Taragalte Festival in M’hamid, Zagora | Guide & Tips
Live music on the dunes after dark, camel parades in the morning, and a sky with no city light in it. The Taragalte Festival runs from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, in the dunes near M’hamid, south of Zagora. We are festival partners, with camps in both Tahtah and M’hamid, and we take festival guests every year. Numbers are small, so tell us early.
What is the Taragalte Festival?
It is a three-day open-air festival held in the dunes near M’hamid El Ghizlane. It grew out of the village’s old moussem, the gathering that marked the end of the date season and the return of the desert caravans. Taragalte is also the older name of M’hamid itself. The festival has been running since 2009 and is known throughout the region for the care it takes with the desert it sits in.
Dates and location
Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, in the dunes near M’hamid El Ghizlane, Zagora province, southern Morocco. Music runs through three nights and stops on the Sunday.
If you can, arrive on the Thursday. The road from Zagora is long, and it is a better weekend if you are not covering it in the dark.
What to expect
Each evening has its own theme. In 2022 the three nights were the Cultural Caravan for Peace, World Rhythms and Desert Blues. The programme changes year to year, but the shape of it does not: staged music while the light lasts, then drums that carry on long after.
The days have their own rhythm.
- Camel parades and nomad hockey, a desert game with a long history
- Workshops led by local people — carpet weaving, nomad cooking, pottery, rammed earth
- Folk performances of Guedra, Ganga and Ahidous, with a food market, craft stalls and poetry readings after midnight
- Stargazing, because there is nothing between you and the Milky Way but sand
Getting there
M’hamid is the last village on the Drâa Valley road, south of Zagora. The festival suggests a rental car, coach, minibus or grand taxi. The road is long and parking near the dunes is limited.
We take that part off you. Transport is included in our festival package, and we arrange pickup from Zagora or the local airstrip. You will arrive rested, and you will not be looking for a car park in the dark.
Where to stay: two camps, one booking
We have two camps and you can book either one in the same message. Both come with the same package.
| Tahtah, Zagora | M’hamid | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A quieter stay with more comfort | Being right at the festival |
| Stay options | Clay Riad Room, Cabin on the Ridge, Safari Glamping Tent, Dune View Pitch, Campervan Pitch, Open-Air Bivouac |
Rooms, bivouac tents and camping pitches |
| Setting | An hour beyond Zagora, off the road to M’hamid | In the village, minutes from the dunes |
You can see all six of our Tahtah stays, with photographs of each one, on the stays page.
The festival stay package
Everything is included:
- Accommodation, at either camp — a room, cabin, tent, pitch or bivouac
- Transport and transfers, including pickup from Zagora or the airstrip
- Meals, cooked from our organic garden
- The festival itself — entry is free, so there is nothing to buy and nothing to pay at the gate
Prices depend on the stay you choose and how many nights you want. Our nightly rates are on the pricing page; send us your dates and we will confirm the total.
How to book
- Message us on WhatsApp.
- Tell us your exact dates and how many of you there are.
- We confirm availability, transport and price, usually the same day.
Notes for the desert
- Pack layers. Desert nights are cold, and the festival runs long after sunset.
- Bring a scarf, sunglasses and sunscreen. The light out here is hard and white.
- Carry a torch for the dunes.
- Bring cash for the market and the stalls. Cards are not reliable in M’hamid.
- Add a night in the dunes or a camel trek before or after the festival. Our experiences page sets out what we run.
If October does not work
M’hamid keeps a festival calendar. Zamane runs from 3 to 6 December 2026, and the International Nomads Festival falls in the spring. Both our camps are open all year, and the desert is a quieter place when nothing is happening.
Questions
When is the Taragalte Festival 2026?
Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2026.
Where is it held?
In the dunes near M’hamid El Ghizlane, in Zagora province, southern Morocco.
Do I need a ticket?
No. Entry to the festival is free, so there is no pass to buy in advance and nothing to pay at the gate.
Can you arrange transport?
Yes. Transport and transfers are included in the package, and we pick up from Zagora or the local airstrip.
Is the festival included in the price of my stay?
Yes. Your accommodation, meals, transfers and the festival itself are one package. The only thing left outside it is reaching us, and we can arrange that too.
Should I stay in Zagora or at M’hamid?
Both work, and transfers are included either way. Choose M’hamid if you want to be at the festival before the first band plays. Choose Tahtah if you would rather come back after the last drum circle to a quieter camp, with more comfort and a wider choice of stays. If you are not sure, tell us how you like your evenings and we will point you at one.
How do I book?
Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and the number of guests, and we will come back to you with availability and a price.
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Ready to join us in the dunes?
The festival weekend fills every year, and the bivouac is the first to go. Message us on WhatsApp and we will hold a place while you decide.
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