Agafay camel ride: what to expect, how long it lasts and the best time to go
A camel ride in the Agafay Desert is the most relaxed way to see the landscape around Marrakech. You sit high up, move at walking pace, and watch the pale hills turn gold as the sun drops behind them. It's suitable for almost everyone, from young children to grandparents, and it doesn't need any experience.
We lead camel rides in Agafay every evening. This guide answers the questions guests ask us most: how long the ride lasts, when to go, what it feels like, what to wear and how it fits into a trip from Marrakech.
Where the ride happens
Agafay is a stone desert about 30 to 40 kilometres south-west of Marrakech, roughly 40 to 60 minutes by road. There are no big sand dunes here. Instead you ride over rolling, rocky hills and along dry valleys, with the High Atlas mountains on the horizon. On clear winter days the peaks are white with snow, which is a beautiful backdrop for a camel ride.
Camel rides also run in the Palmeraie, the palm grove on the edge of Marrakech. That ride is closer but you're among palm trees and houses rather than open desert. If the photo you have in mind is a line of camels against an empty horizon, Agafay is the better choice.
How long is a camel ride?
Most Agafay camel rides are either a short ride of around 15 minutes or a longer trek of about an hour.
- 15 minutes is enough to get the feel of it, take photos and enjoy the view. It suits young children and anyone unsure about riding.
- 1 hour takes you further from the camp into quieter valleys. It's the better option if the camel ride is the main reason for your trip.
On our Camel Ride + Dinner & Show trip the camel ride is 15 minutes, followed by dinner with a live show. If you want the longer 1-hour ride, choose the long version of our Quad + Camel + Dinner & Show trip, or build your own combination on the build-your-own page.
The best time: sunset
Late afternoon is the best time for a camel ride in Agafay. The heat has gone out of the day, the light is soft, and the shadows of the camels stretch across the hills. That's why our trips leave Marrakech at 3:00 PM: the activities run through the late afternoon and the evening ends around sunset with dinner.
Sunset in Marrakech ranges from roughly 5:30 PM in December to about 7:45 PM in late June, so the exact moment shifts with the season. In midsummer the ride itself happens in warm, bright light; in winter it's closer to the golden hour.
What riding a camel feels like
Getting on and off is the only tricky part. The camel kneels, you climb into the saddle and hold the handle at the front, and then it stands up back legs first, which tips you forward, then front legs. Lean back slightly and hold on, and it's over in two seconds. Getting off works the same way in reverse.
Once you're moving, the ride is a slow, swaying walk. A guide leads each camel or a short line of camels on foot, so you don't steer. You can let go with one hand to take photos.
Tip: if you're nervous, tell the guide before you get on. They'll give you a calmer camel and walk right next to you.
Camel rides with children
Children love camel rides, and this is the easiest Agafay activity for families. Children aged 3 to 15 can ride; smaller children usually share a camel with a parent. Babies aged 0 to 2 come along free but don't ride. The 15-minute ride is the right length for younger kids, who often get bored after that.
What to wear
- Long trousers are more comfortable than shorts on a saddle.
- Closed shoes or sandals with a back strap.
- A scarf for sun and wind. Many guests buy a desert scarf in the medina before the trip.
- Sunglasses and sun cream, even late in the day.
- A warm layer from November to March, because the desert cools down quickly after sunset.
Do camel rides in Agafay treat the animals well?
It's a fair question to ask any operator. Look for camels that are calm, well fed and have saddles with blankets underneath, rides of reasonable length with rest between them, and guides who walk the camels rather than rushing them. Short rides on soft desert ground are well within what camels are bred and kept for in this region.
How a camel ride fits into an Agafay trip
Most visitors combine the camel ride with something else, since the drive from Marrakech takes a while. Typical combinations:
- Camel ride and dinner show, the relaxed option.
- Quad bike, camel ride and dinner, the most popular mix. See our guide to quad biking near Marrakech.
- Buggy, camel ride and dinner with a fire show, for those who want to drive.
All our trips include free pickup from seven meeting points in Marrakech, such as Bab Agnaou and Jardin Majorelle, or private VIP transport from your hotel or riad. The full list of options is on our Agafay camel ride page.
Agafay camel ride or a Sahara camel trek?
A Sahara camel trek over big sand dunes means a trip to Merzouga or Zagora, which is 7 to 9 hours' drive from Marrakech each way and needs at least two or three days. Agafay gives you a desert camel ride in a single afternoon. If you only have a few days in Marrakech, Agafay is the realistic choice; if you're touring Morocco for a week or more, the Sahara is worth the journey.