Agafay Desert Sunset, Camel Ride & Dinner

The Agafay Desert Sunset, Camel Ride & Dinner is a 6-hour evening experience for travellers who want a desert atmosphere without the long drive to the Sahara, including a sunset camel ride and a three-course Moroccan dinner in a camp. Return hotel transfers are included, from €45 per person in a small group or private.

A desert on Marrakech's doorstep

The Agafay is a rocky desert of rolling ochre hills about 40 km south-west of Marrakech, a drive of roughly 45 minutes. It is not a sand-dune desert like Erg Chebbi, but a lunar landscape of bare stone and dry riverbeds, with the snow-capped High Atlas on the horizon and the Lalla Takerkoust lake in the distance. At sunset the whole plateau turns pink and gold, which is exactly when this experience is timed.

The evening, step by step

• Welcome at the camp with mint tea and Moroccan pastries
• Camel ride of about one hour across the hills at golden hour, with a camel handler leading each animal
• Sunset over the Agafay and the Atlas from the camp terrace
• Three-course dinner: Moroccan salads, a tagine or couscous, and seasonal fruit or dessert
• Evening entertainment around the fire, often with traditional music, and stargazing far from the city lights

What the camp is like

Dinner is served in a permanent desert camp with Berber-style tents, lanterns and outdoor lounges. Vegetarian and other dietary requirements can be arranged if you tell us when booking. Soft drinks and water are served with dinner; alcohol is available in some camps at extra cost.

Agafay or the Sahara?

If you have only a few days in Marrakech, Agafay gives you camels, a desert sunset and a candlelit dinner in a single evening. It will not replace the scale and silence of the Sahara dunes, which need at least two days. Our comparison of the Agafay Desert vs the Sahara helps you decide, and the roundup of day trips from Marrakech shows how it fits with other excursions.

Practical tips

Temperatures drop quickly after sunset, especially from November to March, so bring a warm layer. Closed shoes are better than sandals for walking on the stony ground. Camel rides are suitable for most ages; small children can ride with a parent. Timings move with the season so that the camel ride always coincides with sunset.