Zagora Transportation

We didn't take the Draa Valley to reach Zagora by paved roads, but came from the other side from Foum-Zguid. It is only an unpaved track, so here you need a four-wheel drive.
Sometimes the track divided in many tracks, but, if the track headed east and you stayed on the plain between the two mountainridges at the left and right, there was no problem to find your way. Any track you choosed, seemed to be a track to the Draa Valley and Zagora.

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I travelled to and from Zagora by grande taxi from Ouarzazate: the grande taxis arrive and depart from the old bus station in the middle of the main road through the older part of the town. The main bus station is around a kilometer beyong the northern gate: most of the buses to Ouarzazate depart in the morning.
True to form the CTM service remains aloof, the one bus a day departing from their lush premises near the poste and the Hotel de Palmerie at the southern end of main street.

Zagora is the last town before entering the Sahara Desert. Many companies and individuals have camels to hire - whether for a few hours, or days/weeks - oh and of course it's only 52 days by camel to Timbuctu (Tombouctou)!

Our trek had been organised as part of our 8 day tour, with a 2 hour ride into the desert, spending the night in a Bivouac or makeshift Bedoin Camp, then returning next morning on our camels.

Similar trips can be booked locally. There is also the option of 4X4 plus experienced driver (i.e. one who knows the desert 'roads' and conditions, so is less likely to get stuck in the sand!)

To get to Zagora you must first take the bus through the Atlas mountains to Ouarzarzate, really the bus tip on my Marrakech page should be here, cos this is when everyone was vomiting. The Atlas Mountains are very nice and alot of people travel to here, for hiking, etc. We just rode through on the way to the desert. You can find people selling food and fossils along side the road, I bought a trilobite and a bag of peanuts when we stopped.

When I woke up (a bit before the sunrise), I looked through a hole in our tent and saw that Hussein was already feeding and saddling the dromedaries so that we could get back to Zagora. I didn't want to leave so soon. I would have liked to stay longer and go further in the desert. Now, it's one of my new dreams. As for Hussein, his dream is to stay his whole life in the desert surrounded by his fellow Berbers and his dromedaries. Actually, he's already living his dream.

As it was our first time on a dromedary, we didn't ride it ourselves but followed our guide Hussein who brought us to the right destination. As you can see, it's not easy to make a clear picture while in movement ;-)

First experience on a camel (or actually on a dromedary). I was a bit afraid at first because I don't especially like horse riding. But being on a camel is a bit different, especially when you don't ride it yourself, and I really enjoyed it (even if it hurts a little after a while! ;-). The view from the top was wonderful and these animals are very sweet and quiet.

... doesn't he look nice ? ;-)