# Agafay Stone Desert What to do en Marrakech · Marrakech Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/morocco/marrakesh/things-to-do/agafay-desert · Revisado: 2026-11-11 - Duración: 5 h - Para quién: Families and anyone without time for Merzouga A stone desert about 30 km from Marrakesh: half a day with sunset, a dromedary ride and dinner at a camp; no sand dunes. What it is Agafay is a stone desert about thirty kilometres from Marrakesh, in the first foothills of the High Atlas. There are no sand dunes: it is a semi-desert of white and ochre hills covered in stones, with the Atlas in the background, snow-capped in winter. Because of its proximity it has filled with tented camps that offer lunches, dinners, nights under the stars and activities. It is the way to have an afternoon in the desert without doing the two days of road to Merzouga. If what you are looking for is dunes, this is not your place: for that you have to go to Merzouga. What the excursion is like The usual thing is to spend half a day: you arrive mid-afternoon, do an activity, watch the sunset over the hills with the Atlas behind, have dinner at a camp and return to Marrakesh at night. You can also go for lunch, or sleep at the camp. An example with published prices: Scarabeo Camp, which has two camps in Agafay, The Stone Camp and Les Roches Noires, publishes its 2026 rates for The Stone Camp in dirhams: Lunch: 450 DH per person (225 DH for children aged 4 to 10), with Moroccan salads, barbecue and dessert, drinks extra. Dinner: 550 DH per person (275 DH for children aged 4 to 10), with salads, two tagines and semolina. Dromedary ride with a handler, 30 to 40 minutes: 300 DH per animal, for one adult and one child. Other activities with a guide: quad from 550 DH an hour, horse from 1,150 DH an hour for one person, a 3-hour walk from 950 DH for one or two people, stargazing with an astronomer. Transfer from the medina or Marrakesh airport: 550 DH per vehicle each way for 1 to 4 people. Night in a suite with half board: from 2,350 DH for one person. Meals are booked 48 hours ahead by email, and the booking is confirmed with a 25% deposit. The activities are provided by outside companies: cancelling with less than 48 hours' notice is charged in full. Getting there It is about 30 km south-west of Marrakesh, along the Tameslouht road. Without a car, the usual thing is the transfer the camp arranges or an excursion from Marrakesh. If you go on your own by car, the camp sends you a map to get there. Before booking, check the Spanish Foreign Ministry's travel advice: it advises against travelling to the province of Al Haouz, which begins on the outskirts of Marrakesh, so check with the camp which municipality it is in and where the transfer passes through. When to go From October to May. In summer the daytime heat is strong and the excursion is done only at dusk. In winter the days are good, but as soon as the sun sets it gets very cold: bring a coat for dinner. Sunset is everyone's hour; to watch it calmly, arrive an hour early. With children It is one of the easiest excursions with small children from Marrakesh: a short journey, open space, dromedaries and meals at half price for ages 4 to 10. Quads have minimum ages depending on the provider: ask when booking. Bring a hat, sun cream and a warm layer for the night. What to bring Closed shoes: the ground is stone. A hat, sunglasses and sun cream. A coat for after sunset. Cash in dirhams for tips and extras. Lo organiza: Scarabeo Camp (https://www.scarabeocamp.com/rates-tarifs) ## Cómo llegar y contacto - Coordenadas: 31.45, -8.18 ## Consejos ### Book 48 hours ahead The camps need that margin for meals and activities. ### Bring a coat even if it is hot When the sun sets the temperature drops quickly in the desert. ### Ask what the transfer includes It is paid per vehicle and journey; with four people it works out better. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### Does Agafay have dunes? No. It is a desert of stone and hills. The sand dunes are at Merzouga, two days' drive away. ### How much does dinner in Agafay cost? At Scarabeo's The Stone Camp, 550 DH per adult and 275 DH per child aged 4 to 10, at 2026 rates, plus transfer. ### How far is it from Marrakesh? About thirty kilometres, south-west of the city. The camps arrange the transfer from the medina and the airport. Destino: [Marrakech](https://www.geocalia.com/en/morocco/marrakesh.md)