4 Days Zagora to Mhamid Desert Route

About this tour

A four-day desert route for travellers already in the south — starting in Zagora and following the Draa Valley to Mhamid, the last village before the open Sahara. It is the quieter side of Morocco's desert: palm groves, kasbahs, the green-pottery village of Tamgroute and a camp night among the first dunes.

Because the tour starts in Zagora, the driving days are short and the pace relaxed, with time for walks, tea stops and village visits rather than long hours in the car. The camel trek at sunset into the dunes of Mhamid is the centrepiece, followed by a starry night in a private camp.

It is a natural fit for independent travellers exploring the Draa Valley, and a good alternative for those who want to skip the two long driving days from Marrakech.

Tour highlights

• Follow the Draa Valley through palm groves and mud-brick kasbahs
• Visit Tamgroute's green pottery workshops and old Quranic library
• Spend a night in Mhamid, the desert's last village
• Sunset camel trek into the Mhamid dunes
• Sleep in a private camp among the first dunes
• Sunrise over the desert before a relaxed return
• Short driving days with a private guide

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 01

   Day 1 — Zagora – Tamgroute – Draa Valley guesthouse

   Overnight in a Draa Valley guesthouse

   Meet your guide in Zagora, then head south to Tamgroute to see the famous green pottery being shaped and glazed by hand, and to explore the old Nasiriyya Quranic library. You settle into a guesthouse along the Draa Valley and take a walk through the palm grove before dinner.

   • Tamgroute pottery workshops
   • Quranic library
   • Palm grove walk
2. 02

   Day 2 — Draa Valley – Mhamid – sunset camel trek

   Overnight in a private desert camp near Mhamid

   A short drive takes you to Mhamid. The afternoon is relaxed — walk through the village and its palm groves before mounting the camels as the light drops. The caravan crosses low dunes to the private camp, where dinner is served around the fire.

   • Mhamid village walk
   • Sunset camel trek
   • Dinner around the fire at the camp
3. 03

   Day 3 — Sunrise at the camp – free afternoon in Mhamid

   Overnight in Mhamid

   Climb a dune at dawn for the sunrise, ride back and take breakfast. The rest of the day is yours: explore Mhamid's palm grove, sip tea at a local café, or simply rest in the shade before your last night in the village.

   • Sunrise from the dunes
   • Free time in Mhamid
4. 04

   Day 4 — Mhamid – Zagora, drop-off

   Drop-off in Zagora around midday

   A gentle morning drive back up the Draa Valley to Zagora with photo stops at the kasbahs and viewpoints along the way. You are dropped off in Zagora around midday.

   • Draa Valley viewpoints
   • Kasbah photo stops

Good to know

• Languages English and French speaking driver-guide
• Start point Zagora. Most guests arrive the day before by bus or via Ouarzazate airport, about two hours away.
• Pace Short driving days with time for walks, tea and villages
• Desert camp Private tent, dinner and breakfast. Facilities are simple — bring a warm layer for the night.
• Group size Private — the tour is yours alone
• Departures Daily from Zagora with a flexible start

Why travellers love this trip

• Tamgroute's green pottery Watch artisans shape the famous copper-green glazed pottery by hand — a unique southern craft.
• Oasis life Palm groves, irrigation channels and mud-brick villages — the real Draa Valley.
• Your own camp A private camp among the first dunes of Mhamid, with dinner around the fire and no other group.
• Time, not miles Short drives leave room for slow mornings and unhurried tea stops.
• Local knowledge A guide who grew up in the region and knows every palm and path.

Weather & best time to travel

What to pack

• Comfortable walking shoes for the palm groves
• A warm layer for the desert evening and night
• Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
• A scarf for the wind and dust
• Water bottle and cash for lunches and tips
• Camera or phone with spare battery
• Passport and travel insurance details

Common questions