| Tour | Price per person | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| 2 days, Zagora (shared group) | €180 – €230 | Minibus via the Draa Valley, camel ride at sunset, night in a Berber camp, dinner and breakfast |
| 2 days, Zagora (private) | €400 – €650 | Private 4x4 and driver-guide, same route at your pace, better camp options |
| 3 days, Merzouga or Erg Chigaga (shared/private base) | €285 – €460 | High Atlas crossing, Ait Benhaddou or the Draa, proper dune field, camel trek, camp night |
| 3-4 days, premium private | €850 – €1,500 | Top camps with proper beds and ensuite tents, flexible route, the best driver-guides |
Note: Prices depend on group size, season and camp standard. Couples: budget roughly €570 – €920 for a private 3-day trip. Final quote confirmed on WhatsApp.
Zagora or Merzouga? The honest version
Zagora is the two-day option: you reach the edge of the desert, ride camels into a dune area for sunset and sleep in a camp. The dunes here are modest — beautiful, but not the towering sand seas of the postcards. Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) and Erg Chigaga are the real thing: dunes up to 150 metres. That takes three days minimum from Agadir, with long driving days. My rule of thumb: if you only have two days, go to Zagora and enjoy the journey; if you can spare three, go to Merzouga and get the full Sahara.
What the journey is actually like
Expect six to nine hours of driving per day, broken up properly: the Tizi n'Tichka or Tizi n'Test passes, kasbahs, palm groves along the Draa Valley, lunch stops in towns you'd never otherwise see. A good driver makes or breaks this trip — the difference between a long transfer and the best day of your holiday. It's why I only work with drivers I've travelled with myself. Nights in the desert are cold from November to February; camps provide blankets, but bring a warm layer.
When to go and what to book
October to May is the sweet spot. July and August are extremely hot in Merzouga — doable, but I'd gently steer you elsewhere. Shared tours run on fixed days and keep costs down; private tours let you stop for photos, skip shops you don't care about, and choose your camp. For a couple, a private 3-day trip is the single best thing you can book from Agadir. Message me your dates and group size and I'll come back with a concrete plan and price.
FAQ
Two-day shared tours to Zagora start around €180 – €230 per person; three-day tours to Merzouga or Erg Chigaga run €285 – €460 at base level, and premium private trips go from €850 to €1,500. Final quote confirmed on WhatsApp.
Enough for Zagora and a genuine desert-camp night, but the dunes are smaller there. For the big sand seas of Merzouga, you need three days. If you only have one day, look at the Mini Sahara dunes south of Agadir instead.
Transport, driver-guide, camel ride at sunset, one or two nights (including the desert camp), dinner and breakfast. Lunches, drinks and tips are usually extra. I spell out exactly what's included before you book.
Yes, with the right setup — private tours with frequent stops suit families best. Camel rides are gentle and optional. Very long shared-minibus days are tiring for small children; tell me who's travelling and I'll advise honestly.