ZAGORA VS MERZOUGA: SAHARA DESERT TOUR IN MOROCCO
Are you planning to visit Morocco and would like to spend time in the Sahara desert? Most people decide to do a desert trip from Marrakech to the Merzouga or Zagora desert. This guide aims to give you some insights on which is the best desert in Morocco to spend your time.
The Sahara desert is the largest hot desert in the world and its unrivalled silence and mysterious landscapes are a dream for artists, scientists and people seeking for a detox from mundane life.
If you are looking for a Sahara desert experience Morocco is one of the best countries in Northern Africa to do this. The country offers a wide diversity of choices to explore it, that will tailor to your individual needs.
Some desert camps are not the Sahara desert itself but just some deserted areas in the pre-Saharan zone. Although this is very difficult to define as the Sahara desert is expanding.
In this guide you will find all you need to know to find the best desert spots in Morocco and make the best of your trip.
ZAGORA VS MERZOUGA: SAHARA DESERT TOURS IN MOROCCO
On my first trip to Morocco all I wanted to do was to go to the desert. My initial plan was to take a desert trip from Marrakech, which is a great choice when you are on a tight schedule. But after careful consideration I decided to invest some time and explore some desert spots in Zagora.
I chose Zagora vs Merzouga as Zagora has an airport and I was told this is where the best Sahara desert spots in Morocco area located.
This gave me the chance to explore in detail all the desert spots close to Zagora, other than the Zagora desert. After my first trip I have returned a couple more times to Morocco and have always visited the Zagora desert.
I invested a bit longer than two weeks in this area on my first trip, so if you are on a short schedule this might not be the right option for you. You can book some of the best Sahara desert tours from Marrakech here.
On my last trip I wanted to go to Merzouga, and I hope I can go in the future and update more information here on this post. But at that time the Moroccan government was closing the Merzouga desert camps and some tourists were losing their money so I decided not to risk it.
It is for this that I recommend to visit Zagora and explore at least a couple of its desert spots. Zagora is a hidden gem in Morocco. It is one of those places that have not yet been touched by mass tourism and where you can enjoy some pretty stunning landscape in almost complete solitude. You will be able to enjoy a truly immersive travel experience during your holiday in Morocco.
ZAGORA: A DESERT TOWN
Zagora is a desert town in the Draa Valley. The landscape around Zagora is a combination of desert plateaus (Hamada in Arabic) and leafy palm groves. There are also some mountains around Zagora that you can climb and the town is crossed by the Draa river, the longest river in Morocco
The town is a slow paced place, “la prisa mata” (speed kills ) its habitants keep on telling you, and its people are really friendly and hospitable. Zagora is the perfect off the beaten path destination where to get rid of stress and get in touch with the Amazigh culture.
You can unwind and get to know the Moroccan desert and its quaint and breathtaking landscapes. The Sahara desert in Morocco consists of some isolated desert spots and a Moroccan portion of the Sahara desert.
The advantage of visiting Zagora, over other Moroccan desert destinations , is that there are four desert spots. They are located at a maximum, a couple of hours drive distance from the town centre.
As someone who has been in the desert several times, knowing how addictive the experience is, and how every desert experience will uncover other aspect of this ventricle of planet Earth (the Sahara Desert´s dust crosses the Atlantic and feeds the Amazon forest), I recommend taking some time to explore this area in depth.
When I came for the first time to Zagora I had planned to stay for a maximum of six nights to explore the Moroccan desert. However, the beauty and peaceful atmosphere of the area made me stay much longer than initially planned and I have returned there several times. There is always a new aspect to discover about the Moroccan Sahara Desert in every trip I have done.
There are four main desert spots quite close to Zagora. Two of them are not the Sahara itself but some sandy dunes, surrounded by the imposing Hamada (desert plateau in Arabic) that seems to fortress all the area.
The other two spots belong to the Moroccan Sahara Desert, as you can see written in the desert warning signs, on the road to reach them. And there is even one more Sahara Desert spot quite close to Zagora. However tours do not usually go there as it is very close to the Algerian border. Tour guides do not want to get in conflict as the border is closed. You cannot cross to Algeria from there, although you can see the border area on the far distance from the road.
The furthest spot from Zagora town, Erg Chigaga, is as far as 150 km, and reachable in a couple of hours by 4×4 as you cannot drive with a standard car into the desert, and the closest one is 12 km, the so called Zagora desert, is 12 km away from the city centre.
ZAGORA DESERT SPOTS
ZAGORA DESERT
The Zagora desert is where the Marrakech short desert trips will bring you.
The Zagora desert is located 12 km from Zagora center and it is the perfect place to have a desert experience in Morocco when you are on a tight schedule. There are not high dunes in the Zagora desert but there is still a combination of rocky landscapes with golden desert sand. The spot is really beautiful and feast for the eyes. You will specially enjoy it if this is your first desert experience. I cannot understand why some people review it on line as being only a rocky desert as it is not. There are some little sand dunes around. Check the photo below that I took during my visit to the Zagora desert.
