Agafay Desert: the stony desert next to Marrakech

What the Agafay desert really looks like

Agafay is a reg: rounded hills of rock and gravel, almost no trees, and dirt tracks between camps. The colour shifts from beige at midday to orange and pink in the late afternoon, and on clear days the High Atlas fills the horizon, white with snow in winter.

It is a real desert landscape, but not a sandy one. If you picture camels walking along golden dunes, that image comes from Erg Chebbi near Merzouga, a very different trip. Our comparison of the three deserts shows where each landscape is.

Evening trip or overnight stay?

An evening trip usually leaves Marrakech in the afternoon, includes sunset and dinner, and drops you back late. It is enough if you mainly want the view and a meal outside the city.

Staying the night adds the part many people remember best: a dark sky away from city light, a cold, quiet morning and breakfast before the drive back. You lose nothing in daytime plans, since you are back in Marrakech by mid-morning.

How to choose an Agafay camp

Camps range from simple tents with shared toilets to lodges with pools. Listing photos tend to show the pool and the best tent, so read the details instead of the pictures.

If you want quiet, ask whether there is music or a show during dinner and how many guests the camp takes. Some camps are built for parties, others for silence.

• Private bathroom in the tent, or shared facilities?
• Which meals are included, and are drinks extra?
• Is the transfer included, and where is the pickup?
• Heating or extra blankets between November and March?

Camel rides, quads and other extras

Most Agafay camps offer a short camel ride or a quad session on the tracks, sometimes included and sometimes paid on the spot. Neither is the main attraction, so book them only if you actually want them. Quad biking in Marrakech compares Agafay with the Palmeraie.

For a camel ride, look at the animals' condition before getting on and skip it if they look tired or injured. Our camel ride guide lists what to check.

When to go to Agafay

Spring and autumn give mild days and comfortable evenings. In July, afternoon highs around Marrakech reach about 38 °C, so time the trip for sunset. In January, nights drop to about 6 °C in the city and feel colder in the open, so bring a warm layer even if the day was sunny. More in when to go.