dessert
All You Need to Know About an Agafay Desert Day Trip from Marrakech, Morocco
Camel rides 🐫
Beautiful sunsets 🌅
Mint tea 🫖
ATVs through the desert 🌵
Delicious Moroccan cuisine 🇲🇦
Yes!! I’m talking about all the things you can see and experience during an Agafay Day Trip from Marrakech. Located just 45 minutes southwest of Marrakech, an adventure-filled Agafay Day Trip should definitely be on your radar for your next trip to Morocco!
One of my best girl friend’s and I recently spent 2 days in Marrakech and during our last day, we decided to take a fun afternoon/evening desert tour to the Agafay Desert via GetYourGuide.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about taking a day trip to the Agafay Desert (from Marrakech) including how to get there, the best tour company to use, what to pack for your day trip, whether or not to stay overnight, and ultimately what to expect.
This entire itinerary has been personally vetted, tested, and approved by me (and my friend that I dragged along to come) 😊
If you’re in Morocco make sure to check out my other post for the best 2-day itinerary for Marrakech 🇲🇦
This site contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links however, this has no impact on the integrity of my reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Is it worth taking a day trip to the Agafay Desert from Marrakech?
I’ll be honest, I really didn’t think we would need or want to leave Marrakech at all since we only had 2 full days there. However, we’re early birds so we managed to see a lot during the early hours of the morning so we were pretty stoked to be going on a 6 hour late afternoon tour outside of the city.
So the answer is YES! It’s totally worth it because the Medina can be explored in just one day and it’s a great way to see and experience a different side to Morocco. Plus, visiting the Agafay Desert just made me realize how badly I wanted to go and spend a few nights in the Sahara Desert.
Where is the Agafay Desert?
The Agafay Desert is conveniently located just ~25 miles (~40 kilometers) southwest of Marrakech, which is what makes it such an easy day trip or a short escape from the bustling city.
Without traffic, it’ll take about ~40 minutes to get there. Even during rush hour, it’ll take you no more than an hour.
How to get to the Agafay Desert?
Since we booked a prearranged tour, we rode in a shared van with about 6 other people. Assuming you’re staying in the city of Marrakech, the desert tour picks you up directly from your hotel. (Our tour started around 3 so we had the whole day to ourselves and made sure to eat a big lunch).
We were one of the last to get picked up which was nice. The trip out to the desert felt pretty quick as well since there was a lot to see out the window.
I definitely recommend going with the tour that we booked (just because they take care of everything for you and you don’t even have to think about logistics) but if you want to explore yourself, you can also rent a car and drive out to the desert.
From what I’ve seen, this only really makes sense if you plan to stay more than one night. Dealing with a rental car for just 1 day hardly seems worth it to me.
How much does it cost to get to the Agafay Desert?
Our GetYourGuide tour has 18,000 reviews for a reason — it’s well-organized, fun, and super reasonable!
The entire experience cost us $32/person. That’s less than $6/hour of entertainment!
I’m not sure how much it would cost you to rent a car and drive out there but I’m going to assume it’s a lot more than $32…
Additionally, you can also take a taxi to the Agafay Desert but I don’t think anyone really recommends that. It costs around 300 MAD ($30 USD) each way so I would highly suggest just booking the tour and/or renting a car if you’re going to be spending the night.
What should I bring for a day trip from Marrakech to the Agafay Desert?
To be honest, it’s not like you’re trekking through the Sahara for days on end so you should be fine with the essentials. So basically, some proper footwear (closed toed shoes) and a jacket for nighttime. I’d probably also bring an external charger for your phone just in case it dies from taking photos/videos.
Or maybe you’ll be fine because you have the latest iphone and yours doesn’t die on you every couple of hours.
I’d also maybe bring a pack of kleenex (I carry this on me anytime I travel) just in case you need to use the restroom and there isn’t toilet paper around (pretty common).
What activities are there in the Agafay Desert?
