Zagora sits in the Draa Valley, a long oasis corridor of date palms following the Draa River toward the desert. It is a traditional staging point for camel treks and journeys deeper into the Sahara.
October to April brings bearable daytime heat for this gateway to the dunes; avoid the punishing summer, when desert temperatures soar well past comfort.
Dates from the Draa Valley, tagines, and bread cooked over wood fires at desert camps.
Zagora has simple hotels and palmeraie guesthouses, and is a common departure point for overnight stays in desert camps.
Climb Jebel Zagora before dawn to watch the palm groves emerge from shadow as the sun clears the surrounding hills.
Read more in Marrakech & the Sahara: red walls, kasbahs & the deep desert.
