Merzouga vs Zagora: Which Desert Should You Choose?

"Merzouga or Zagora?" is the question we hear most from travellers planning a desert trip from Marrakech. Both give you a camel ride, a night in a camp and a sky full of stars, but the experience is quite different. Our family comes from Merzouga, so we know both places well. Here is an honest comparison to help you choose.

The short answer

• Choose Merzouga if you dream of the classic Sahara: tall, golden sand dunes as far as you can see. You need at least 3 days from Marrakech.
• Choose Zagora if you only have 2 days and would like a taste of the desert, with palm groves and kasbahs along the way.

Merzouga and the dunes of Erg Chebbi

Merzouga sits at the edge of Erg Chebbi, a sea of orange sand dunes that rise up to around 150 metres high. This is the desert of postcards and films: the dunes change colour from gold to red to pink as the sun moves, and from the top you can see nothing but sand.

Around the dunes you can also visit nomad families, listen to Gnawa music in the village of Khamlia and explore the old market town of Rissani.

Distance: about 550 km from Marrakech, so the journey takes the best part of two days. The road itself is one of the most beautiful in Morocco: the High Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades Valley and the Todra Gorge.

Best for: first-time visitors who want the "real Sahara", photographers, and anyone with 3 days or more.

Zagora and the Draa Valley

Zagora is a desert town at the end of the Draa Valley, one of the longest palm groves in Morocco. The dunes near Zagora are much smaller than in Merzouga, but the drive is full of character: mud-brick villages, kasbahs and endless date palms.

Distance: about 360 km from Marrakech, which makes a 2-day trip possible.

Best for: travellers short on time, families with young children who prefer less driving, and those more interested in the oasis culture than in big dunes.

Side by side

• Dunes: Merzouga, very large and golden. Zagora, small.
• Minimum time from Marrakech: Merzouga, 3 days. Zagora, 2 days.
• Scenery on the way: Merzouga, Atlas, gorges and kasbahs. Zagora, Atlas, kasbahs and palm groves.
• Feeling of being in the Sahara: stronger in Merzouga.

Our advice

If you can find 3 days, go to Merzouga: watching the sunrise from the top of a dune in Erg Chebbi is something you will never forget. If your time is really limited, Zagora is a lovely alternative and still gives you a night under the stars.

You can also combine the desert with the rest of your trip: our 5 days Marrakech to Fes via the desert tour crosses the Sahara on the way to Fes, so you never drive the same road twice.

Tours to both deserts

• 3 Days Marrakech to Merzouga
• 4 Days Desert Circuit (with an extra day in the dunes)
• 2 Days Marrakech to Zagora

Not sure which one fits your trip? Tell us your dates and we will advise you honestly.