Find here a pin with the location of the Zagora desert:
The local people in Zagora, do not call this spot Zagora desert, but “Nakhla dunes”. Nakhla meaning palm in Arabic.
You can find some basic and luxury accommodation in the camp, although I would not trust that the showers work. Most of the basic desert camps in Morocco do not have working showers, but please be kind. Water is very scarce in this area of the world and even local people have difficulties to get it home.
This desert spot is quite close to Zagora so there is some light pollution in the area. But if you walk to the right spot you will get some pretty awesome astrophography pics.
ERG CHIGAGA (ERG CHEGAGA)
This is in my opinion, the best Moroccan Sahara Desert spot reachable from Zagora. It is not only a pure geographical experience but also an immersion on the desert nomads culture. There are still many families leading nomadic lives in this area.
Erg Chigaga (Erg Chegaga) is only accessible by 4×4. There is a point where the road ends and you still need to drive 50 km into the Sahara Desert to reach the camps.
The camps are located in Erg Chigaga (Erg Chegaga), at the base of some of the tallest sand dunes in Morocco (120 m).
I do not recommend you going there on your own as it is easy to get lost.
This is a very good spot for stargazing as it is not close to any village or town. You might get some light pollution, from the neighbouring camps, but there is plenty of space to find the right observational spot.
The Sahara Desert tours to Erg Chigaga (Erg Chegaga) usually include a visit to a nomad camp and a real oasis. There are some honey merchants along the way where you can buy honey made in the desert. Yes, there are bees in the desert and some other forms of life.
ERG LIHOUDI
Erg Lihoudi literally means, the “Dune of the Jew”, “Erg” meaning dune and “Lihoudi” Jew. It is named after the Jewish nomads that used to live in this area hundreds of years ago.
It takes around one hour from Zagora to get to the Erg Lihoudi desert camp. It can take a bit longer if you decide to do a portion of the trip by camel. This is the coolest option as the one hour and half camel desert trek is really worth.
This spot is located at the very gates of the Moroccan Sahara desert. The starting point of your camel trek to the Erg Lihoudi camp is only a few Km after you pass the “start of the desert warning signs”
The camp lies in the middle of some sandy dunes. You can climb them and see the never ending aridity expanding until it kisses the horizon at the base of the Hamada.
This is a very good desert spot if you are on a budget as it does not require you to go on a 4×4, which rises the trip price.
It is a very good spot for stargazing despite some mild light pollution.
TINFOU DUNES
The Tinfou dunes are located 30 km away from Zagora, on the outskirts of Tamegroute. The tallest of its dunes is approximately 30 meters high and it is a really nice spot to watch the sunset.
There are several desert camps with basic accommodation where you can stay. You can take a taxi from Zagora to visit th Tinfou dunes and just drive yourself.
This desert spot has very good conditions for observing the night sky. You can stay at the Sahara sky and use their many telescopes and experienced staff to spot some astronomical events.
Find the location here:
This is a spot of breathtaking beauty, mostly under the Moonlight. However it is not still the Sahara desert. It is simply a prelude of what is to come driving 50 km further, where the Moroccan Sahara Desert officially starts.
Your Tinfou dunes visit can be combined with a visit to Tamegroute. There are several places of interest to visit in Tamegroute . You can visit the biggest library in Northern Africa, a subterranean Kasbah and the famous Tamegroute green potteries.
TINFOU DUNES GUIDE: Tamegroute and the Tinfou dunes
DESERT TRIPS FROM MARRAKECH
Most of the desert trips from Marrakech will bring you to Erg Chebbi, in Merzouga or to the Zagora desert or Erg Chegaga.
I did not chose to go to the Erg Chebbi desert as I am a slow traveler and prefer off the beaten path places for my adventures. However if you would like to book a trip to Merzouga from Marrakech you can do it here.
If you decide to take your trip to Zagora from Marrakech you can always arrange your trip with many of the local tour operators in Marrakech center. However if you decide to book on line to secure your spot you can book here.
Not all tours can be booked from Marrakech. If you would like to go to the Tinfou dunes of Erg Lihoudi, it is better to arrange it with a tour operator in Zagora town itself.
DESERT TRIPS FROM ZAGORA
There are 3 main types of desert trips you can book from Zagora:
These trips can only be usually booked from Zagora by a local provider. You can always contact me and I will put you in touch with the guide who helped organizing all my desert experiences in Morocco.
One-day trip; These trips will take you to any of the spots I have mentioned and they will typically consist of a short desert exploration, a camel ride and a meal. They are very nice introductory experiences to the desert. I started with one-day trip and when I left the desert I wish I had stayed longer, so I have kept on returning.
