The Agafay Desert is only about 45 minutes from Marrakech, but it feels a world away: bare rolling hills, total silence and the snow-capped High Atlas on the horizon. This private half-day trip takes you there for a sunset camel ride and dinner at a desert camp, and brings you back to Marrakech the same evening.
This Agafay desert tour is the easiest way to experience the desert from Marrakech in a single evening.
Agafay is a stony desert, not a sand sea. Instead of dunes, you get a moon-like landscape of rolling, sand-colored hills, with the High Atlas Mountains rising behind them. It’s the easiest way to taste the desert if you don’t have the two or three days needed to reach the Sahara, and it’s a favorite for couples, families and anyone wanting a relaxed evening outside the city.
Your driver picks you up in Marrakech in the afternoon. On the way, you can stop above the Lalla Takerkoust lake. At the camp, you ride a camel across the hills as the sun sets, then have dinner by candlelight under the stars before driving back. Want the real Sahara dunes? See our 3-day Marrakech to Merzouga tour.
The Agafay Desert lies at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, about 40 km from the UNESCO-listed Medina of Marrakesh.
Agafay is good all year. Sunsets are clearest in spring and autumn, and evenings get cool from October to April, so bring a sweater.
Helpful reading: Agafay Desert vs Merzouga
Your driver picks you up at your riad or hotel in Marrakech in the mid-afternoon (the exact time depends on the season and the sunset). Leave the city heading south-west across the Haouz plain, with an optional stop at a viewpoint over the Lalla Takerkoust lake and the High Atlas behind it. After about 45 minutes, arrive in the Agafay Desert and settle in at the camp with a glass of mint tea.
As the light turns golden, set off on a camel ride across the rolling stony hills, led by a camel handler. Stop on a ridge to watch the sun go down behind the desert, with the mountains glowing pink on the horizon. Back at camp, have a candlelit Moroccan dinner, usually salads, a tagine and fruit, and stay for the stars. Around 9 to 10 pm, your driver takes you back to Marrakech.
How much does the Agafay desert tour cost?
Our private Agafay desert tour with a sunset camel ride and dinner starts from $105 per person, based on 2 travelers, including the private transfer from Marrakech, the camel ride and dinner. The price per person is lower for bigger groups and higher for solo travelers. Send us your date for an exact quote.
How far is the Agafay Desert from Marrakech?
About 40 km south-west of the city, around 45 minutes to 1 hour by car.
Are there sand dunes in Agafay?
No. Agafay is a rocky, hilly desert rather than a sand sea. For big sand dunes you need to go to Merzouga, Erg Chigaga or Zagora, which take at least two days from Marrakech.
What time does the tour start and finish?
Pickup is usually in the mid-afternoon, timed to the sunset, and you are back in Marrakech in the late evening, after dinner. Exact times change with the season.
Is the camel ride suitable for children?
Yes. The ride is short and slow, and children usually love it. Camel handlers lead the camels on foot.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothes and closed shoes. Bring a jacket or sweater, because evenings in the desert get cool, especially from October to April.
Can you arrange a special dinner for a birthday or proposal?
Yes. Tell us in advance and we will ask the camp for a private table and a special setup, depending on availability.
Is this a private tour?
Yes. The transfer and the experience are private for your group.
