6 Excursions to the Agafay desert from Marrakech

An excursion to the Agafay Desert is the perfect alternative when making short trips to Marrakech, as getting to the Agafay Desert from Marrakech will take you 40 minutes by car. You'll be able to experience it without sacrificing other must-do things to do on a trip to Marrakech. The best excursions are listed below.

What could be more moving than a leisurely ride on a camel through the Agafay Desert at sunset?

Definitely one of those experiences that you can only have in Morocco and should at least consider; unless camels really scare you. However, I will tell you that these creatures are really docile and very well adapted to humans.

You will depart from your hotel in the city in a 4x4 minivan to your final destination in the Agafay desert, from where you will set off on a camel adventure to explore the surrounding area.

Useful information

• Price: This is an affordable desert experience for all budgets with prices starting from €34 per person.
• Duration of tour: This type of excursion usually lasts between 1 or 2 hours in total.
• Recommended if... you are looking to immerse yourself in a landscape of extraordinary beauty that you will remember forever. Head to the quieter part of the desert where the towering hills meet, pause for a moment and revel in the serenity of the sunset and the magic of the caravans being transported across the plain.

Visiting Marrakech at any time of the year is a memorable gastronomic experience. If you want to take it to the next level I recommend a Moroccan-style lunch served in a tent in the middle of the Agafay desert.

Head to the desert for a novel dining experience that can include sampling a homemade tajine, appreciating fresh local seasonal fruits and enjoying an invigorating mint tea. All this before returning to your comfortable hotel in the city. You may also consider booking the desert excursion with dinner.

Useful information

• Price: The price for this experience is usually €34 and upwards.
• Duration of tour: Maximum 4 hours.
• Recommended if... you want to enjoy a typical Moroccan lunch with your partner, friends or family away from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech.

In Marrakech you will find many offers for excursions in the desert on board buggies and quads. The Moroccan desert areas have become the perfect place to use this type of motor vehicles. You can explore the Agafay desert in Morocco while enjoying the beautiful scenery. The tour could end with a stop to rejoice in the famous sunsets of the tropical Agafay desert and end the experience on a high note.

What is included in this tour?

Most 4x4 vehicle tours from Marrakech include some form of refreshments and transport to the hotel. Please note that most of the time lunch or tips are not included.

Useful information

• PriceThesetypes of adventures can cost around €100 for small groups.
• Duration of tour: Approximately 2 hours in total.
• Recommended if... you have previous experience driving this type of vehicle. Although this is a fun activity that does not involve a greater degree of complexity, it is best to prevent accidents or any other type of inconvenience that could spoil your trip.

Locals and tourists alike describe Lake Takerkoust as a must-see if you find yourself spending the summer in Marrakech. Built in 1920 to provide the city with drinking water and electricity, it has become a popular recreational area where a number of activities are possible.

At Lake Takerkoust you can go jet skiing, wakeboarding, flyboarding and more. If you are not an expert in any of these sports and feel you need a little training, you can find expert instructors willing to offer their services. It is important to note that swimming is not allowed in Lake Takerkoust.

Useful information

• Price: A day trip to the lake and the surrounding area costs about 100 € on average. Including pick-up from your hotel.
• Duration of trip: The Lake Takerkoust adventure usually takes a full day's itinerary. You would return to Morocco after sunset.
• Recommended if... you visit Marrakech in the summer months and enjoy or practice any kind of water sports this is a must stop. Water sports of all kinds are very popular activities in the area and it's really easy to find equipment for hire.

Few things in life can beat the experience of spending a night in the desert under a starry sky. Glamping is the term given to the experience of camping in the desert in comfortably equipped luxury tents.

What does this tour include?

You will find different types of packages with different budgets and different amenities but generally speaking the most memorable desert camping experiences offer the traveller:

• A welcome Moroccan tea
• Luxurious and comfortable sleeping tents
• Fully equipped bathrooms
• Comfortable beds
• Electricity
• A camel ride to watch the sunset
• Dinner under the stars
• The alternative to try other travel activities such as buggies, camel rides or quad biking.

Useful information

• Price: From €55 per night for the simplest tents, luxury camps can cost up to €200 for the experience.
• Duration of tour: The minimum time for this tour is one day.
• Recommended if... you can't resist the desire to camp for a night and watch the sunrise in the desert, but can't or don't want to trek all the way to Merzouga, with all that entails.

