Agafay Desert Morocco

Luxury Glamping in Agafay, Morocco’s Trendsetting Desert Destination

The Agafay Desert’s Luxury Stone Camps have become the trendsetting destination for holiday travelers to Morocco who are interested in a luxury glamping experience. Agafay is surrounded by an arid, yet majestic rocky landscape that resembles a moon crater and located an hour away from Marrakech, the designated cultural capital of Africa 2020. At one time travelers to Morocco placed the Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga Sahara Desert Dunes on their bucket list yet with the popularity of Agafay the twelve-hour distance to the south is less enticing and has made, luxury glamping in the region of Marrakech the latest attraction.

Brief Information about Agafay Desert Morocco

The Agafay Desert also has notoriety from Hollywood stars, Instagram influencers, honeymooners, couples seeking wedding destinations, and groups in search of silence and comfort. Many travelers also come to Agafay to take advantage of the natural scenery for photoshoots. The legendary Queen of Pop, Madonna, visited Marrakech several times in 2018 and celebrated her 60th birthday in the Agafay Desert. Included in her celebrity guest roster was American actress Debi Mazar. They attended a Fantasia show, camel trekked across the desert and indulged in the premiere Kasbah Agafay Spa. Madonna thanked “magical Morocco” for hosting with a new single in 2019 called “Come Alive.” With Morocco on her mind, Madonna explained “Come Alive was inspired by the music of North Africa. It is called Gnaoua.” As a storyteller, she recognized the importance of the Krabkeb, a world-old percussion instrument used in Gnaoua music. These traditional Moroccan rhythms can be experienced in person against a sunset Agafay backdrop.

The Agafay Desert is best described as a landscape of many contrasts. Multitudes of tracks run between canyons, there are rolling plains juxtaposed with stony mounds. Aside from the luxury desert camps, a view of nomads and sheepherders in the distance, Agafay offers ultimate serenity after dusk. For those who crave adventure, mountain biking, hiking, horseback and camel trekking are all possible in Agafay.

Agafay luxurious glamping is enchanting and those who indulge are destined to take in the rose and saffron-colored sunsets, sip mint tea in a Berber tent and camel trek across a historic stone and sandy desert. Evenings are always capped off in Agafay with a traditional multi-course 1001 Arabian nights dinner under the Moroccan stars.

The Top 4 Agafay Luxury Glamping Experiences all include an Arabian Nights experience with a Sunset Camel trek through the Agafay moon-like dunes.

So what if you don’t have the time to make this trip or you want to spend time in a desert but a Sahara trip just isn’t your cup of tea?

If you don’t have the time or desire to make this big trip there are other desert tours from Marrakech. Not a lot of people know about the nearby Agafay Desert just outside Marrakech. While you won’t find the golden, rolling sand dunes here (it’s a stone desert) you absolutely can have the secluded desert experience complete with a stunning view of the High Atlas Mountains. Plus, it’s close enough to easily be a day trip from Marrakech.

What can you do on this Marrakech day trip?

There are a lot of different offers depending on the Agafay desert camp that you choose. But, one of the best things to do is really slow down and relax. Of course this is an amazing location to take your Marrakech camel ride (and trust me it’s a lot more atmospheric than riding a camel in the city!) You can easily go trekking or set up a meal with local families – yes people do live out here!

Horseback riding or quad bike riding are a few other activities that you can choose from or bring some cards and board games to bond with your travel companions. Some camps also offer hammam and/or massage treatments to guests in specially equipped tents.

When the sun goes does enjoy a delicious meal with a nearby campfire while gazing at the stars. It won’t be quite as clear as in the Sahara, as you can still see some of the lights from Marrakech but it is lovely for stargazing!