Merzouga or Zagora: Which Desert Should You Choose?
Both are gateways to the Sahara, but they are very different. Compare the dunes, the distances and the experience before you decide.
When travellers plan a trip to the Moroccan Sahara, they usually hear two names: Merzouga and Zagora. Both offer camel rides and nights in a camp, but the landscape and the journey are not the same.
Merzouga and Erg Chebbi
Merzouga sits at the foot of Erg Chebbi, the most spectacular sea of dunes in Morocco, with peaks up to about 150 metres. The sand is orange and changes colour all day. This is the desert of postcards and films.
From Marrakech it takes two days to get there, usually with a night in the Dades valley. From Fes or Errachidia it is much closer.
Zagora and the Draa valley
Zagora is closer to Marrakech — you can reach it in one day — and the road along the Draa valley, the longest palm grove of Morocco, is beautiful. The dunes around Zagora, however, are smaller and more scattered, and the landscape is more rocky.
Which one is right for you?
- You want the great dunes: choose Merzouga, with at least three days from Marrakech.
- You only have two days: Zagora is a good short desert experience.
- You start in Fes, Errachidia or Ouarzazate: Merzouga is the natural choice.
Not sure? Write to us with your dates and starting city, and we will suggest the best option for your trip.
