnougalt.
You will continue through the lunar landscapes and pre-Saharan routes to reach Zagora which is a small town, the native region of the Saadian dynasty (Saadian tombs in Marrakech) who used to rule Morocco in the 17th century. We will take a camel ride, ride the camels at sunset and arrive at our camp located in an oasis called Nekhla and enjoy dinner and spend the night in the tents.

Day 2 : Zagora Desert / Agdez / High Atlas / Marrakech :

Early dawn in the Sahara of Zagora is the best time to enjoy the charm of the Sahara. We will wake up early and have breakfast in the open air, before returning by camel to the nearby hotels for a shower. We will then depart for Marrakech. Afterwards, we will ride back on camel to meet your driver, then continue to Marrakech, pass through Ouarzazate and have free time for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will continue through the Atlas Mountains to reach Marrakech. The end point of your 2 days desert tour from Marrakech to Zagora.

Price included :

Transportation 4×4 or Van with air conditioning.
Fuel.
Pick up and drop off at the hotel in Marrakech.
Sandboarding in the dunes (free option).
English speaking driver/guide
1 night in desert camp
1 dinner +1 breakfast
One camel per person
Bottled water
Wifi in the car
Walking tour in the Dades and Todra Gorges
Visit to a Berber family in the desert

The price is not included:

Flights
Lunch
Beverages and personal items

Information about Zagora :

Zagora is a border town in southern Morocco, a hundred kilometers from the border with Algeria. It is a city on the edge of the desert, nestled in an oasis with a large palm tree, strongly protected by the sand that is incessantly driven by the wind.

We reached Zagora by crossing the valley of the Draa River, on the slopes of the High Atlas Mountains, where the high peaks, some over 4000 meters, are often covered with snow. The valley seemed at first sight lush but, as we crossed the river course, we noticed the obvious signs of the drought that had lasted for some years: the watercourse was almost dry (as was that of the Ziz further north) and the ground in the shade of the palm trees was broken by the lack of humidity.

In Zagora, the houses in the center were ochre-colored and the weather was effervescent. There were very few people on the streets: a few men walking to the plantations on the outskirts and a woman walking in the sun completely wrapped in a black veil. At the traffic circle at the intersection of Hassan II Avenue and Mohammed V Boulevard we noticed a faded sign.

It was the legendary sign indicating the direction of an old caravan road to the city of Timbuctu (now in Mali), which could be reached in 52 days on the back of a camel.