Desert Tours from Marrakech: Agafay and Palmeraie

Agafay or Sahara: an honest answer

The Sahara dunes you see in photographs, such as Erg Chebbi near Merzouga, are far from Marrakech, about nine to ten hours by road each way. They need at least two nights, and they are a different kind of trip. We run 3, 4 and 5 day tours to the dunes, with nights in a desert camp.

The Agafay is a rocky desert of hills and dry valleys, about 40 kilometres and 45 to 60 minutes from Marrakech. It is wide, quiet and cinematic, with sunsets that turn the hills gold, and in winter the High Atlas has snow behind it. For a day trip from Marrakech, it is the right choice. Our guide to Agafay versus Merzouga explains the difference in detail.

Sunset dinner in a desert camp

The most popular evening is the sunset dinner. You are collected around 17:00 (18:00 in summer), watch the sun go down over the hills, and settle into a lantern lit camp for a three course Moroccan dinner with live Gnawa music, drums and a fire show. You return by transfer, so you do not drive at night. Vegetarian dinner is possible if you tell us when you book. Desert evenings are cold from October to April, so bring a warm layer.

Quad, buggy and camel

If you want movement, the Agafay quad ride takes about four hours in total, with around an hour and a half on the quad, over the hills with views of the High Atlas and the Lalla Takerkoust lake. No driving licence is needed, a short briefing is given, helmet and goggles are included, and children can ride as passengers. Drivers must be 16 or older.

The buggy tour is for two people sharing one vehicle, and the price is per buggy. Drivers must be over 18, and passengers must be at least 10. The ride lasts about two hours and ends with mint tea. The Palmeraie buggy is a shorter version of the same idea, only 20 minutes from your hotel, among palm trees and small villages.

For a slow, gentle desert feeling, the camel ride in the Palmeraie lasts about an hour and ends with tea and Moroccan pancakes with a local family. It is easy and safe for families, and children from four can ride with an adult. Our camels work short days with plenty of rest.

Sunrise instead of sunset

The hot air balloon flies in the early morning over the plains and hills outside Marrakech. You get about an hour in the air with a licensed pilot, with the High Atlas, the Jbilet hills and the Agafay in view, then a Berber breakfast. Flights depend on the wind and visibility, and if the weather stops the flight, you get a new date or a full refund.

The best season

From October to April the weather is ideal, and the evenings are cool. In summer the desert is very hot in the middle of the day, so choose the early morning or the sunset experiences. Our Agafay guide explains what to wear and how to prepare.

Frequently asked questions