Zagora & Draa Valley
The gateway to the Sahara at the end of the Draa Valley's palm oases, with 4WD routes and desert camps in the great Erg Chigaga dunes.
Zagora lies in the Drâa-Tafilalet region of southeastern Morocco, an oasis town in the middle Draa Valley about 165 km from Ouarzazate; about 95 km further south, M'Hamid marks the end of the paved road and the gateway to the Sahara. The Draa Valley is Morocco's longest belt of palm oases, dotted with mud-brick kasbahs and villages. Around Zagora you can explore the palm groves and Amezrou, climb Jebel Zagora and see the famous '52 days to Timbuktu' sign; to the southeast, Tamegroute is known for its green-glazed pottery and historic library, and the nearby Tinfou dunes offer a short taste of the desert. The real highlight, though, is a 4WD trip from M'Hamid deep into the Erg Chigaga dunes, with a night at a desert camp and a return via the dry lake of Iriki. The best season is Oct–Apr, with mild days but cold nights; May–Sep is scorching, often above 45°C. Getting there: Zagora has a small airport, but most visitors come from Marrakech (about 7 hours by road) or Ouarzazate by private car or CTM bus. Allow 2–3 days, including a night at a desert camp. Note: touts are common, so book camps and camel treks in advance and agree on prices up front; during Ramadan some restaurants are closed during the day.
Top sights
- Erg Chegaga – Morocco's largest and most remote sea of sand, with high dunes stretching for about 40 km. It must be crossed by 4WD, and you'll spend the…
- Tamegroute – An ancient oasis village famous for green-glazed pottery fired in wood-burning kilns and the 17th-century Quran library of a Sufi lodge.
- M'Hamid El Ghizlane – A Sahara desert town at the end of the paved road in the Draa Valley, and the starting point for four-wheel-drive trips to Erg Chigaga.
- Tinfou Dunes – The closest golden dune field to Zagora, ideal for visitors short on time who want a half-day camel ride and sunset in the desert.
- Draa Valley Palm Groves & Amezrou – Date palm groves stretching for tens of kilometres along the Draa River, with old mud-brick houses and former Jewish silversmith workshops…
- Jebel Zagora – A black rock mountain beside the town, with the ruins of an Almoravid fortress at its summit and views over the whole oasis.
- Tombouctou 52 Jours Sign – The famous hand-painted sign south of Zagora, marking the 52 days that camel caravans once needed to reach Timbuktu.
- Lake Iriqui – A dried lake bed in Iriqui National Park, as flat as a mirror and suitable for speeding in four-wheel-drive vehicles. Mirages are common at…
- Erg Lihoudi – A small dune field about 8 km north of M'Hamid, with easy access and many camps. It suits those who have only one night to spare for a dese…
- Ouled Driss Kasbah – A mud-brick fortified village near M'Hamid, where a small kasbah museum shows oasis life.
- Ksar Tissergate – A complete, still-inhabited mud-brick fortified village about 8 km north of Zagora, with a folk museum showing Draa Valley life.
Where to eat
- Marwa Restaurant – The most-reviewed budget restaurant on Zagora's main street, with tagines, kebabs, and harira soup all well received.
- Dromadaire Gourmand – A small eatery run by former desert guide Mustapha, recommended by Fodor's, whose signature is wedding tagine with drie…
- Jardin Chez Ali – A garden restaurant in a long-established guesthouse, serving Berber home cooking among fruit trees, a pool, and peacoc…
Itineraries
- Draa Valley & Erg Chigaga 4x4 Adventure – Drive south along the Draa Valley to the end of the road, then take a 4x4 into the remote dunes of Erg Chigaga