Zagora Desert 2-Day Tour Review: Camel Ride and Food
Thinking about a desert escapade from Marrakech? A trip to the Zagora Desert is very much a classic choice, promising vistas and camel treks. I spent a handful of days on just such a tour. Here’s what that was almost like, highs, lows, and stuff to keep in mind if you’re considering a similar escapade.
Setting off from Marrakech: The First Day
The beginning started real early, very early. A mini-bus arrived before sunrise – expect that if you do one of these tours. We then collected fellow travelers, you know, heading for the High Atlas Mountains. The drive, at the start, is rather amazing. You see scenery right from the bus window, but brace yourself, very, very much, because it is one long day on the road, just to be completely honest.
The High Atlas Mountains look so majestic, their peaks, seemingly piercing the sky. The bus then, you know, climbed higher, that too. The air turned crisp, a bit cooler. Tizi n’Tichka Pass came next; that’s a high mountain pass and that’s how you traverse this whole region. Is that the views from up there are just spectacular; they stretch out, like forever, honestly. We stopped to get pictures; of course you just kind of have to get your pictures for your socials. That part was a bit of a tourist trap, yes. Places will seemingly push local crafts, at pretty inflated costs too.
Ait Benhaddou showed up in the afternoon, that’s almost like a UNESCO World Heritage site that you will be able to explore. It’s a ksar – basically, a fortified village. It looks very cool; many movies used this as a backdrop too, which is sort of why it’s super cool to visit. The walk around, I will say, is fascinating. The structures made from earth, and also clay, they look truly stunning in the sunlight. The guide shared its past. If that’s so it’s a vital stop.
We traveled onwards after lunch, towards Ouarzazate, and further on towards Zagora. The landscapes became, a little bit by little, dryer and a little bit more barren. You begin feeling the change getting closer, nearly, to the desert. The hotel was in Zagora itself. That’s kind of a base for trips into the desert. It wasn’t very fancy, really, but ok for the night.
Camel Trek and Desert Camp: Day One Closes
The bit that you might want to see most, almost too it’s getting on those camels! I have wanted to get on a camel! Later that afternoon, we reached a spot on the fringe of the Sahara where our camels were waiting for us. The guides help you clamber up on the camels – which is really an interesting feel – then you are off, swaying slowly, in a way, toward the camp.
The desert then, at sundown, that’s kind of amazing; you see such oranges and reds and purples spread out everywhere as far as you could see. The dunes kind of stretch, apparently. The calm out there gets into your soul, actually. The camel trip ran, more or less, for close to 90 minutes. Long sufficient to get, pretty, that vibe, you know?
The camp was what I had figured. Tents were arranged in a circle, around a space for the fire. They had beds inside, so you do not just directly sleep on the ground! Then you drop your bag. People grouped up to enjoy some Moroccan mint tea that always tastes so amazing. Dinner started, then under the night sky. Food consisted of tagine, that you eat along with some bread and also salad, yes. The tagine really hit the spot after that whole day of driving.
That evening, the Berbers showed their thing with the music. They banged out on drums and, naturally, people started singing. It really felt special as we gathered ’round the fire. Everybody under those stars got unified; what an atmosphere! Stargazing gets to be something else away from the bright city. I laid there, quite still for awhile, staring into space; the Milky Way, clearly, shining up so bright above.
Sunrise and Return: The Second Day
Waking ahead of sunrise comes at an ungodly hour. But honestly, take my opinion, waking and walking on one of those high dunes when the sun breaks, actually – priceless! That golden light, anyway, streams everywhere. It illuminates the sand. You snap photographs of shapes everywhere.
Some had a go at sand-boarding, sort of. It isn’t the same vibes when compared with snow snowboarding though! You can even test this if it’s really a thing! Then it was back on the camels to head back to the bus. After a speedy breakfast at the camp, then we took off heading towards Marrakech.
The return journey copies that, of day one. Many hours driving along the same road. We paused the same lunch site, very. I will state that that the second day might get very tiring. The excitement, too it’s a bit down. People simply want to reach the hotel, you could very much observe!
Food Situation
I do have to state some things relating to the grub. What I got with the tour comprised two breakfasts and two dinners. Suppers most times consist of regular Moroccan chow – tagine and couscous, mainly. Breakfasts might be just bread, jam, butter, yet that is usually how things unfold here in Morocco, by the way! If you wish anything fancier, you could most times acquire at an added price.
Bottled waters aren’t complimentary. You need buying these everywhere you stop at, too it’s almost like the refreshment stations exist purely to offer you refreshments to replenish what you may have run out of; if that’s so therefore you would not actually waste water and resources along your own path. Think ahead and stock enough before setting off everyday from the hotel at which point all costs associated usually go a bit mad in price for convenience-based scenarios instead!
What to Wear
Clothes do come important on these kinds adventures. Consider breathable items due extreme temp swings amongst sun/evening etc, naturally; dress modestly being respectful, alright?! The most critical items would quite possibly involve; sturdy footwear, also sunscreen in decent proportions along side headwear of various kinds keeping sunburns in total check for sure at virtually no stage here regardless too in regards down under considering intense brightness across wide barren settings perhaps just as things become quite likely under powerful sunshine all told instead during any specific moments generally while adventuring out over these lands seemingly far removed across various parts perhaps?
Some Considerations When Thinking of Going on that Sort of Trip
Zagora trips may not match experiences that other lengthier sand voyages do present, for a fact those found deeply inland Morocco given somewhat remote geographical distances. What I mean when stating above all seems how some think shorter getaways often suit many that can get by well traveling easily throughout different time period amounts along a schedule just since sometimes vacations look pretty fast indeed. So in case someone wants dunes which seemingly stretch right straight entirely around until beyond your line view seemingly well into forever’s sense here you’d possibly then favor booking a longer type deal elsewhere out around parts further inside Morocco then.
Do ready yourself to go sitting upon roads for super drawn stages throughout daily happenings when journeying here then. Even when views turn very fantastic I would very, very suggest accepting chances simply while standing and maybe even getting walks wherever practical mainly mainly given so because remaining constantly stationary only throughout such hours turns a challenge even while admiring stunning visuals unfolding just after having glass barriers anyway.
Bear just gently throughout crowded areas which arise around high tourist spots specifically although then keep accepting likely commercial approaches at particular spots across there during it very could possibly start seemingly intense often, so don’t become afraid declaring you will probably move thanks etc must it happen where any offers don’t excite people’s enthusiasm anyway perhaps or might possibly have gotten really overdone truly here and generally through specific circumstances.
In summary: Should You go for it?
The 2-day Zagora Desert deal runs something a person can check, really, for those pinched in respect of stretches regarding timeframe wanting sensing themselves somewhat over Morocco sands instead. Do hold correct goals nonetheless, naturally: You should get that time from place traveling in-between factors; along you actually go browsing probably beautiful settings despite knowing well actually things become commonly speedy moving as being. Should your heart desires greater distant dunes perhaps maybe consider even deeper escape otherwise merely simply soak these wonderful stages Morocco hands persons rather.
- Short trip: Excellent when fast schedules prevail
- Be aware traveling lengths
- Hold sensible perspective to gain better rewards truly all over journey then!