A 2025 Review: 2 Day Sahara Group Tour from Marrakech

Setting Off: The Early Morning Drive from Marrakech into the Mountains

So, the day actually started very, very early, to be honest. Our pickup was, like, right around 7 AM from a spot near our Riad in Marrakech, which, you know, is pretty standard for these kinds of trips. We all just gathered in this little minibus with about 14 other people, a group of strangers who were, like, all sort of sleepy and excited at the same time. The air inside the van was, in a way, full of a quiet hope about what was ahead of us. Leaving the city walls behind was actually a bit of a relief, you know, switching the loud sounds of the medina for the steady hum of the engine. The driver, a really friendly Berber man named Hamid, he sort of just smiled a lot and put on some local music, which was a nice touch. First, the road was pretty straight, but then, well, it started to climb, and, honestly, that’s when things got really interesting, right? You could literally see the landscape change right out the window.

The minibus, you know, was more or less comfortable, but at the end of the day, it’s a long drive, so you kind of have to be ready for that. As we went higher into the High Atlas Mountains, the views just became something else, seriously. The road, which is called the Tizi n’Tichka pass, is just this ribbon of pavement that twists and turns on itself, you know, with these really steep drops on one side. It’s pretty much an amazing piece of engineering, I mean. We made a few stops along the way, for example, for coffee or just to take pictures from a viewpoint, which was really needed to stretch our legs. You could, like, feel the air getting cooler and cleaner the higher we got, a big change from the heat of Marrakech. Looking down on the valleys and seeing the little Berber villages clinging to the mountainsides was, to be honest, a really humbling sight. For a deep read on this area’s past, you might like this post about the history of High Atlas settlements. It sort of puts the entire drive into a bigger picture, you know.

A Truly Old Place: Walking Through the Ksar of Aït Benhaddou

By the time we got to Aït Benhaddou, it was almost midday, and the sun was really, really strong. As a matter of fact, seeing it for the first time is one of those moments that just sort of stays with you; it looks almost exactly like a scene from a movie, which, you know, makes sense because it has been in so many. This whole place is a ksar, basically a fortified village made completely of reddish-brown earth and clay, and it’s just really amazing. Our guide walked us across this little river, sometimes you wade through it, to get to the main entrance, and that’s when you just feel like you’ve gone back in time. You walk through these narrow, winding alleys that are like a maze, and every now and then you see a shop selling scarves or art, right? People still, you know, kind of live and work there, which makes it feel like a living place, not just a museum piece.

We spent probably about an hour and a half there, more or less, which included having a guide show us around. He was actually from the village, so his stories felt very personal and real. He showed us these old Berber symbols carved into the walls and explained how the buildings were designed to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter, which is just incredibly smart, I mean. The best part, honestly, was the climb to the very top granary. It’s a little bit of a hike, but the view from up there is just completely worth it, you know? You can see the whole ksar spread out below you, and the dry, rocky landscape stretches for miles. You sort of just stand there and think about all the history that happened in that spot. Learning more about the deep historical roots of Kasbah Aït Benhaddou can really add another layer to your visit. After the tour, we had lunch at a restaurant on the other side of the river, which had a pretty decent view of the ksar.

The Long Stretch: Passing Ouarzazate and the Valley of Palms

Okay, so after lunch, we all got back in the van, and you could tell everyone was a little bit tired from the sun and the walking. The next part of the drive was, frankly, just a very long one. We passed through Ouarzazate, which they call the ‘Hollywood of Morocco’ because there are these big film studios there, like Atlas Studios. We didn’t actually stop to tour them on this two-day trip, as it’s kind of a tight schedule, but we did see the big gates from the road, which was sort of cool. Ouarzazate itself seems like a very clean and modern town compared to the ancient places we’d just been. To be honest, this part of the drive can feel a little bit repetitive, as the landscape is very dry and rocky for a long time. It’s a good moment to just sort of rest, listen to music, or maybe chat with the other people in your group, right?

Then, after what felt like a pretty long time, the scenery started to change again, which was a really welcome sight. We started following the path of the Draa Valley, and all of a sudden there was this huge, green river of palm trees cutting through the barren land. It was absolutely incredible, you know, just seeing this massive oasis stretch for miles and miles. Our driver, Hamid, he actually pulled over at a viewpoint so we could get out and just take it all in. Seeing all that life in the middle of such a dry place is just, I mean, it really makes you think about where water comes from and how important it is. These palm groves are where they grow a lot of the dates you find in Morocco. Exploring the unique ecosystem of the Draa Valley gives you a bigger appreciation for how people have lived here for centuries, you know. It’s definitely a beautiful, peaceful part of the drive before you get to the desert itself.

The Main Event: My Camel Ride at Sunset near Zagora

Alright, so we finally arrived at the edge of the desert near a town called Zagora, pretty much in the late afternoon. This is where, you know, we left our minibus behind and met our camels, which was definitely a moment I was waiting for. First, these guys who handle the camels showed us how to wrap our headscarves, which they call a ‘shesh’, to protect us from the sun and sand. Getting on the camel is, like, a very strange experience; it stands up in two really jerky movements, first the back legs, then the front, and you really have to hold on tight. My camel’s name was Bob, or at least that’s what the guide told me, and he seemed pretty chill, just sort of plodding along. The camel ride itself is not super comfortable, to be honest; it’s a bit of a rocking motion that you kind of have to get used to. But at the end of the day, you’re not doing it for comfort, right?

