Agafay desert day trip from Marrakech – 1 day
price : €145 / Adult €96 / Child (age 1-12)
Agafay desert day trip from Marrakech – overview:
A short trip to Morocco may not allow for a visit to the Sahara, but you can still get a taste of Saharan life in the Agafay Desert, conveniently located near Marrakech.
On this day tour, immerse yourself in the stunning scenery of the High Atlas Mountains. Along the way, explore charming Berber villages and visit a local argan oil cooperative to gain insight into Berber life in the mountain communities.
In the Agafay Desert, savor lunch in a nomad tent, offering spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains. Experience the excitement of a camel ride through the rocky desert landscape, followed by a peaceful moment enjoying a glass of tea.
Atlas Mountains and Agafay Desert day trip – highlights:
- Berber villages and the High Atlas Mountains
- Lunch in a nomad tent or in a local family house
- A camel ride with you in a blue turban; very photogenic
- A relaxing glass of mint tea served with Moroccan biscuits
What is included in this Agafay Desert day trip:
- Transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle; a 4×4 Toyota Prado Tx or deluxe van and fuel
- Pick up from and drop-off at your hotel in Marrakech
- English/ French/ Spanish/ Italian speaking driver-guide
- A camel ride with a guide
- Mint tea and biscuits in the desert of Agafay
- Lunch – with vegetarian and vegan options available on request
- Free time to explore sites such as valleys, the Lalla Takerkoust reservoir, and Berber villages for walks
- The opportunity to ask the driver to stop for breaks or visits whenever you wish
What is not included:
- Drinks
- Tips
- Extras
Atlas Mountains and Agafay Desert day trip from Marrakech:
- There is a 25% reduction for children under 12 years old, whilst we do not charge children under 5
- These prices are liable to fluctuation according to the current exchange rate
- We require a 30% deposit of the total price to book the car, while the balance is payable to the driver
- We accept payment through PayPal, bank transfers in Europe, by credit card, or cash (USD, Euro, GBP or MAD)
- This Marrakech day trip to Agafay desert can be customised to be more personal and special
- Blue turbans are provided for your use during the camel ride and for photos
- Our prices can be subject to an increase over the busy season, and, in particular, the Christmas and New Year’s Eve period
Atlas Mountains and Agafay Desert day trip from Marrakech – itinerary
You may have very limited time in Marrakech and so are unable to reach the Saharan sand dunes in the south. But you can still take a short, alternative trip to the so-called “Marrakech Desert”, Agafay, for an impression of the silence and the majesty of the desert.
Your pick-up from your hotel/riad will be at 9 am for the drive to Agafay. Your day trip starts with a wonderful drive through a road shaded by lush vegetation, and olive and orange orchards.
Your first stop is Tahanaout village, where you will have the opportunity to visit an argan oil co-operative. Here, you will witness the fascinating process of extracting the famous argan oil, an essential ingredient for culinary and cosmetic purposes.
From here, you travel past stunning waterfalls and small Berber villages to get a glimpse of local life and learn about the rich Berber culture and traditions thriving in the Atlas Mountains. We visit the man-made reservoir of Lalla Takerkoust, which supplies Marrakech with water. The city relies on that snow each year to refill this lake. There is a great demand for water in this most popular city in Morocco with all its roads, pools and golf courses
Agafay is a rocky, dry, moon-like desert, offering unexpected and splendid views of the High Atlas Mountains, snow-capped in winter. It is a mineral universe only disturbed by a few flocks of sheep passing by in their search for grass and herbs.
In the middle of this desert lies an unexpected oasis, a place of calm and peacefulness. Here, even surrounded by such barrenness, frogs and turtles live and breed, whilst plants can also flourish.
On arrival at the Agafay nomad camp, you can enjoy a traditional Moroccan lunch. This is, of course, followed by a glass of the famous Moroccan mint tea and some free time to relax or admire the sunset. After relaxing a moment, you can take a camel ride in the desert, before returning to Marrakech.