Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Zagora?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zagora or Ouarzazate?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Zagora or Ouarzazate? 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: Zagora or Ouarzazate?
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.
Ouarzazate
Morocco can be quite an energetic country, but if you're looking for more of a quiet getaway, consider Ouarzazate. Small by Moroccan standards, this town is built up mostly around a main street – the Avenue Mohammad V. Ouarzazate. The name "Ouarzazate" comes from the Berber language meaning "without noise" or "without confusion." It was once a crossroad for a African traders traveling to northern cities in Morocco and Europe. Today, Ouarzazate is the largest town in the Moroccan Sahara, and its central location serves as a good home base touring the rest of Morocco.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Morocco, The Best Cultural Tours in Morocco, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZagora $50Ouarzazate $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Zagora is $50, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is $42. 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 Zagora and Ouarzazate in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZagora $36Ouarzazate $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZagora $72Ouarzazate $42
Compare Hotels in Zagora and Ouarzazate
Looking for a hotel in Zagora or Ouarzazate? 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.
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: Zagora Hotel Prices and Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zagora $1.42Ouarzazate $3.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zagora
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zagora:
- Airport Private Transfer: $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:
- Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $42
- "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $107
- Private Transfer between Ouarzazate & Marrakech: $311
Is it cheaper to fly into Zagora or Ouarzazate?
Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate and Zagora 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
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Food Meals for one dayZagora $13Ouarzazate $16
Typical Food Prices in Ouarzazate
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ouarzazate:
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Dinner for Two$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ouarzazate.
- Private Berber Cooking Class at Fint Oasis with Lunch: $33
- Oases Fint Tour With Dinner: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zagora $2.85Ouarzazate $11
Tours and Activities in Zagora
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zagora are as follows:
- 2 Days Tour to Zagora Desert with sunset from Marrakech: $83
- Marrakech: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour Zagora & BenHaddou: $111
- 2 days tour from Zagora to Erg Chegaga: $130
- Zagora to Erg chigaga desert tour & 4x4 (All-inclusive) 2-Days: $163
- Zagora to Erg chigaga desert tour & 4x4 (All-inclusive) 2-Days: $163
- Private Day Camel Trekking Tour in Draa Valley from Zagora: $213
- From 2-Day Desert Tour to Erg Chegaga: $286
- From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $351
- From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $355
- From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $378
- From Agadir 4 Days 3 night Désert Tours to Marrakech: $1,320
Tours and Activities in Ouarzazate
Here are a few actual costs in Ouarzazate for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Royal Private Tour of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou: $22
- Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $22
- 1 Hour Horse Riding Adventure in Ait Ben Haddou: $26
- Shared Desert tour of Morocco from Marrakech - 3 days: $52
- Private Quad Experience in the Ouarzazate Desert: $70
- Marrakech day tour to Ouzoud falls: $73
- From Marrakech: 3-Day Desert Tour to Merzouga: $97
- 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $100
- From Marrakech : Merzouga 3 day desert tour with camel ride: $104
- Private One Day Tour AIT BENHADDOU and TELOUET via Ouarzazate: $108
- Private tour Ait Ben Haddou - Ouarzazate. Lunch included.: $118
- 3 days group tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert: $125
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZagora -Ouarzazate -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zagora and Ouarzazate, we can see that Zagora is more expensive. And not only is Ouarzazate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ouarzazate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ouarzazate 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 Zagora would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zagora than you might in Ouarzazate.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zagora Expensive? and Is Ouarzazate Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zagora or Ouarzazate?
Ouarzazate has a larger population, and is about 63% larger than the population of Zagora. When comparing the sizes of Zagora and Ouarzazate, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.