You’re really doing it for the feeling you get. It’s that feeling of just complete silence, except for the soft padding of the camels’ feet on the sand. You just look around, and all you see are these small, rolling dunes under a sky that is starting to change colors like crazy.

The Zagora area is, you know, more rocky desert with smaller sand dunes, not the giant ones you might see in pictures of Erg Chebbi, but it’s still absolutely magical. The ride into the desert to the camp took about an hour, more or less, timed perfectly with the sunset. The colors were just unreal—oranges, pinks, purples—and the shadows of the camels got super long. It was just one of those moments that feels totally peaceful and outside of time, you know? Our camel leader would occasionally sing a little Berber song, and his voice would just carry over the sand. It’s a completely different world out there. If you are curious, you can find many stories about what the authentic desert camel ride feels like, and it’s something everyone should probably try once. It was honestly the highlight of the entire trip for me.

A Night Under a Million Stars at the Berber Camp

We got to the desert camp just as the last light was fading from the sky, and you could see these little lights from the tents. The camp itself was, like, pretty simple but also really cozy. It was a circle of big, thick wool tents arranged around a central open area with carpets and a fire pit, you know? The tent I shared with a few others from the group was basic, with mattresses and a lot of blankets on the floor, which was all you really needed, to be honest. There were also separate, more solid structures for the toilets, which were, well, basic but functional, you know. The camp hosts were super welcoming; they immediately offered us some sweet mint tea, which is just what you want after being in the dry air. The whole vibe was very relaxed and friendly.

Later that evening, they served us dinner, which we all ate together at a long table. We had tagine, a classic Moroccan stew that’s slow-cooked in a clay pot, and it was absolutely delicious. It’s amazing what they can cook up in the middle of nowhere, seriously. Eating traditional food under the stars in a desert camp is just a whole different experience. After dinner was the best part, for me anyway. The camp staff, who were all local Berber guys, they brought out these drums and started a campfire. They played music and sang songs, and even got some of us to try playing the drums with them. It was just a lot of fun, really relaxed and authentic, not like a formal performance at all. And then, when the music quieted down, you just look up. The number of stars you can see is just mind-blowing, I mean, with no city lights, the sky is just this incredible blanket of bright little lights, and you can even see the Milky Way so clearly. It’s something you just don’t forget.

Waking Up for Sunrise and the Camel Ride Back

Someone from the camp staff, you know, gently woke everyone up when it was still dark outside, like, way before dawn. At first, you’re a little groggy, but the idea of seeing the sunrise over the dunes gets you moving pretty quick, honestly. It was really cold in the morning, so you definitely want to have a warm jacket. A few of us climbed a small dune right next to the camp and just sat there, waiting in the quiet. It’s a very peaceful, almost thoughtful, time. Then, you know, you see the first bit of light on the horizon, and it slowly, slowly starts to get brighter, painting the whole sky with these soft, gentle colors. Seeing the sun come up and cast its first golden light on the sand is just as special as the sunset, but in a very different, quieter way. It feels like a really fresh start to the day.

After the sunrise, we all went back to the main area for a simple breakfast, which was mostly bread, jam, coffee, and more of that lovely mint tea. It was just enough to get you going, you know? Then, it was time to pack up our things and say goodbye to the camp. We found our camels from the day before, and getting back on them for the ride back to the road felt a little more familiar. The morning light on the desert is just really beautiful, everything looks crisp and clear. The camel ride back was about an hour again, and it was a good time to just think about the whole experience, the stars, the silence, the campfire. When we finally saw our minibus waiting for us by the side of the road, it felt a little bit like returning to a different world. We brushed off the sand, said thanks to our camel guides, and, you know, got ready for the long drive back to Marrakech.

Was It Actually Worth It? An Honest Look at the 2-Day Trip

So, the big question is, you know, is the two-day trip from Marrakech actually worth it? To be honest, it really depends on what you are looking for and how much time you have. The biggest thing to know is that you spend a very, very large amount of time driving. It’s pretty much around eight or nine hours in the van each day, so you have to be okay with that. This isn’t a trip where you get to spend days and days deep in the desert. It’s more of a taster, a way to see some amazing sights like Aït Benhaddou and get a real feel for the desert, even if it’s for a short time. You sort of trade time for convenience, right? For people who only have a few days in Morocco, it’s basically a fantastic way to experience something totally different from the city. But, you know, if you have more time, a three or four-day tour to Erg Chebbi might give you a more immersive desert experience with much bigger dunes.

At the end of the day, I’m really glad I did it. The sunset camel ride and that night at the camp were just unforgettable. It was a really efficient way to pack in a lot of incredible moments. So, my advice is to go in with the right expectations. Know that you’ll be in a car a lot, but the things you see and do along the way are really special. If you’re thinking of booking something similar, you can compare options for the top-rated Sahara tours from Marrakech to find one that fits your style. Here’s a quick list of things you should probably bring:

• Warm Jacket: Seriously, the desert gets really cold at night and in the early morning.
• Sunscreen and Sunglasses: The sun is incredibly strong, you know, even in winter.
• Comfortable Trousers: You’ll want them for the long van ride and for riding the camel.
• A Headscarf or Hat: Good for sun protection, and they’ll show you how to wrap it.
• Cash: For drinks, tips for the guides, and any little souvenirs you might want to buy.
• A Portable Charger: Just in case, you know, for your phone. You’ll want to take pictures.
• A Small Bag: You only take a small overnight bag to the camp; your main luggage stays in the van.