It is a departure at 8:30 am in 4 × 4 from your hotel or traditional riad in Marrakech, taking you through the High Atlas mountains and the famous Tizi-n-Tichka (2260m). From these mountains, the views over the valleys and Berber villages perched on the mountainside – sometimes barely distinguishable from the mountains themselves – are truly spectacular. Then on your trip to the Zagora desert, after crossing the pass, you continue to descend until you finally reach Ouarzazate, where you stop for lunch. Then you will have a glass of tea with us at the downtown office. From there you cross another smaller pass, Tizi-n-Tinfifite, (1660m) before reaching the head of the Draa valley in Agdez. For a short while on this Zagora Desert tour, we go off-road, along part of the old caravan route between the mountains and the river. Passing many villages and gardens, you will get a better idea of the way of life along the oases. Once in Zagora, there is the much-awaited camel ride of about an hour to reach the dunes, from where you can admire the spectacular sunset. These dunes are small compared to others further south and east but are the closest to Marrakech on such a short trip. You can also drive to the camp in your 4 × 4 if you prefer. You spend the night in a luxury desert camp with a private bathroom, king-size beds, beautiful Moroccan furniture, and lamps tastefully arranged to enhance your pleasure in the silence and beauty of the dunes.

If you get up early enough to see the incredible sunrise on your trip to the Zagora Desert, you will be rewarded with the wonderful shadow play on the sand. After breakfast, you head south a short distance to visit the Quranic Library at Tamegroute, which has countless exquisite manuscripts. Another stop on the fascinating tour of the desert is the local pottery of Tamgroute, which produces the green pottery you will see everywhere in the south and also in the medina of Marrakech. a valley, you return to Ouarzazate. A little further, you leave the main road of Marrakech to reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou. This kasbah is the most famous in Morocco and is a must-see on any visit to the south. It has been used as the backdrop for many Hollywood blockbusters and was one of the most important fortresses for the old Salt Road trailers. Traders brought slaves, gold, ivory, and salt from sub-Saharan Africa here and then to Marrakech and beyond, so this is an important part of Moroccan history. The Zagora Desert journey then continues along the stunning Ounila Valley Road, giving you a glimpse into the way of life of rural Berbers in the High Atlas. At the top of this road, you reach the Kasbah of Telouet, which belonged to the lords of the Atlas, the Glaoui family. It is today in ruins after the flight of the last pasha of the country following the departure of the French. The most historic buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries are particularly dilapidated. Later, the return to Marrakech on this Zagora Desert tour is along the main road, passing many Berber villages along the river and through the mountains. Sometimes you descend into the valleys to walk along the river lined with beautiful oleanders and fruit trees. The gardens are full of olives, walnuts, pomegranates, apples, pears, and quinces. Berber women and children tend the goats and sheep and climb even the steepest slopes in search of fodder and firewood. The trip to the Zagora desert ends when we reach Marrakech in the late afternoon.