A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Eilat vs. Zagora for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Eilat or Zagora?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Eilat or Zagora? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Eilat or Zagora?

Eilat

Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.

Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.

Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.

Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Zagora

A small town in southern Morocco, Zagora is a popular base camp for excursions on foot, by camel, or four wheel drive vehicles into the surrounding desert. One of the most famous and historic treks is the ancient caravan route to Timbuktu, marked by a famous sign at the end of town - indicating a journey of "52 days" by camel.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best Adventure Tours to Morocco, and The Best Cultural Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Zagora or Eilat?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $140, while the average daily cost in Zagora is $50. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Eilat and Zagora in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Eilat $93
    Zagora $36
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Eilat $186
    Zagora $72
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Zagora

Looking for a hotel in Eilat or Zagora? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Eilat


Hotels in Zagora


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Eilat Hotel Prices and Zagora Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Eilat $13
    Zagora $1.42
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:


  • Local Bus
    $3.71

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat

Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70
  • From Jerusalem: One-Way Shuttle Transfer to Eilat: $90

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zagora

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zagora:

  • Airport Private Transfer: $36

Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Zagora?

Prices for flights to both Zagora and Eilat change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Eilat $35
    Zagora $13

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Eilat $16
    Zagora $2.85

Tours and Activities in Eilat

For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
  • From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $65
  • Red canyon jeep tour in Eilat: $70
  • Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $70
  • Red Canyon: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
  • Park Timna: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
  • Timna Park Tour from Eilat: $150
  • Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
  • Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
  • 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
  • Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
  • Private Scuba Diving Tour with Transportation and Guide : $220

Tours and Activities in Zagora

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zagora are as follows:

  • 2 days tour from Zagora to Erg Chegaga: $137
  • From Agadir 4 Days 3 night Désert Tours to Marrakech: $1,335
  • From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $355
  • From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $357
  • From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $377
  • From 2-Day Desert Tour to Erg Chegaga: $290
  • Marrakech: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour Zagora & BenHaddou: $112
  • Private Day Camel Trekking Tour in Draa Valley from Zagora: $215
  • Zagora to Erg chigaga desert tour & 4x4 (All-inclusive) 2-Days: $164
  • Zagora to Erg chigaga desert tour & 4x4 (All-inclusive) 2-Days: $164

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Eilat $27
    Zagora -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Zagora, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Zagora much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Zagora is in Africa, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Zagora would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zagora and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat than you might in Zagora.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eilat Expensive? and Is Zagora Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Eilat or Zagora?

Eilat has a larger population, and is about 30% larger than the population of Zagora. When comparing the sizes of Eilat and Zagora, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.