Agafay Desert Day Trip: A Journey through Atlas Mountains and Berber Villages from Marrakech
5.0
80 Ratings
Marrakech
Embark on a thrilling day trip from Marrakech to the Agafay Desert, where you'll journey through the Atlas Mountains, visit Berber villages, and experience the hospitality of the locals. Discover the rocky terrain, explore Lalla Takerkoust lake, and get a taste of the aridness of the Great Sahara. Book now!
Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

This is a splendid trip during which you will discover the most diverse and spectacular landscapes. Your guide will pick you up at 9am at your accommodation place. Your 4x4 Day Trip drives you past lush vegetation, olive and orange orchards and the occasional village. 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 or experience trekking by camel.

Later, we will drive further off-road passing by Lalla Takerkoust lake built as a dam which is in fact a hydro-electricity reservoir , and great spot for tea break also with a superb view over the lake and for those looking for a rush of adrenaline, quad biking or jet skiing can be arranged locally , and If you wish it, we will have time to get out of the 4X4 and walk for a while along the tracks.

After the lake, our itinerary takes us up into the Atlas Mountains. Kik Plateau is 1800 meters high and offers spectacular 360 degrees views and, in the spring, a marvellous spread of alpine flowers. Scattered Berber hamlets greet the view and it feels like you travelled back in time.

On the other side of the plateau, there is the Asni Valley in the heart of this lush area covered with apple, cherry and plum orchards sending out their harvest into the city. A nice Berber market is held on every Saturday where producers bring fruit, vegetables and livestock to sell. If you are interested in seeing a Berber souk, almost every village has one on a specific day of the week. 

We will continue to climb upwards until you leave the main road at an altitude of over 2000 meters with views to the Mount Toubkal: the highest peak in Northern Africa culminating at 4167 meters, and often snowcapped . Then we will follow an ancient, partly paved Berber track to reach the Sidi Fares valley an authentic area famous for apple trees, here you will have LUNCH in a Berber house in a village overlooking the Atlas Mountains. The food will be homemade and organic: tomato salad, chicken tagine, couscous and fruits. 

After lunch we will head off back to Marrakech, crossing the Sidi Fares valley small villages with their mud- brick adobe houses, stacked into the hillside or lining the water course shaded by the apple grove. The river gives place to the canyons and the local Berber granary towers over the landscape. Past Tahnaoute, the tarmac road follows its course among olive or orange orchards to reach Marrakech by afternoon.

Points of Interest

  • Marrakech
What's Included
  • Drinks water and mint tea
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Bottled water
  • Small-group tour
  • Lunch
  • Transport by air-conditioned 4WD with an English speaking experienced guide/driver
  • Local taxes included
  • Tea and coffee
  • Fuel included
  • Homemade Lunch in a Berber family house: tomato salad or soup, Berber chicken tajine, couscous, fruits for dessert, mint tea and water
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities (optional
  • Soft Drinks Coca , orange
  • Camel ride (optional ) (10 euros extra) you pay it directly to the camel owners
  • Quad bike Not included (optional
Additional Information

Leave the bustling city of Marrakech behind and watch the landscape change as you move through rural farmland into the Agafay desert.

On this 4x4 Day Trip you’ll spend the day exploring the rocky terrain of the Agafay desert, Lalla Takerkoust lake, the Atlas Mountains, Berber villages and hospitality all make up for a great day tour. If you have 3 days or more, you may wish to consider a tour to the Sahara desert,
but if not Visiting the Agafay Desert is a good option giving you just a taste of the aridness of the Great Sahara.

