What the Agafay desert is, how it differs from the Sahara, what to do there and how to get there from Marrakech.
The Agafay desert is a stone desert of bare, rolling hills and plateaus about 35 km south-west of Marrakech, roughly 45 minutes by car, with the High Atlas on the horizon. It has no sand dunes: it is visited for the sunset, a short camel ride and dinner under the stars, usually in a single evening.
For real Sahara dunes you need Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga, at least three days from Marrakech; our Sahara desert guide explains the difference. This page covers what Agafay is, what to do there and how to get there.
A rocky, stony desert landscape on the plateau south-west of Marrakech, not a sand sea.
Agafay is made of bare hills, gravel plains and dry valleys, in shades of beige and ochre, with the snow-capped High Atlas behind it for much of the year. Camps scattered across the plateau offer dinner, camel rides and overnight tents. Because it is so close to the city, it is the easiest way to see a desert landscape and a desert sunset from Marrakech.
Agafay is a stone desert in an evening; the Sahara has sand dunes and takes at least three days.
The table compares the two. If the dunes are what you picture when you think of the desert, choose a Sahara trip; if you only have an evening, Agafay gives you the landscape, the sunset and a camp dinner without the long drive.
| Criterion | Agafay desert | Sahara (Erg Chebbi) |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | Stone desert, rocky hills | Sand dunes up to about 150 m |
| From Marrakech | About 45 minutes | Two days' drive |
| Time needed | One evening | At least three days |
| Typical visit | Sunset camel ride and dinner | Camel trek, night in a desert camp, dune sunrise |
| Our tour |
Watch the sunset, ride a camel at golden hour and have dinner under the stars.
On our evening, the camel ride lasts 30 to 45 minutes at golden hour, around 18:00, followed by mint tea and a three-course dinner at a desert camp at about 19:30, with vegetarian and vegan options. The evening is calm and the sky is far darker than in the city. Alcoholic drinks are sold at the camp.
All year, in the evening.
The evening visit avoids the heat even in summer, when Marrakech passes 38°C during the day. The desert night is noticeably cooler than the city, so bring a warm layer, especially from November to March. For the light, time your arrival for the hour before sunset.
By car or 4x4, about 45 minutes each way; the last stretch to most camps is a dirt track.
There is no public transport to the camps. On our evening, the pickup is at 17:00 from your hotel or riad and you are back at about 22:30. The final 10 km or so to the camp is off-road. Hotels in Gueliz and Hivernage are served at the door; for riads deep in the medina, the driver meets you at the nearest lit gate.
Camel ride at golden hour and a 3-course dinner under the stars, 17:00 to about 22:30. From $95 per person for two.
See the tour45 to 60 minutes over the Jbilet hills north of Marrakech, with breakfast after landing.
See the tourFor real Sahara dunes: a night at Erg Chebbi. From $395 per person for two.
See the tourYes, but a stone desert: rocky hills and plateaus rather than a sand sea. For sand dunes, go to the Sahara at Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga, at least three days from Marrakech.
About 35 km south-west of the city, roughly 45 minutes by car, with the last stretch to most camps on a dirt track.
No. Agafay is a stone desert. The nearest big dunes are in the Sahara, at Erg Chebbi near Merzouga and Erg Chigaga beyond M'Hamid.
If you only have an evening, yes: it gives you a desert landscape, a sunset camel ride and dinner under the stars without a long drive. If you want dunes and a night in the Sahara, plan a three-day trip instead.
Comfortable clothes and a warm layer: the desert night is noticeably cooler than Marrakech, especially in winter.