Sunset Camel Ride in the AGAFAY DESERT trip from Marrakech
Description
Leave the bustling city of Marrakech behind and drive past lush vegetation, olive and orange orchards and through occasional villages. Off the tarmac and onto off road, the scenery is completely different - barren light brown plateaux, a true stone desert. The locals call it Agafay desert: this might as well be the Sahara as the feeling of solitude. For all those who haven’t got sufficient time in Morocco for a Sahara desert tour, all the way south then the Agafay desert is the best thing to do instead. The Agafay desert is not a sand desert – but more sandstone and earthen plateau, traditional mud-built villages, dusty riverbeds are interspersed with spectacular sumptuous pasture and vegetation in springtime. There we can sample a tea with the locals and experience trekking by camel.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Hotels and riads located in central Marrakech If you are staying inside the Medina, your pickup will be at the closest point accessible to vehicles (this may involve a short walk).
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A minimum of two people are required for this tour to operate. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is only one person booked onto the tour. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
- A conservative dress code is recommended in Morocco. Men and women should keep their upper body (especially shoulders, chest and midriff) as well as their knees covered at all times as a sign of respect to the local culture. Wearing shorts is not recommended
Reviews(27)
Very nice experience in the Agafay desert. Thanks to our driver/guide Younes, super nice and super pro. I recommend ++.
Great experience with this operator, we had an extraordinary time out. The driver was very friendly and full of knowledge about Morocco.
We stayed 1 week in a farm near Marrakech. For our travels we needed to be driven and Abdul was our driver. In addition to being an excellent driver he introduced us to Morocco: Marrakech, Agafay Desert, Atlas... He was much more than a driver: a real tourist guide, he knows his country well, his customs and has been able to share his knowledge always with a smile. We could ask him all the questions he always answered correctly. With him we felt confident, he was our translator in all situations. Our daughter during the stay had to urgently see a pediatrician, Abdul was great finding us an emergency appointment and accompanying us. He is sure that if we return to the region will call on his services. Thank you Abdul for everything. Good luck to you. Alexis, Sofia and the kids.
An exceptional family experience thanks to Younes our super guide and driver. An unforgettable moment for us and our children. Many thanks to Younes
AVOID THIS TOUR COMPANY WHATEVER YOU DO! I AM PRETTY CERTAIN IT HAS NEW OWNERS WHO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND COULDN'T CARE LESS HOW SAFELY OR OTHERWISE THEY ARE OPERATING. I am in a lot of pain, I have been in a wheelchair since doing this trip and I am exhausted. I am self employed and so have had to cancel a month (so far ) of work. I have had to hire a wheelchair, have had to pay for taxis to get to appointments, and have had to arrange help from friends to look after me ( incurring extra expenses for them). I use TripAdvisor because you can read real reviews from others who have done the thing you want to do. I researched well and booked one of the most expensive options because the reviews all said they felt safe, it was well organised and the camels were looked after. When we arrived at the site, much much further into the desert than all the other camel rides, who had already started, via a precarious and dangerous route, with no actual road, we were surprised that it was just the 2 of us. The camels looked poorly looked after and the camel man could speak no English - despite that being requested. The camel I was on stood up before being told, as did my sisters. They refused to do what the man told them and I believe followed him because he had a stick. They were unhappy and digging their heels in refusing to move. My camel was tied to the saddle of my sister's in front with a rope just 20" long and was in pain. The photos used to advertise the ride we booked above, must be library photos - my camels head was past the flank of the one in front, there was no gap or leeway, no comfort for him. We stopped on a hill for some photos, which the camel man took. We both were really scared at this point and nervous laughing, my sis said I think we should stop. The man couldn't understand us and just kept laughing at us. After the photos I indicated he needed to make my camel more comfortable as he was in pain. As he loosened the neck harness, my camel ducked his head and slipped out. Instead of grabbing him, he did nothing. As soon as my camel realised he was free, he turned and started to bolt into the desert. I had no reins and just clung to the bar. Camels run at 65km/h. My headscarf flew off. I was terrified. As he approached a sharp drop, my seat came untied, it slid down the right side of the camel, and as I felt the animal start to topple, I let go and landed on the rock desert floor with a thud onto my right hip. I tried to stand and immediately collapsed with the pain. The camel man ran after my camel, that he was never going to catch up with, and left my sister. Her camel then turned and started to run after mine. She bravely swung a leg over and started to lower herself to the ground before letting go and dropping. While she was not as badly injured as me, and she didn't realise at the time how bad she was and did not seek medical help, she also had a badly swollen and bruise left hip and dislocated her left shoulder. I was in absolute agony and could barely move. The driver, owner of the business, Mokktur was more worried about himself than us. In the car, as he started the precarious drive out of the desert, with me laying in the back in agony, he was crying and asking why had this happened to him. It didn't. It happened to me and my sister. She had to tell him to stop crying and pull himself