🐫🐫🐫🐫🐫🐫🐫
Yes – camel riding! If you want, you get to ride a camel through the Agafay desert which was pretty cool. They’re pretty gentle animals and kind of reminded me of horses. There’s also an option to hop on quad bikes and cruise around but we opted out.
There’s also been a rise of luxury desert camps lately such as Inara Camp (previously Agafay Nomad Camp/Selina owned), Agafay Luxury Camp, and BE Agafay (sister hotel to the famous Riad BE in Marrakech).
If you’re visiting Marrakech as part of a longer trip, I highly recommend spending a day or two in the desert to lounge by the pool, bake in the sun, and disconnect from your surroundings! If you’re also interested in staying at Riad BE in Marrakech, check out my full hotel review here.
In addition to the camel rides and quad tours, you can also hike the Atlas mountains, pay a visit to the local Berber villages, go horseback riding, or even pitch a tent and go stargazing!
These are some of the coolest experiences I’d recommend:
- Full day Atlas Mountains Hiking Trip (the terrain looks unreal)
- Desert Overnight and Dinner Show (for those with more time)
- Inara Camp Luxury Pool Day Pass (this is 10000% where you’d find me)
Are food/meals provided on a tour to the Agafay Desert?
YES! All the Moroccan cuisine and mint tea you can imagine is provided to you on the prearranged tour. The dinner was actually one of the best parts of the trip. After the camel ride, you’re then brought to a different part of the desert where they’ve set up rugs and chairs for you to sit.
There’s a few rounds of traditional Moroccan dance and song before you get served a delicious Moroccan chicken with rice. They even serve it to you in a “Tagine” which is a traditional Moroccan cooking vessel made of ceramic or unglazed clay with a round base and low sides, with a cone-shaped cover over the base.
Tagine pots are an absolute staple in Moroccan cooking! During dinner, they also offer you all the delicious Moroccan mint tea your heart could ever want!
What happens after dinner?
The fun’s not over just yet! After dinner on this desert day, then comes a big bonfire and more singing and dancing! They also set up some candles to be shaped like a heart and start burning a couple big fires and people start dancing to Moroccan music.
We participated for a few minutes but we sat on the sidelines and just hungout for the most part. There were definitely people there that were really getting into it so it was fun to watch.. from a distance.
The show ended around ~830pm and we were back in Marrakech by ~930. What a fun day trip! It was such a unique day and unforgettable experience.
Should I stay overnight in the Agafay Desert?
If you have the time…then yes! You absolutely should spend a night in the Agafay Desert! It’s an incredible experience and there are so many uber dreamy Agafay desert hotels in the area.
Like BE Agafay (which you can only book via their website and not through the traditional OTAs). Their sister property was the same way.
Imagine watching the sunset paint the sky, then gazing at a sky full of stars. Plus, you’ll enjoy the peaceful desert vibes. Many camps offer comfy tents, tasty food, and fun activities like camel rides, stargazing, and even sunrise yoga.
While a day trip is cool, an overnight stay lets you truly soak up the desert magic that you won’t be able to find in Marrakech.
Taking a day trip to the Agafay Desert: Final Thoughts
Even if you’re not an adventure girlie (or boy), I think it’s well worth prioritizing an Agafay Desert day trip when visiting Marrakech. There are many desert tours to choose from but I can’t say enough good things about the one we went on. Seriously, when was the last time you were able to book a half-day tour for under $35?
It was also definitely the first time I’ve ever ridden a camel. I had no idea just how many funny noises they make.
No but seriously, from the easy pick up from our hotel to the camel rides to the traditional Moroccan meal at sunset to the dancing and singing by the bonfire to the seamless drop off at night — this 6 hour adventure was truly one for the books.
So whether you opt for a day trip from Marrakech or choose to immerse yourself in the Marrakech desert with an overnight stay, I guarantee this will be one of those experiences you’ll never forget.
Did you get a chance to take a day trip to the Agafay Desert from Marrakech? Let me know in the comments below!
Visiting other parts of Morocco?
Check out my other travel guides on Morocco here.
Visiting other parts of Africa?
