The short version
Both trips leave Marrakech over the High Atlas and pass the Ksar of Aït Benhaddou (opens in a new tab), a UNESCO World Heritage site. After Ouarzazate the roads split. One heads south down the Draa Valley to Zagora. The other heads east through Skoura, the Dades Valley and the Todra Gorge to Merzouga and the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
| Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) | Zagora | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from Marrakech | About 560 km | About 360 km |
| The dunes | Tall, orange, sand sea up to about 150 m | Lower, scattered dunes in stony desert |
| On the way | Dades Valley, Todra Gorge | Draa Valley palm groves, Agdz |
| Shortest sensible trip | 3 days from Marrakech | 2 days from Marrakech |
| Closest big city | Fez is also a good start | Marrakech |
| Best for | The "real Sahara" picture, sandboarding, sunrise on the dunes | A shorter trip with more villages and oases |
Merzouga: the dunes you have seen in photos
Erg Chebbi is a sand sea about 22 km long, rising straight out of a flat stony plain near the village of Merzouga. The dunes are tall, soft and orange, and they change colour through the day. This is where you ride a camel out to a camp in the dunes, climb a ridge for sunrise and try sandboarding down the slopes.
The trade-off is the distance. From Marrakech it is about 560 km, which is far too much for one day if you want to enjoy it. Our seven-day Sahara loop splits the road into easy stages: Ouarzazate, the Dades Valley, the Todra Gorge, then two nights in the desert, and back by a different road through Nkob and the Draa Valley so you never drive the same road twice. Our guide to the road from Marrakech to Merzouga covers each stage in detail.
Merzouga is also the natural choice from Fez. The road crosses the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas near Ifrane, drops through Midelt and follows the Ziz Valley south to Erfoud.
7 days · from MarrakechSahara Loop via MerzougaSee the route
6 days · from FezFez to the Sahara, Two Desert NightsSee the routeZagora: the shorter road to the desert
Zagora sits deep in the valley of the Draa, Morocco's longest river, where the road runs beside mile after mile of date palms. The desert here is stony, with lower dunes, and the camps are smaller and quieter. It does not look like the Erg Chebbi postcards, but it has its own charm: kasbah villages, oasis gardens and very dark night skies.
The big advantage is time. Zagora is about 360 km from Marrakech, so you reach the desert on day two instead of day three. Our five-day Zagora trip uses that time for two nights at a camp near Zagora and a slower road through Agdz and the palm groves.
5 days · from MarrakechZagora Desert and the Draa ValleySee the routeWhat about Erg Chigaga?
Erg Chigaga lies beyond Zagora, past M'hamid, and its dunes are as big as Erg Chebbi's. It is much more remote and the last part is driven off-road by 4×4. It is a great choice for travellers who want real isolation and have the extra day it needs. Ask us and we will plan it as a private trip.
How to choose in one minute
- Four days or fewer from Marrakech: Zagora.
- Five days or more, and you want big dunes: Merzouga.
- Starting in Fez: Merzouga, without question.
- Travelling in summer: either works, but keep the desert part short and ride camels at dawn and dusk.
- You want both desert and the Atlantic in one week: Zagora leaves room for Essaouira.
Questions
Is Merzouga better than Zagora?
For tall dunes, yes. Erg Chebbi near Merzouga is the classic Sahara landscape. Zagora has lower dunes in stony desert but is much closer to Marrakech, so it suits shorter trips.
How far is Merzouga from Marrakech?
About 560 km by road. With stops, most trips split it over two days, sleeping in Ouarzazate or the Dades Valley on the way.
How far is Zagora from Marrakech?
About 360 km, over the High Atlas and down the Draa Valley. It can be driven in a long day, but two days is more comfortable.
Can I do the Sahara in two days from Marrakech?
Only to Zagora, and it means long hours in the car. For Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes, three days is the minimum and four or more is much better.
