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Desert

Agafay Desert

An evening in a stony desert, forty minutes from the city.

From MarrakechAbout 40 km · 45 min
LandscapeStony plateau, no sand dunes
Best timeSunset and dinner
How longAn evening or one night
In short

Agafay is a stony desert plateau about 40 km south-west of Marrakech, with the High Atlas as a backdrop. It has no sand dunes: it is known for luxury camps, camel rides at golden hour and dinners under the stars, as an evening or one-night trip from Marrakech.

Why go

Four reasons to go

01Close to Marrakech

Leave at four, back by eleven.

02The Atlas at sunset

Snow-capped peaks behind a lunar landscape.

03Luxury camps

Tents, pools and dinners by the fire.

04A first taste

A gentle introduction before a real Sahara trip.

Tailor-made

Agafay Desert on a private trip

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Before you go

Agafay Desert, the practical side

Honest note

Agafay is not the Sahara and has no dunes; for dunes, see Merzouga, Zagora or Erg Chigaga.

On our journeys

We use Agafay on Elite journeys as a first or last night under canvas.

When to go

All year; winter evenings are cold.

Families

An easy desert experience with young children.

Close by

A day or two away

Jemaa el-Fna square in Marrakech at sunset28 toursCitiesMarrakechThe red city, where every journey begins.Best: Mar – May, Sep – NovSnow on the High Atlas above Imlil1 tourMountains & valleysImlil & ToubkalBerber villages under North Africa's highest peak.Best: Apr – OctRiverside cafés in the Ourika Valley below the snowy High Atlas1 tourMountains & valleysOurika ValleyAn hour from the city, the Atlas and its river.Best: Mar – Oct
Good to know

Agafay Desert, answered

Still a question? Our team answers on WhatsApp, day and night.

It is a stony desert without sand dunes, not part of the Sahara.

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Two travellers watching the sun set over the dunes of Erg Chebbi