Check out my other travel guides on Africa here.
Looking for travel inspiration to somewhere else?
Camel rides 🐫
Beautiful sunsets 🌅
Mint tea 🫖
ATVs through the desert 🌵
Delicious Moroccan cuisine 🇲🇦
Yes!! I’m talking about all the things you can see and experience during an Agafay Day Trip from Marrakech. Located just 45 minutes southwest of Marrakech, an adventure-filled Agafay Day Trip should definitely be on your radar for your next trip to Morocco!
One of my best girl friend’s and I recently spent 2 days in Marrakech and during our last day, we decided to take a fun afternoon/evening desert tour to the Agafay Desert via GetYourGuide.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about taking a day trip to the Agafay Desert (from Marrakech) including how to get there, the best tour company to use, what to pack for your day trip, whether or not to stay overnight, and ultimately what to expect.
This entire itinerary has been personally vetted, tested, and approved by me (and my friend that I dragged along to come) 😊
If you’re in Morocco make sure to check out my other post for the best 2-day itinerary for Marrakech 🇲🇦
This site contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links however, this has no impact on the integrity of my reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Is it worth taking a day trip to the Agafay Desert from Marrakech?
I’ll be honest, I really didn’t think we would need or want to leave Marrakech at all since we only had 2 full days there. However, we’re early birds so we managed to see a lot during the early hours of the morning so we were pretty stoked to be going on a 6 hour late afternoon tour outside of the city.
So the answer is YES! It’s totally worth it because the Medina can be explored in just one day and it’s a great way to see and experience a different side to Morocco. Plus, visiting the Agafay Desert just made me realize how badly I wanted to go and spend a few nights in the Sahara Desert.
Where is the Agafay Desert?
The Agafay Desert is conveniently located just ~25 miles (~40 kilometers) southwest of Marrakech, which is what makes it such an easy day trip or a short escape from the bustling city.
Without traffic, it’ll take about ~40 minutes to get there. Even during rush hour, it’ll take you no more than an hour.
How to get to the Agafay Desert?
Since we booked a prearranged tour, we rode in a shared van with about 6 other people. Assuming you’re staying in the city of Marrakech, the desert tour picks you up directly from your hotel. (Our tour started around 3 so we had the whole day to ourselves and made sure to eat a big lunch).
We were one of the last to get picked up which was nice. The trip out to the desert felt pretty quick as well since there was a lot to see out the window.
I definitely recommend going with the tour that we booked (just because they take care of everything for you and you don’t even have to think about logistics) but if you want to explore yourself, you can also rent a car and drive out to the desert.
From what I’ve seen, this only really makes sense if you plan to stay more than one night. Dealing with a rental car for just 1 day hardly seems worth it to me.
How much does it cost to get to the Agafay Desert?
Our GetYourGuide tour has 18,000 reviews for a reason — it’s well-organized, fun, and super reasonable!
The entire experience cost us $32/person. That’s less than $6/hour of entertainment!
I’m not sure how much it would cost you to rent a car and drive out there but I’m going to assume it’s a lot more than $32…
Additionally, you can also take a taxi to the Agafay Desert but I don’t think anyone really recommends that. It costs around 300 MAD ($30 USD) each way so I would highly suggest just booking the tour and/or renting a car if you’re going to be spending the night.
What should I bring for a day trip from Marrakech to the Agafay Desert?
To be honest, it’s not like you’re trekking through the Sahara for days on end so you should be fine with the essentials. So basically, some proper footwear (closed toed shoes) and a jacket for nighttime. I’d probably also bring an external charger for your phone just in case it dies from taking photos/videos.
Or maybe you’ll be fine because you have the latest iphone and yours doesn’t die on you every couple of hours.
I’d also maybe bring a pack of kleenex (I carry this on me anytime I travel) just in case you need to use the restroom and there isn’t toilet paper around (pretty common).
What activities are there in the Agafay Desert?
