The 9-day Draa Tafilalet tour Morocco is our most immersive journey — a deep exploration of the Drâa-Tafilalet region, the largest and most diverse region in Morocco and the homeland of Azawan Tours’ founder, Mustapha.
While most Morocco tours pass through this region in a day or two, this 9-day itinerary gives you the time to truly discover its treasures: the endless palm groves of the Draa Valley, the remote sand seas of Erg Chegaga, the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, dramatic gorges carved over millennia, ancient trading posts, and Berber villages where traditions have remained unchanged for centuries.
This tour visits two of Morocco’s three major desert regions — Erg Chegaga near Zagora and Erg Chebbi near Merzouga — offering distinct desert experiences. Erg Chegaga is more remote and wild, while Erg Chebbi offers the classic towering dunes most associated with the Sahara.
Led by a guide who was born and raised in this region, the 9-day Draa Tafilalet tour offers an authenticity and depth that no other itinerary can match. You will visit Mustapha’s home village, meet local families, and experience the real Morocco far from the tourist crowds.
Depart Marrakech and cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Benhaddou and explore its ancient fortified towers. Continue to Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Morocco.”
Overnight: Ouarzazate — hotel or riad (dinner and breakfast included)
Drive south along the Draa Valley, Morocco’s longest river valley. Pass through Agdz and its impressive Tamnougalt kasbah, then follow the valley’s endless palm groves and ancient ksour (fortified villages). The Draa Valley is one of Morocco’s most beautiful and least-visited landscapes.
Arrive in Zagora, the historic caravan crossroads marked by the famous “Timbuktu 52 days” sign — indicating the old camel trade route to West Africa.
Overnight: Zagora — riad or hotel (dinner and breakfast included)
Visit Tamegroute, home to a 17th-century zaouia (religious complex) and an ancient library containing 13th-century manuscripts and hand-illuminated Qurans. See the local pottery cooperative, famous for its distinctive green-glazed ceramics.
Continue south into the desert toward Erg Chegaga, the most remote and pristine sand desert in Morocco. Unlike Erg Chebbi, Chegaga requires a 4×4 to reach and receives far fewer visitors — offering a truly wild Sahara experience.
Arrive at your desert camp as the sun begins its descent. The dunes of Erg Chegaga stretch over 40 kilometers and rise up to 300 meters. Enjoy a traditional dinner and an evening of complete desert silence.
Overnight: Erg Chegaga — desert camp (dinner and breakfast included)
Watch the sunrise over the vast Chegaga dunes, then depart east through the hammada (stony desert) toward N’Kob, a town famous for its 45 kasbahs scattered across the palm oasis.
Continue to Tazoulayt, the home village of Azawan Tours’ founder Mustapha, nestled in the Drâa-Tafilalet region. Here you will experience authentic Berber village life — visit a traditional home, share a meal with a local family, and see how Berber communities have thrived in this arid landscape for centuries.
Overnight: Tazoulayt area — local guesthouse (dinner and breakfast included)
Drive through the desert landscape past Alnif, known for its trilobite fossils dating back 400 million years. Continue to Rissani, one of Morocco’s oldest trading posts and birthplace of the Alaouite dynasty. Explore its bustling traditional souk.
Arrive in Merzouga at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes — a dramatically different desert experience from Erg Chegaga. Here, the dunes tower up to 150 meters in perfect golden crescent shapes.
Mount your camel and trek into the dunes as the sun sets. Arrive at your camp for dinner, Berber music, and stargazing.
Overnight: Erg Chebbi — Sahara desert camp (dinner and breakfast included)
A full day dedicated to the Merzouga desert. Wake for the sunrise over Erg Chebbi, then enjoy a varied day of desert experiences:
Overnight: Merzouga — hotel or riad (dinner and breakfast included)
Depart Merzouga and drive through Errachidia, the capital of the Drâa-Tafilalet region and the home base of Azawan Tours. Continue through the stunning Ziz Valley — a deep canyon lined with thousands of date palms between towering red cliffs.
Arrive at the Todgha Gorge, where 300-meter limestone cliffs frame a narrow passage. Walk into the gorge and feel the cool shade between its massive walls.
Overnight: Tinghir — hotel or riad (dinner and breakfast included)
Drive west through the Dades Valley, stopping at the dramatic Dades Gorge with its serpentine road and “monkey fingers” rock formations. Continue through the Rose Valley (Kalaat M’Gouna), where Damask roses are harvested in spring to make rosewater and cosmetics.
Arrive in Skoura, a lush palm oasis dotted with ancient kasbahs, including the photogenic Amridil Kasbah. Enjoy a peaceful evening in one of southern Morocco’s most beautiful oases.
Overnight: Skoura — riad or guesthouse (dinner and breakfast included)
After breakfast, drive through Ouarzazate with a final look at the southern Moroccan landscape. Cross the High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n’Tichka, stopping at panoramic viewpoints along the way.
Descend into the Haouz Plain and arrive in Marrakech by late afternoon. Your 9 day Draa Tafilalet tour concludes in the Red City, with 9 days of deep Moroccan memories.
End of tour in Marrakech
This is our deepest exploration of the Drâa-Tafilalet region. You visit two separate desert regions (Erg Chegaga and Erg Chebbi), the founder’s home village, and spend 9 days immersed in the region rather than passing through it quickly.
Yes, Erg Chegaga requires a 4×4 to reach and is far more remote than Erg Chebbi. This is part of its appeal — you experience the wild, untouched Sahara with almost no other tourists. The camps are comfortable but simpler than Merzouga camps.
Absolutely. We can customize the itinerary to fit your available time. Contact us to discuss your ideal duration and interests.
Visiting Tazoulayt offers a genuine glimpse into Berber village life — not a tourist performance but a real community. This is where Mustapha grew up, and his family welcomes guests with traditional hospitality. It is one of the most authentic experiences available in Morocco.
