2 Days Trip From Marrakech To Zagora Desert

Day 1 : Marrakech - Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou - Agdz - Zagora - Sahara Desert

Depart Marrakech at 7:00am for Ouarzazate, traversing the ethereal High Atlas Mountains dotted with quaint Berber villages. At Ouarzazate visit the ancient Pacha's palace, the Taourirt Kasbah, then have lunch near the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the spectacular backdrop of many films shot in this sunny, sandy setting. Tour Ouarzazate by car after lunch, including the celebrated film studio, then head for Agdz and Zagora in the Draa Valley, passing through its large shady palm tree grove at
Tinjdad. Imagine yourself as a camel driver working this historic caravan trade route across the Sahara Desert to Timbuktu in Mali!

Arrive in the desert in the late afternoon, then set out on a 90-minute camel trek deep into the dunes. Stop along the way to capture the experience by camera (a must!), and arrive at an authentic nomad camp 30 minutes before sunset. Take a break over traditional mint tea (which the Berbers fondly call "Berber whiskey"--no alcoholic content, just lots of sugar). Walk through the dunes to watch the sunset from the highest peaks. Pause to savor the moment and the quietest silence you have ever heard. Return to the camp for a traditional Berber dinner, then relax while the nomads play music around the campfire.

Day 2 : Zagora - Ouarzazate -  Marrakech

Wake the next morning before sunrise to see what the locals call "the first lights" of the day--the soft glow that precedes the dawn. Watch the sunrise in the dunes, have breakfast, then remount the camels to trek back to town. On the road back Marrakech, stop at Ouarzazate to visit the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. Have lunch along the way back to Marrakech, arriving in the late afternoon.