Unforgettable Zagora Desert: 2-Day Marrakech Adventure

I need to split into three parts 1) Tour from our riad to the desert and back to our riad 2) Camel ride 3) Stay in the desert 1) Tour - Great, very good driver (Mohamed) and very good guide (Ali) if they would have been responsible for the full tour it would be a clear five stars. Ali is very organized and knowledgeable and dependable. 5 stars for Ali and Mohamed 2) Camel ride Great and fun, the guides were very nice 3) Desert experience - the staff was friendly and the food was good but: it was very disorganized, even after several confirmation the group could not learn a clear schedule which caused several delay and stressy actions on our side. We had booked the luxury version. Anyhow, our toilet was not clean (with „remnants“ from the former user), we had no water for both the shower and the faucet and we washed our hands with our bottles). The food (dinner and breakfast) was both very late and we feel neglected, staff was disorganized. It was not worth to get luxury package at all

I had an amazing experience from start to finish. The tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable, plenty of stops through the journey. Ben Haddou was stunning, and the guide was very funny and informative. The camel ride was so much fun and the camping in the Sahara desert was amazing! The Berber community there made us feel at home, the meals and hospitality provided were very good! What an amazing experience from start to finish. Excellent value for money! Thank you so much

Absolutey worth it! Mohammed was an excellent driver on winding roads, and staying overnight was unreal -- only wish we stayed another night :)

Amazing experience & excellent value for money. Accommodation was great & trips and stops on the way to the desert brilliant.

Overall tour was really good so it’s a shame to rate it so low. As other reviews say journey is very long but that is fine and enjoyable with friends. However the journey to the desert can feel a lot like your being shipped shop to shop to be sort of pressured into buying things. Lunch was incredibly expensive for what it was 150 dh for below average salad chicken and a slice of melon, I know it’s June but the amount of flies were insane (some in food). Everything was an added extra (water not even provided at camp), we paid 75 for the tour which makes it sound like all is included but we ended up spending around £110 each in total. If really recommend bringing pack lunch maybe to limit spending. Time in camp was amazing and camel ride really fun but all the added costs really took away from it.

Riding camels into the desert and sleeping at a desert camp was memorable, but there are a few practical things you should know in advance. First, bring plenty of water and your own snacks/meals. You're not given options on where to eat during the drive, including at Aït Benhaddou. If you want to tour the site, that costs extra. They will also push you to buy a traditional headscarf for the camel ride. It’s not required, no matter what they say, just part of the upsell. The camel ride is only 30 minutes, and you go during sunset/sunrise so not during the heat of the day. Also, everyone expects a tip. It’s understandable, they work in the tourism industry, but be aware and carry cash for the site tour and tipping. Food purchases can usually be made with a card. The camel ride is very uncomfortable. I didn’t mind, it felt like part of the experience, but some other travelers really struggled with it. Timing-wise, day one is long. You’ll wake up early for pickup and spend most of the day in the car, with a stop at Aït Benhaddou and more driving before arriving at the camels just before sunset. They do take lots of rest stops, which helps. On the way back, you'll be dropped off around 4 p.m. I went in spring, and the weather was mild and pleasant, though cold at night, so keep that in mind when packing (best to bring one small bag to camp on camels, leave large luggage in van). Overall, it’s a decent experience if you’re prepared, but don’t expect a luxury adventure.

We had a fun adventure outside of Marrakech. The journey to the spot is a bit of ways and can take a little longer as you are in a big group. The guides are kind and helpful and make sure everyone is accounted for.

A wonderful and unique experience. The camel ride was certainly unusual and the camp was great. You could see the sunrise and sunset. An added retreat was a visit to the Kasbah where many well-known movies were filmed.

One of the most amazing experiences. Highly recommend. Good food. Helpful knowledgeable guides..................

Long-short: we loved it and recommend it, but below please find some notes I consider important regarding our experience and the offered services (notes re-arranged in the order they happened to us): Type of Camp: Luxury Camp (maybe will not apply for other tours) Date: March 2025 Hotel pickup: Outside Medina. They say 7:20 a.m. but expect to be around 7:00 a.m. (the earlier you leave the better). This is the minivan you are driving the whole way up to Zagora, make sure to pick a nice spot (will go there at the end). Quick stop (NOT INCLUDED): store on the way for coffee/drinks, smoke and toilete. Stop at Aït Ben Haddou (TOUR NOT INCLUDED): Cost 30 MAD p/p. Beautiful Berber tribe World Heritage place. Famously known for their scenarios in movies. Lunch (NOT INCLUDED): Lunch on the way cost from 150 - 200 MAD per person including beverage (soda or water). Ours was a very good. Quick stop (NOT INCLUDED): get coffee/drinks, smoke and toilete. Camel ride in the sunset at Zagora (INCLUDED): you get to ride along witht your partner from the main road up to the camps (takes like 1.5 hrs). Our camel guide was Mr. Arigh and it made this tour worth every second. Snack with camel guide (INCLUDED): we stoped to see the sunset and had some datils, pitas and delicious snacks and sweets with Arigh (our camel guide). Arrive to the camp: You get a big tent with big bed, private bathroom, hot water shower and electricity. They provide you with towels, soap, toilet paper and tissues. Quick tea, snacks and sweets (INCLUDED): while dinner is ready, you go and sit in the tables with your camel guide, enjoy a delicious tea, sweets and seeds. 1 Dinner (INCLUDED): Lots of delicious food, bring your own water or beverages or buy from the staff (they DO NOT have change so make sure you bring plenty of 20 MAD) - coffee and tea for dinner have extra cost. Fire and sing (INCLUDED): get-together activity around the firepit to share with other visitors and camel guides. You end up heading to bed aroung 9:00 p.m. Overnight accommodation in berber camp (Tizi Camp or Similar) (INCLUDED). 1 Breakfast (INCLUDED): you get to have breakfast around 5:30 a.m. - 6:00 a.m. with delicious food, coffee and tea (all inclusive except water/sodas). Sunrise in Zagora (INCLUDED): you walk by your own to the top of the mountains (Less than 1 mile) to see sun rise which was expected at 6:30 a.m. Camel ride back to road to meet minivan (INCLUDED): after watching the sun rise, you go back to your tent and pick your staff to go back to road side on a camel ride. Quick stop (NOT INCLUDED): same place we took coffee for toilete, coffee/soda and snacks. Lunch (NOT INCLUDED): different restaurant on the road, decent food. Additional stops (INCLUDED): to see views or other points of interest. Hotel drop-off: Around 3:00 - 4:00 p.m., Medina hotels were dropped first. ADDITIONALS: - Keep comms with your tour operator via Viator and their WhatsApp. - Transport by air-conditioned minivan: 1) Eventhough operator tells you 7:20 a.m. pickup, try being earlier around 7:00 a.m. as they might probably be around and early pick up is better. 2) This will be your ride from the hotel up to the desert, make sure you get a nice comfy spot. 3) Around 6 - 7 hours ride, consider seats are not the most comfy ones, specially for tall guys like me. Reconsider if you have back problems, overweighted or others. 4) Minivan has A/C but its turned on only on certain tracks which for us loving A/C is hard to accomodate and you easily get car sick. 5) Driver is super responsible, speed limit driving and very friendly. Ours was Ibrahim. - Bottled water: camel back will do, and bring as many 20 MAD as you can so you won't get in trouble with change. - Most places accept CC nowadays but better be prepared. In short, it is a wonderful experience, all staff is super friendly but if you want to enjoy, get into their culture, if not, then don't waste time nor money. Just relax and enjoy!