Nestled between city and mountains lies the Agafay Desert, a wild, stony and barren landscape of light-hued rocks – their colour perhaps the reason for the desert’s name resembling the local Berber word for ‘milk’. Only a short drive from Marrakech, the area feels utterly remote and beautiful and it’s the perfect location to retreat to after time in the busy city or just to enjoy the activities on offer in this wide open space. We recommend staying overnight in a luxury camp and enjoying the stillness and stars after a day’s trekking or biking – see below for more details…
WHERE TO STAY in Agafay desert :
LA PAUSE
Escape from it all at La Pause, a peaceful, simple yet luxurious hotel set in a small green oasis in the Agafay Desert. Spacious and designed both for privacy – the rooms are far apart and each has its own outdoor area – and for freedom (choose when you eat), this is the perfect place to rest without travelling too far. Meals are served under Berber tents and at night the place is lit not by electricity but by hundreds of candles, lanterns and fire pits. Beautiful, remote, serene and romantic.
SCARABEO CAMP
Only an hour’s drive from Marrakech you will find the Scarabeo Camp, a creative and charming location where you can experience the barren grandeur of the Agafay Desert. Spread out around the site, the camp’s white tents have been beautifully designed and comfortably furnished – elegant and simple and in local, traditional style. A perfect base for adventure – make the most of the outdoor activities on offer in this stony desert. Prices for a double start from £161.
PRIVATE CAMP
Enjoy the freedom of your own private camp in the Agafay Desert for you and your group. Tailor-made to suit your needs, you can make the most of luxury, privacy and flexibility together in this stunning wilderness location. Enjoy excellent Moroccan cuisine prepared by a local cook and the cosy and comfortable tent accommodation. Contact us for more details.
LA PARENTHÈSE
A tranquil and relaxing hotel only 20km from Marrakech, on the edge of the Agafay Desert, La Parenthèse offers you the chance to get away from it all. With its natural earth walls, cactus and olive trees and inviting pool, you can enjoy the serenity of the desert and rest under the Moroccan sun. The hotel also has plenty of interesting activities on offer from quad biking to pottery – something for everyone in this beautiful location!
WHAT TO DO AGAFAY desert:
AGAFAY QUAD BIKING
The ultimate riding experience with a stunning, stony backdrop – enjoy a day’s quad biking in the beautiful Agafay Desert as you explore hidden canyons and the best tracks that the Marrakech area has to offer.
AGAFAY PREDATOR BUGGIES
Explore the wide open space of the Agafay Desert with Bugg’Afrique as you adventure on their predator buggies – professional rally raid race buggies available to rent to beginners and the more experienced.
AGAFAY POLARIS BUGGIES
For a less physical experience than quad biking, why not try a polaris buggy? With all the excitement of a quad bike adventure but slightly more comfort, this is a great option for families.
AGAFAY CAMEL TREKKING
Discover the desert in a traditional Moroccan way, from high up on a camel’s back. You’ll witness this stony wilderness at a slower pace and enjoy the peace and silence of this intriguing landscape.
AGAFAY MOUNTAIN BIKING
See the stony desert from the saddle of your bike! This off-road biking experience is not to be missed: winding trails, green oases, the beautiful Agafay landscape – all waiting to be discovered and explored.