Zagora, the Draa Palm Groves and the Tinfou Dunes in One Day
A private day south of Ouarzazate along the Draa palm groves to Zagora, the potters of Tamegroute and your first sand dunes at Tinfou.
This is the day for travellers who want a taste of the desert without a night away. You leave Ouarzazate in the morning, climb over the Anti Atlas and drop into the Draa Valley, where a ribbon of palms follows the river south for more than 190 km.
The day moves from kasbah to oasis to sand. You walk into the old kasbah of Tamnougalt, have lunch in Zagora, visit the manuscript library and green pottery workshops of Tamegroute, then reach the dunes of Tinfou in the afternoon before heading back to Ouarzazate.
Highlights
- The Draa palm grove, more than 190 km long
- A walk through the kasbah of Tamnougalt
- Zagora and its famous Tombouctou sign
- The manuscript library and green pottery of Tamegroute
- The first dunes at Tinfou, on foot or by camel
Day by day
Morning: Ouarzazate to Agdz
Pickup at your hotel in Ouarzazate, then the drive over the Anti Atlas and the Tizi n Tinifift pass to Agdz, where the Draa palm grove starts.
Tamnougalt and the valley
A stop at Tamnougalt, the best known kasbah of the valley, on the left bank of the Draa, then on along the palm groves to Zagora for lunch.
Tamegroute and Tinfou
Eighteen kilometres after Zagora, Tamegroute keeps a library of precious manuscripts and workshops of green pottery. Seven kilometres further are the sand dunes of Tinfou.
Afternoon: back to Ouarzazate
Return to Ouarzazate in the afternoon and drop off at your hotel or riad.
Where it happens
The road crosses the Anti Atlas by the Tizi n Tinifift pass to Agdz, where the Draa palm grove begins. Villages line both banks of the river and farming is the main way of life, with dates harvested from August to October. Zagora, cradle of the Saadian dynasty that ruled Morocco in the sixteenth century, is known for its sign reading "Tombouctou 52 days". Tamegroute lies 18 km further, and the first dunes of Tinfou 7 km beyond it.
Who it suits
A good choice if your time in Morocco is short and you still want to see desert sand, or if you are staying in Ouarzazate and prefer to sleep in your own room. The trip runs in a private vehicle with your own driver, so the pace follows your group. If you travel with children or have health or mobility concerns, tell the team when you send your request.
Included
- Private SUV with fuel and passenger insurance
- English speaking driver
- Pickup and drop off at your hotel or riad in Ouarzazate
- Lunch in a local restaurant in Zagora
Not included
- Camel ride at Tinfou, around 200 MAD per person
What to bring
- Sunglasses, a hat and sun cream for the dunes
- Comfortable shoes you do not mind filling with sand
- A light layer for the air conditioned car and the morning
- Some cash in dirhams if you want a camel ride or pottery
Good to know
- The Tamegroute library is closed on Saturdays.
How to book
Send a reservation request online or on WhatsApp with your date and the number of people. The team replies to confirm availability and the final price. The price per person depends on the size of your group, and nothing is paid online.
Questions and answers
How much does the Zagora day trip cost?
The price is per person and depends on your group: 210 USD for one traveller, 130 USD each for two, 116 USD each for three and 95 USD each for four or more.
Is the camel ride included?
No. A camel ride at the Tinfou dunes is optional and costs around 200 MAD per person, paid on the spot. You can also simply walk on the dunes.
Where does the trip start?
Your driver picks you up at your hotel or riad in Ouarzazate and brings you back there in the afternoon.
Can we visit the Tamegroute library on any day?
The library is closed on Saturdays, so choose another day if the manuscripts matter to you.
Request this trip
Choose an activity and a date. Our team replies to confirm availability, the meeting point and the final price. Nothing is charged online.
