“Where can I ride a camel in Marrakech?” It is one of the questions our clients ask most often, and the answer depends on what you have in mind. An hour among the palm trees at the edge of the city, a sunset ride across a stony desert facing the Atlas, or a real caravan through Saharan dunes: these are three very different experiences, 20 minutes, 45 minutes or a full day’s drive away. Here is how to choose, what to know before you climb on and how to recognise a good operator.
Three places, three experiences
The Palmeraie: the simplest ride
North of Marrakech, the Palmeraie covers several thousand hectares. It is 15 to 20 minutes from the medina, which makes it the easiest option to fit into a day. The ride usually lasts one to two hours on flat tracks between the palms, often with a tea break in a Berber house.
To be honest, the Palmeraie is not a desert. Part of it is built up, with villas, hotels and golf courses, and the landscape remains that of an oasis on the edge of a big city. It is perfect for a first time, with young children, or if you only have half a day.
Agafay: sunset facing the Atlas
About 45 minutes south-west of Marrakech, the Agafay desert is a plateau of stony hills and ochre earth, with the Atlas peaks as a backdrop. It is not a sand desert, but the sense of space and silence is real. You ride out in the late afternoon to reach a ridge just as the sun goes down, then have dinner at a tented camp.
This is the option we recommend to most people: it fits into half a day, with no long drive, and the scenery is far more striking than the Palmeraie.
Merzouga: the real Sahara dunes
For the sand dunes you see in photos, you need to go to Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga, about 560 kilometres from Marrakech. The caravan sets off towards sunset, crosses the dunes for an hour or a little more and reaches a camp where you spend the night. The next morning you get up to watch the sun rise over the sand. It takes at least three days from Marrakech, but it is on another level.
| Palmeraie | Agafay | Merzouga | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from Marrakech | 15 to 20 min | 45 min | 9 to 10 h by road |
| Landscape | Palm oasis | Stony desert, Atlas views | Erg Chebbi sand dunes |
| Ride length | 1 to 2 h | About 1 h | 1 h to 1 h 30, each way |
| Format | Half day | Sunset and dinner | 3-day tour with a night in camp |
| Best for | A first time, little ones | Most travellers | Those who want the Sahara |
If you are still torn between the two deserts, our comparison Agafay or Merzouga sets out the pros of each.
Getting on and off: what surprises people
The camel is kneeling when you get on. When it stands up, it unfolds its back legs first, which tips you forward, and then its front legs. Lean back and hold the saddle handle firmly: the guide will remind you, and getting off works in reverse. Once it is up, the pace is slow and steady, with a sway you get used to within a few minutes.
What to wear
- Long, loose trousers: shorts rub against the saddle and your legs burn in the sun.
- Closed shoes, more practical than sandals for climbing on and walking on sand or stones.
- A cheche or scarf against sun and wind; the guides will happily help you tie it.
- A jacket for Agafay and Merzouga: the temperature drops fast after sunset, especially from November to March.
- A phone on a strap or in a zipped pocket: phones dropped from a camel’s back are common.
With children
Most children love it. The youngest usually ride with a parent on the same animal, and a guide holds the lead rope the whole time. For a first time, the one-hour ride in Agafay or the Palmeraie is ideal; the Merzouga caravan suits children better from six or seven. More ideas in our guide to Marrakech with kids.
How to recognise a good operator
Animal welfare matters, and you can see it. Healthy camels with padded saddles and clean blankets, shade and water at the starting point, and guides who do not put two adults on one animal: these are good signs. Be wary of very cheap offers made in the street, with no transport and no fixed time. The operators we work with in Agafay and Merzouga are people we have known for years.
Combining the ride with something else
In Agafay, the ride combines easily with a quad or buggy session in the afternoon: our article on quad biking in Agafay explains how an outing works. On the way to Merzouga, the route passes Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades gorges, and our 3-day tour itinerary describes each stage.
Booking
Our Agafay sunset camel ride and dinner includes pick-up at your hotel or near your riad, an hour’s ride, dinner and traditional music. For the dunes, the 3-day Merzouga desert tour includes the caravan and a night in camp. And if you want to add some thrills, quad biking in the Agafay desert can be booked separately or on the same day.
