One of the most unforgettable experiences you can have as a traveler going to Morocco is the Sahara Desert excursion. Depending on the days you have available for your desert trip, you might be interested in visiting Zagora or Merzouga.
From Marrakech, there are mainly two excursions to visit the Sahara: one to the Zagora Desert, and the one that goes to the Merzouga Desert. Two deserts that, although part of the same Sahara Desert, are completely different from each other. Keep reading, because in this post we will tell you the peculiarities of each one so you can choose the desert excursion that suits you best.
The experience of visiting Zagora or Merzouga is second to none.
There are many factors to consider when choosing whether to end up going to Zagora or Merzouga. One of the main points to consider is the amount of time you have. A trip from Marrakech to Zagora is ideal if you are planning a short 2-day trip and spending 1 night in the desert.
If you have a few more days, the most advisable would be to opt for a trip to Merzouga. The minimum number of days you should spend to go to the Merzouga desert is 3 days and 2 nights. Normally one of the nights is spent in the Atlas Mountains, and the other night is spent in a tent in the Merzouga desert. You should know that this desert is famous for its sand dunes: some reach up to 150 meters in height!
Visiting the desert from Marrakech is an adventure you will remember for a lifetime.
Where are the Zagora and Merzouga deserts located in relation to Marrakech? How many kilometers are they from the so-called Red City? This map will give you an idea of their location.
The Zagora Desert is about 355 kilometers away from Marrakech, and it takes a 6-hour road trip to get there. Although it seems like a long time to travel there, the Zagora excursion from Marrakech is perfect for a short getaway of 2 days and 1 night in the desert. The major difference with the other large desert of Morocco, Merzouga, is that Zagora is much more arid and rocky. But this does not detract from its charm; in fact, it is one of the most visited deserts in Morocco.
It is quite different from the concept of Moroccan desert that most people have in mind, but it is really beautiful and well worth a visit. In this desert, you can do activities like camel riding at sunset, quad biking, and of course sleeping in a tent in the Moroccan desert enjoying the night and the desert sky. If you want to know everything about how to spend the night in the desert, we recommend experiencing it in person with our best guides like the charming Hmad.
Zagora is a rockier desert, although you will also find dunes in it.
The Merzouga Desert is 562 kilometers away from Marrakech, and it takes between 9 and 10 hours to get there by road. This is why the excursion to Merzouga from Marrakech is usually done in 2 stages. This is the most popular desert in Morocco, and the most visited by travelers who have a bit more time to invest in this adventure. Going on a trip to the Merzouga Desert means spending at least 3 days and 2 nights.
In this desert, you can enjoy large sand dunes over 150 meters high. Also, you can watch the sunset while riding a camel through its dunes. If all this were not enough to make this excursion unforgettable, there is still the walk to the tent. Here you can enjoy the starry desert sky. Seeing the Milky Way while lying on a sand dune is something you will never forget.
As we mentioned earlier, going to one area of the desert or another largely depends on the time you are going to spend there. The time you should spend in Zagora to fully enjoy the area is about a minimum of 2 days. On the other hand, if you go to Merzouga, ideally you should spend at least 3 days. Apart from the time issue of your getaway, it is true that if you have to choose which desert is better, as we have mentioned before, we recommend the visit to the Merzouga desert. The main reason is that it has the largest and most impressive dunes. These are not as striking in the Zagora region in Morocco, which is closer to Marrakech, but is more rocky and arid.
If you are worried about the distance or if the trip seems a bit daunting, don’t be afraid. While it is true that the distance from Marrakech to Zagora is less than that to Merzouga, whichever desert you choose, you don’t have to worry because the vehicles that take you there have all the comforts you might need for the journey.
Whichever desert you go to, don’t miss the opportunity to ride a camel.