At the end of a long day in the city you could take advantage of the sunset and the pleasant temperature to go horseback riding on the arid slopes of the Agafay Desert. Horseback riding is another alternative to explore and discover the desert landscapes of Marrakech in complete freedom.

Useful information

• Price: You will find several price alternatives with an average of 80€ per person.
• Duration of the excursion: The average duration of this excursion is 6 hours.
• Recommended if... you enjoy horses and are a good rider. This is a different experience that will take your imagination for a few hours to the fantastic illusion of the equestrian fables of the Orient in the style of The Thousand and One Nights.

When considering a tour of the Agafay Desert people should think about how long they want to sit in a vehicle. Most tourists visiting Morocco are bombarded with information about alternative trips to the Sahara Desert. However, such tours cannot be tailored to all itineraries.

You will find excursions offering 2-day tours to remote areas such as the Merzouga desert, but anyone who has experienced the journey of visiting Erg Chebbi or Erg Chegaga will tell you the same thing: The minimum travel time for an enjoyable experience is 3 days, and not all travellers have that much time.

The not so positive thing about Agafay

You should note that Agafay is not a sandy Sahara desert, but rather a plateau of arid land that offers a real desert feel at the right times of the year.

I recommend an adventure to the Agafay desert if you

• You are considering Morocco as your next destination and want to experience the desert without the hassle.
• You have visited the great deserts of the Moroccan Sahara before (Erg Chebbi and Erg Chegaga) and are looking for a more relaxed but equally enjoyable alternative.

To get to the Agafay Desert from Marrakech you have several alternatives:

Hire an experience or adventure in the desert

My favourite option because of the ease of management and the valuable time it saves. Most tour operators offer pick-up and drop-off services to and from your hotel in Marrakech.

Taking a taxi from your hotel to the Agafay Desert

If you decide to hire a taxi to take you to your accommodation in the Agafay Desert, bear in mind that the cost of this journey is usually in excess of 35 euros. Drivers are usually very friendly to tourists and are fluent in several languages including English and Spanish.

Getting there by public transport from Marrakech

The cheapest alternative for getting from Marrakech to the desert. Bus number 33 from the centre of Marrakech stops at the entrance to the Agafay Desert.

If you want to fully enjoy the Agafay Desert, it is best to visit in the early summer months just after the end of spring.

Although in more generic terms, the ideal time of year to visit Morocco can vary greatly depending on the activities you choose to do, near summer you can be sure that your desert excursion will not be disturbed by rain and wind; the fields will not be in bloom so Agafay will look like a desert at its best.

The only thing you should be aware of is that summer in Morocco offers really hot days but very pleasant nights with clear skies full of stars.

The predominant climate in Agafay is known as the local steppe climate. Morocco in general is a land of highly contrasting climates, where the days can be hellishly hot and the nights bitterly cold

There is very little rainfall throughout the year, with an average of 42 mm of rain per year, February being the wettest month of the year. At the hottest times of the year the highest temperatures can reach a dreadful 40 degrees Celsius.

In the winter months, specifically in January, temperatures can drop close to freezing, so if you're travelling to the desert in winter you'll need to be prepared for the cold.

On your desert excursions you should travel light and keep as many items as possible in the hotel. A backpack with a few items is usually sufficient.

For your days in the desert, remember to bring...

• A hat or cap to protect you from the sun.
• Cool, breathable clothing, preferably with long sleeves for protection.
• Sunglasses
• A scarf
• A toiletry bag containing: cleaning items, wet wipes and sunscreen which should be applied every two hours.
• If you wear glasses, avoid taking contact lenses on your excursions so you don't lose them.
• Always carry a thermos with water and snacks.
• Always carry a rubbish bag with you.

For your nights in the desert remember to bring...

• Some jumpers or warm clothes. Remember to check beforehand the temperature for that time of the year in the Agafay desert.
• Pack a warm hat to avoid headaches from the cold.
• Pack socks.

Other useful items...

• Portable battery for your mobile phone.
• Rechargeable torch with batteries.
• Basic first aid kit.
• Toilet paper.

If the main interest of your trip to Morocco is to see a real sandy desert, take a look at the travel guides below:

• Zagora Desert Excursions in Morocco
• Excursions to the Merzouga desert in Morocco