🐫🐫🐫🐫🐫🐫🐫
Yes – camel riding! If you want, you get to ride a camel through the Agafay desert which was pretty cool. They’re pretty gentle animals and kind of reminded me of horses. There’s also an option to hop on quad bikes and cruise around but we opted out.
There’s also been a rise of luxury desert camps lately such as Inara Camp (previously Agafay Nomad Camp/Selina owned), Agafay Luxury Camp, and BE Agafay (sister hotel to the famous Riad BE in Marrakech).
If you’re visiting Marrakech as part of a longer trip, I highly recommend spending a day or two in the desert to lounge by the pool, bake in the sun, and disconnect from your surroundings! If you’re also interested in staying at Riad BE in Marrakech, check out my full hotel review here.
In addition to the camel rides and quad tours, you can also hike the Atlas mountains, pay a visit to the local Berber villages, go horseback riding, or even pitch a tent and go stargazing!
These are some of the coolest experiences I’d recommend:
- Full day Atlas Mountains Hiking Trip (the terrain looks unreal)
- Desert Overnight and Dinner Show (for those with more time)
- Inara Camp Luxury Pool Day Pass (this is 10000% where you’d find me)
Are food/meals provided on a tour to the Agafay Desert?
YES! All the Moroccan cuisine and mint tea you can imagine is provided to you on the prearranged tour. The dinner was actually one of the best parts of the trip. After the camel ride, you’re then brought to a different part of the desert where they’ve set up rugs and chairs for you to sit.
There’s a few rounds of traditional Moroccan dance and song before you get served a delicious Moroccan chicken with rice. They even serve it to you in a “Tagine” which is a traditional Moroccan cooking vessel made of ceramic or unglazed clay with a round base and low sides, with a cone-shaped cover over the base.
Tagine pots are an absolute staple in Moroccan cooking! During dinner, they also offer you all the delicious Moroccan mint tea your heart could ever want!
What happens after dinner?
The fun’s not over just yet! After dinner on this desert day, then comes a big bonfire and more singing and dancing! They also set up some candles to be shaped like a heart and start burning a couple big fires and people start dancing to Moroccan music.
We participated for a few minutes but we sat on the sidelines and just hungout for the most part. There were definitely people there that were really getting into it so it was fun to watch.. from a distance.
The show ended around ~830pm and we were back in Marrakech by ~930. What a fun day trip! It was such a unique day and unforgettable experience.
Should I stay overnight in the Agafay Desert?
If you have the time…then yes! You absolutely should spend a night in the Agafay Desert! It’s an incredible experience and there are so many uber dreamy Agafay desert hotels in the area.
Like BE Agafay (which you can only book via their website and not through the traditional OTAs). Their sister property was the same way.
Imagine watching the sunset paint the sky, then gazing at a sky full of stars. Plus, you’ll enjoy the peaceful desert vibes. Many camps offer comfy tents, tasty food, and fun activities like camel rides, stargazing, and even sunrise yoga.
While a day trip is cool, an overnight stay lets you truly soak up the desert magic that you won’t be able to find in Marrakech.
Taking a day trip to the Agafay Desert: Final Thoughts
Even if you’re not an adventure girlie (or boy), I think it’s well worth prioritizing an Agafay Desert day trip when visiting Marrakech. There are many desert tours to choose from but I can’t say enough good things about the one we went on. Seriously, when was the last time you were able to book a half-day tour for under $35?
It was also definitely the first time I’ve ever ridden a camel. I had no idea just how many funny noises they make.
No but seriously, from the easy pick up from our hotel to the camel rides to the traditional Moroccan meal at sunset to the dancing and singing by the bonfire to the seamless drop off at night — this 6 hour adventure was truly one for the books.
So whether you opt for a day trip from Marrakech or choose to immerse yourself in the Marrakech desert with an overnight stay, I guarantee this will be one of those experiences you’ll never forget.
Did you get a chance to take a day trip to the Agafay Desert from Marrakech? Let me know in the comments below!
Visiting other parts of Morocco?
Check out my other travel guides on Morocco here.
Visiting other parts of Africa?
Check out my other travel guides on Africa here.
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