Overnight stay; An overnight stay in the desert is highly recommended in any of the locations listed above. Watching the stars is a unique and life changing experience, in my opinion. You can observe the stars and enjoy a nice Tagine while listening to the Berber drums around the fire. Breakfast before going back to Zagora is usually included.
Desert trekking; These are customized tours that many companies offer and consist of desert treks leaving from Zagora or nearby places. They can last as short as a three days and as long as a month. I have not yet tried this one but I am planning to do it next time I return after my positive experience with the all Zagora Sahara Desert tours.
Book here: From Zagora 2 day trip to Erg- Chegaga
(I have been in Zagora three times for a total length of two months and a half at the time I write this article, so all this information here is first-hand experience)
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN ZAGORA
While staying in Zagora, if you do not want to spend all your time exploring the desert, there are plenty of things you can do;
1. Visiting the Zagora Zouk
READ MORE: Visiting the Zagora zouk
2.Climbing the Zagora mountain (Jbel Zagora)
READ MORE: Climbing the Jbel Zagora
3. Walk around the Draa river side
4. Visit the Kasbah Tissergat
5. Visit the dinosaurs park
6. Sit in one of its bustling terraces and observe the local life
8. Walk among the palm trees
If you are still asking yourself the question; Shall I visit the Zagora desert? I would strongly recommend you to do it and take your time to do it. Zagora offers some of the best Moroccan desert spots and you will not regret.
Are you interested in more desert experiences?
Check out:
Oman itinerary: Muscat, mountains & desert
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What a coincidence: we just returned from a trip to Morocco where we also visited the desert. But we went to Merzouga, not to the Zagora desert. From what I understand this is not your first time in Morocco, so you had more time to explore both. If we ever return, I’d love to see Zagora as well.
Zagora is an amazing place. If you ever go there you can always contact me and I can put you in touch with a very nice local guide.
I have visited Morocco a few times, but haven’t been to the desert yet. I agree with you that a day trip would be too short a time and I think 3 or 4 days would be a great way to really experience it, even if I am not a fan of sand!! I would love to visit Erg Chegaga as your photos here are stunning, and that to me looks like a real desert. I would love to be an area though where you can relax at night and see all the stars, that would be amazing. I can’t wait to get back to Morocco and experience the desert.
I have never been to Morocco but if I will plan a trip there, then visiting the desert would be one of my priorities. I have been to the Sahara desert in Egypt, but it was nothing like this, there were no sand dunes there. I like the idea of visiting Zagora and taking day trips to the desert from there. The dunes at Erg Chigaga look so incredible! I would definitely love to go there as well.
I was so close to Morocco on my trip to southern Spain this summer, but I couldn’t fit it in to my itinerary! It still remains high on my bucket list, and when I go, I plan to take a Sahara desert tour. This comparison and helpful tips are invaluable in choosing where to go. I would especially love to see the oasis on a tour to Erg Chigaga. Plus, I didn’t realize there is a desert nomads culture within this vast terrain – that is so fascinating to me! Can’t wait to experience something one of these tours this myself.
I’m planning to visit Marakkech, so thanks for this tip about the desert tour. It is indeed a good idea to go to Zagora for a few days and go on a desert tour there instead of Marakkech. I’ll keep that in mind, so I will also have to book the Marakkech -> Zagora tickets. As someone who loved stargazing Erg Chegaga sounds like a good option for me. My daughter would love the Dino park obviously!
I too have always wanted to visit the desert. I wouldn’t know where to start, so this guide and why you chose Zagora vs Merzouga (for the closer proximity to airport) is a great tip. I love getting tips from those that have been there, just as you did from your recommendation from a South American girl who lives in Morocco. One of the reasons why I would like to go is for the epic photo op! You can’t get a better background than this!
What a fascinating tour of this area, the sand dunes are quite spectacular and definitely worth the experience. Plus, you wore a fantastic outfit to showcase the dunes nicely. I love the that one shot of the gorgeous dunes and wind shaped effects from above, did you do that with a drone? Amazing that this area is so close to Marrakesh to find spectacular desert area
Oh No! I did that shot from the top of a very high sand dune. There are some very high some dunes in Erg Chegaga.
I can understand why you wanted to go to the desert in Morocco. That would be high on my list too. And spending a longer stop in Zagora would certainly give me a better feel of the desert than just a day trip. That you returned more than once is a great recommendation. The rolling sand dunes at Erg Chigaga are simply stunning. I was fascinated at how different the various dunes looked.
I was in Morocco a long time ago, in 2008, and I was charmed by the deserts, and I would like to come back there again. Your article and photos are great. I had a chance to see both Zagora and Merzouga. Both were beautiful and exciting.
Ahhh I visited Morocco YEARS ago with my family and I’ve been DYING to go back with my husband and kids. We never made it to the desert but might have to add that to our list. I mean, it just looks so pretty and peaceful!