Draa Valley
The Draa is the valley that tells you the desert is close: palm groves give way to open sand a little more each kilometre south. It's one of the most scenic approaches to the dunes.
What stands out
Why this place stays with people
- Palm groves along the river
- Old kasbahs and ksour
- Tamegroute pottery and library
- Zagora's edge-of-desert feel
Best time to go
Cooler months are more comfortable for the drive; the valley itself is green year-round.
From the driver's seat
A good place to slow the pace before or after the dunes — there's less rush here than further into the desert.
Visitor guide
Your guide to Draa Valley
How long to stay
A day of driving with stops, or a night in Zagora.
Getting there
The road runs south from Ouarzazate to Zagora, about 160 km.
Worth seeing
- The palm groves between Agdz and Zagora
- The old ksour (fortified villages) along the river, such as Tamnougalt
- The jagged peak of Jbel Kissane above Agdz
Good to know
- Stop in the villages rather than driving the valley in one go. That's where it comes alive.
- Autumn is the date harvest, and the best time to pass through.
- Summer is very hot here. Plan the driving for the early part of the day.
Routes through here
Ways to make it part of the trip
2 Days · 1 Nights2-Day Zagora Desert Tour from Marrakech
Two Days to Zagora$230–$310 per person · accommodation included
5 Days · 4 Nights5-Day Sahara & Gorges Tour from Marrakech
Nomad Tracks and Golden Dunes$680–$920 per person · accommodation included
7 Days · 6 Nights7-Day Sahara & Kasbah Tour from Marrakech
The Berber Heartland Loop$980–$1350 per person · accommodation includedDraa Valley, your way
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