  • 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
  • Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
  • Operated by a multi-lingual guide
  • Short hike in nice open area before lunch or after , for about 30 min or more (optional )
  • Visit Weekly local market ( possible only Saturday Sunday and Tuesday ) (optional )
  • Small-group tour
  • 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
  • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Location
Arib Voyages Day Tours
Ksar Arib,
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(80 Ratings)
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1 star
Norbert
Apr 23, 2024
A day trip to Agafay and the mountains. - Our driver Abdul made our trip to the desert and the mountains truly special. Thank you, Abdul, for ensuring a lovely experience. All the best!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Quentinv768
Jan 21, 2024
Berber day - We had a great time with Abdoulaye, a very kind guide who took care of us. Thanks to him, the visit went very well, we were immersed in the mountains and Berber life. We recommend this type of day, superb views and very good meal. See you soon.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
671terau
Nov 21, 2022
Book it! - Kareem was a delight. He was gracious with our asinine questions and shared local culture knowledge. We had mint tea with Tahmi who radiated joy, lunch in the home of a Berber family with great views and delicious food. Such a wonderful experience.
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Bryantaylorrobinson
Nov 21, 2022
A wonderful day trip! - Was a lot to see and a lot to absorb! The desert, mountains, lakes, and villages. The meal with a Berber family was particularly wonderful and authentic. Highly recommend this day trip.
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Jackielw9938nk
Apr 3, 2022
OUTSTANDING EXPERIENCE with best Guide Kareem!! - This was our first time traveling to Marrakech and we can't wait to go back. Our 1st tour was the Camel 🐫 Tour to the dessert we enjoyed every second , GREAT EXPERIENCE, beautiful views and services. We were so happy 😊 with our guide Kareem that we booked our second day with him to the Atlas Mountains, we can't describe this OUTSTANDING services 👏 and hospitality. THIS IS A MUST DO tour!!.You will enjoy the driving, views and the Berber family lunch. Thank you Kareem for making us feel so WELCOME !!! I feel Marrakech is my 2nd home!!
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Pattyva
Mar 29, 2020
Wonderful day trip to experinence Moroccan culture - I can't recommend this day trip enough. Mohktar and his two colleagues took our yoga group for the day into the amazing dessert and the Atlas Mountains where we rode camels, had tea in a tent high in the mountains and then for an amazing lunch at a traditional Berber home, the highlight of the day. The autheticity of this experience is unmatched. Our guides were incredibly personable and friendly. I'd definitely recommend should you find yourself in Marrakech.
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Katharinabg3046dj
Mar 26, 2020
Our highlight and warmest recommendation! - This was our first experience with a guided day tour ever. Despite initial scepticism we can now say in retrospect that this tour was our highlight of the Marrakech holiday. Everything went smoothly! Our very nice, polite and courteous guide responded to every wish. Stopped as soon as he noticed that one wanted to take pictures. Explained the life of the Berbers and let us participate. We ate our best tajine of the holiday at a Berber family, where we had our lunch break. During the meal we had a beautiful view of the mountains and could rest in the sun. All in all this day trip is worth every cent! One travels at most with three fellow travellers in a comfortable jeep, gets the best Taijine ever and a quite private and authentic insight into the Berber culture and the beautiful country Morocco. Note: Please remember to bring enough tips. In my opinion it is a sign of appreciation and respect for the families/people/guides who make a great effort to make your day unforgettable!
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Susannab126
Mar 14, 2020
Amaaaazing, wonderful, and beautiful experience - It was an amazing trip with guide Mohktar that we did with the group from Yoga Escape. A fantastic day to come in the beautiful desert of Marocco and experience the desert with camel ride. Just was so peaceful and beautful being on the camel and to see the vast land of marocco. To arrive and have tea in the tents. The trip then went to a berber village where we had wonderful view with very tasty tagine. A mindful walk to end it all and sooo peaceful. I miss the camel ride and would like to go for longer next time. Thank you Mokhtar *
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21nicki
Mar 12, 2020
Great day out - Excellent trip to desert and mountains including camel ride and lunch in a traditional Berber home. A great day out!
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Yogaescapes
Mar 12, 2020
Thank you for another fantastic trip! - Mohktar and his team took our yoga group on a wonderful day trip to the Agafay desert with camel riding, tea under a tent, a visit to a lake, and a delicious lunch at a Berber family home in the most magnificent setting. This is the third year in a row that Arib Voyages hosts our yoga group on this day trip and I can't recommend it enough. They are professional, knowledgable, kind, and welcoming. A highlight of our week! Thank you Mohktar and team!
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