Agafay desert day trip from Marrakech
Overview
Agafay desert day trip from Marrakech
A short trip to Morocco will not allow for the highlight of visiting the Sahara. But an impression of Saharan life is replicated in a small way in the Agafay desert, very close to Marrakech.
On this day tour, soak up the scenery as you drive through the High Atlas Mountains, stop to explore Berber villages and visit a local argan oil co-operative to gain an insight into Berber life in the mountain villages.
In the Agafay Desert, enjoy lunch in a nomad tent with wonderful views of the snow-capped mountains. Then, experience the thrill of a camel ride through the rocky desert, followed by a serene moment with 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
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 luxury 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.
Included/Exclude
- Optional guided excursion
- Hotel pick up / drop off
- Private transfer , driver
- Day excursion
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Lunch and drinks
Tour Amenities
Tour Plan
Location
Find a route from your location
Related Tours
Review Scores
3 thoughts on “Agafay desert day trip from Marrakech”
Booking Tour
5Abbiamo noleggiato il tour di 14 giorni da Casablanca attraverso il deserto di Merzouga che termina a Marrakech. Tutto il viaggio è molto interessante, attraversando l’Atlante tra montagne di 4000 metri, i contrasti nelle valli del Dades, del Draa e dell’Ounila, aridi nella montagna e verdi palmeti nel letto del fiume, il percorso dei Kashbas e il punto forte del viaggio, il deserto Erg Cherbbi con i suoi dromedari, la notte in haimas e le canzoni berbere nella notte stellata. Importante quanto il paesaggio, la gente sulla strada.
La nostra guida è stata Said, piacevole e con un perfetto spagnolo, un ottimo pilota con cui si va con piena fiducia. Il minivan, molto confortevole e i riads del Dades e dell’Ourzazate eccellenti. Il cibo in un ristorante nel deserto di Erfoud, indimenticabile.
Sono un sacco di chilometri in macchina, ma si va d’accordo. Hanno tutto perfettamente coordinato, con una puntualità squisita.
5Great experience!! Our trip was a great success and mainly thanks to our excellent and professional driver. He was very patient and relaxed. The organization was exceptional, the places we stopped at on the way were perfect and really worth it and the accommodations we stayed at were really good. The camel ride in the Sahara was the best part of our tour. We will come for sure
5A very well organized 5 day trip, with good hotels. Hamid is a professional with absolute confidence, it has been an experience that we will always remember! A trip that has been impressive at all levels: the knowledge of the guide, the experience of the driver on road, accommodations and meals
We would like to thank Ismail, our driver during the trip, for his great disposition and professionalism and our beloved guide Hamid, for the great treatment he gave us, for his enthusiasm at all times, for solving all our doubts and above all for being a great person.
We totally recommend this company, professional and safe to travel around Morocco, thank you very much for everything!