together.... several times. The entire time we were with him, I believe he only cared about himself and not us at all. He , at great pain and stress to us, took us not to the nearest hospital, but to the one his sister worked at. He even suggested we stopped on the way at his house "to rest". I was in agony, and shock and kept nearly passing out. The nearest hospital 35 minutes from the desert where I was injured, but he drove over 1 hour to take us to the clinic where his sister works. I was in agony in the car. At the hotel he wouldn't let me out of the taxi to start with saying that he is a good man and it wasn't fair this happened to him. Unlike every person we were in contact with that night, the strangers from the desert (both English and Moroccan), and the friends ( who we'd met doing a balloon flight that morning, Adam and Karim), he is the only one who has made no further contact to check and see how we are. The camel man had no control over the camels. I could see what was happening as soon as the camel ducked his head and stepped away and then bolted ( he acted the same as my dog when he doesn't want to go somewhere and ducks his head away from his collar and harness). He had no idea what they were doing or how they felt. It was as if he'd only just acquired them. Mokktur, the operator is not mentioned in any of the company reviews on TripAdvisor, as others are. But after investigating and following the company link to their website, he is the contact. It feels as though he is new to this, maybe just acquired the business, and just asked a random camel guy in the desert if he wanted a few pounds for a quick job. It all feels shoddy and unorganised. It was totally unsafe. It could have been so much worse. Looking at the photo timeline, we were on the camels just 12 minutes. We could have sustained far worse injuries, it could have been fatal. A friend who worked organising camel rides in Egypt for 3 years said while she arranged 100's of thousands of such trip, she had NEVER heard of anything like this before. The locals who came to help, and the local friend who came to hospital to translate for us all said they had NEVER heard of anything like this. Avoid.
Dear Mrs. Thomas, We are truly sorry to hear about the distress you experienced and the injuries you sustained during your camel ride in the Agafay Desert. Your wellbeing and safety are our top priorities, and we take your feedback very seriously. While we deeply regret the unfortunate incident, we would like to clarify a few important points regarding your experience: 1. Camels and Staff: Our camels are professionally trained, well cared for, and handled by experienced camel guides who have worked with us for years. At no point are animals mistreated, and safety is always a focus. We understand animals can be unpredictable, which is why our team remains vigilant. We were not informed of any specific request for an English-speaking camel handler; however, an English-speaking guide was available throughout the trip to assist. 2. Incident Response: Immediately after the incident, our team acted swiftly to assist you. We transported you to one of the most reputable private clinics in Marrakech, where you received full medical attention, including X-rays and a CT scan. All medical expenses were covered by us, and you received a full refund for the excursion, given in cash, as a gesture of goodwill and empathy. 3. Care and Compassion: Our team remained with you throughout the process, ensured your safe return to your hotel, and offered support at every step. We understand that the stress of the situation, combined with your personal grief at the time, added to your emotional distress. We genuinely did our best to provide care, comfort, and respect during this difficult moment. 4. Business Practices: Contrary to your claim, there has been no change in ownership. Arib Voyages has been family-owned and operated for over 15 years with a long-standing reputation for quality and customer care. We are proud of our consistently positive reviews and loyal clientele. While we deeply regret that your experience did not meet expectations, we must also respectfully disagree with several of the accusations made in your review, particularly those that misrepresent the actions and intentions of our team. We remain committed to safety, professionalism, and animal welfare at all times. We genuinely wish you a full and speedy recovery and hope that, in time, you may look back with a more balanced view of your experience. Sincerely, Fadel & Mokhtar & Bachir El Ammari Arib Voyages
Beautiful area with Yunes a super friendly and very competent guide who explained and guided us extremely well. He knows his area perfectly well. I recommend it. We will come back with this guide . D and S Coll
We had a nice trip with Abdul. He was very welcoming. Contact in advance about pickup point and time. Nice on a camel, though. (Actually dromedary). Nice view in the desert. Note: halfway through you are expected to buy something from the locals. Furthermore good, fun and reliable experience!
Serious, reliable and flexible agency. The driver who accompanied us on the tour kind and helpful. The places we booked are beautiful and welcoming. An organization with flakes. Every time we return to Marrakech we rely on them. Super recommended!!!
Great trip and cool views of the desert. Abdul was a great guide, good conversation and insight and took great care of us. He made sure we always got the best of the best - from the best camels to the best views. Thank you!
Another wonderful experience thanks to Arib travel. This is the second time that I have gone with Arib travelling with great confidence with this professional team, authentic and doing everything to make everything wonderful. Our guide Lamine guided us through this 4-day desert trip with kindness and kindness. We highly recommend this unforgettable experience: beautiful landscapes, adorable people with an open heart, a real change of scenery. Another big thank you to Mokthar and Karima, who organized our trip for the second time perfectly. The accommodations chosen for the evening are amazing. The roadtrip is great. We'll be back soon.
