Day trip · private vehicle and driver
Day trip to the Agafay desert.
A stone desert of pale hills half an hour from the city, with the Atlas on the horizon. The classic late-afternoon escape: camel or quad, dinner under a tent, then the sky.
The itinerary
- Leave Marrakech by private car, south-west towards the Agafay plateau.
- Camel ride, quad or buggy across the stone desert, depending on what you choose.
- Sunset over the hills, with the Atlas behind.
- Moroccan dinner under a tent, often with music.
- Back to your riad in the evening.
Practical details
The day is accompanied by your private tour guide in Marrakech, with a driver and vehicle kept for your group alone.
Cancellation terms depend on the bookings already made and appear on your quote, before any payment.
What you actually see
Agafay is not the Sahara, and it is better to know that before you set off. It is a stone and clay desert, bare hills rolling to the horizon, forty minutes from Marrakech. No sand dunes, but a low raking light at the end of the day that the dunes do not have, and the snow-capped Atlas behind it for part of the year.
The point of Agafay is precisely that closeness. You go for an afternoon and a dinner without giving up three days to the road. Activities are added as you like: a camel at walking pace, a quad or buggy for those the noise does not bother, or simply a walk along the ridges.
Dinner under canvas is what most visitors remember. The camps vary enormously, from a bare bivouac to a very well equipped site with a pool. Adil chooses according to what you are after and tells you frankly what each is worth, rather than sending you where he has an arrangement.
Questions about this tour
Are there sand dunes at Agafay?
No. Agafay is a stone desert. For dunes you need Merzouga or Zagora, a full day’s drive away, which means a multi-day tour.
Does it work with children?
Yes, it is one of the easiest trips for families: the drive is short, the ground is flat, and a camel at walking pace suits children from about five or six. Quads have a minimum age.
What is the best time of day?
Leaving mid-afternoon, to arrive with low light and stay for dinner. In summer, later still: Agafay is scorching at midday and has no shade.
