Zagora & Erfoud

The River Draa starts its long journey high in the Atlas mountains before winding its way down to the town of Agdz and it is here that it brings this whole region to life and the oasis of Zagora begins.

• Explore old trading towns on the edge of the Sahara Desert
• Fantastic landscapes of old kasbahs atop dramatic valleys
• Luxury desert camping under starlit skies
• Walking amongst the golden Merzouga dunes at sunsrise

This is where the Saadians defeated the Souss before marching on and conquering the rest of Morocco in the 14th Century, ending with their assault on Tomboctou.

The contrast as you drive along the valley is immense, starting with the twists and turns of the Tizi n’Tinififft Pass before heading down to the oases thick with palm trees laden with dates, mighty kasbahs and the burning ochre sand dunes of Zagora that disappear into the horizon.

From Er Rachidia to Erfoud, the Ziz Valley is a succession of beautiful ksour and lush green palmeraie, which culminates in the vast expanse of Merzouga’s golden, rolling sand dunes that represent the northern boundary of the endless Sahara desert. To disappear for the night into this shifting mass of sand with your Berber guides and camels is one of the most intriguing ways to experience the desert and to witness the rising sun in this glorious isolation is a unique experience.