Quad biking in Agafay means about two hours of riding on dirt and gravel tracks in a stony desert 40 minutes from Marrakech, with a tea stop in a local home and, on a clear day, the Atlas peaks straight ahead. You do not need any experience: the guide rides in front, sets the pace for the group, and getting used to the controls takes ten minutes. The whole outing, transport included, takes half a day. Here is how it really goes, and the small details that make the difference between a great morning and a disappointing one.
Agafay is not a sand desert
This is the first thing to know, and many travellers only find out when they get there. Agafay is a plateau of bare hills, stones and ochre earth, with no big dunes. For quad biking that is good news: the tracks are firm, you do not get stuck in sand, and beginners feel comfortable quickly. If you dream of climbing soft sand dunes, you need Merzouga, a full day’s drive away; we compare the two in our article Agafay or Merzouga.
How the outing works, step by step
| Step | Time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Pick-up | 40 to 50 min | The driver collects you from your riad or hotel, around 9 am or 2 pm |
| Briefing | 15 to 20 min | Helmet, scarf and goggles, how the controls work, a few practice laps |
| Ride | about 2 h | Tracks, dry riverbeds, small villages, a photo stop facing the Atlas |
| Tea break | 20 min | Mint tea with a local family, halfway round |
| Return | 40 to 50 min | Drop-off at your accommodation |
Allow about four and a half hours in total. The guide stops regularly to regroup everyone; nobody ends up alone in the hills.
Morning or afternoon?
It mostly depends on the season.
- From June to September, go in the morning. In the afternoon the temperature often goes above 38°C, and hot dust is no fun.
- From November to February, the afternoon is ideal: it is mild and the light is lovely. Bring a warm layer for the drive back, because the temperature drops fast after sunset.
- In spring and autumn, both slots work. The afternoon has the advantage of ending in golden light.
Who drives and who rides behind
You can drive from the age of 16. Children can ride as passengers from 6, behind an adult. Two people can easily share one quad, which cuts the cost for a couple who do not each want to drive.
Let us be honest about who should skip it. We do not recommend quad biking for pregnant women, for anyone with back or neck problems (the tracks are bumpy, even at a gentle pace) or for people who dislike speed: the guide is happy to slow down, but the whole point is still to ride. For these travellers, a camel ride or a sunset dinner in the Agafay desert will be far more enjoyable.
What to wear
- Long trousers and closed shoes: no sandals, small stones fly up.
- Sunglasses, even though goggles are provided. If you wear contact lenses, bring your glasses instead, as the dust is very fine.
- Clothes you do not mind ruining: you will come back covered in a thin layer of orange dust. Avoid white.
- A scarf if you have one, as well as the one lent to you.
- Sun cream, even in winter.
Keep your phone in a zipped pocket or leave it in the vehicle: phones are regularly found lying beside the tracks.
Quad, buggy or camel?
| Quad | Buggy | Camel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thrill | High | High, with more comfort | Calm |
| Experience needed | None | A driving licence is often required | None |
| Children | Passenger from 6 | Passenger, depending on the operator | Yes |
| Dust | A lot | A little less | Very little |
| Photos on the way | At stops | At stops | All the time |
Buggies appeal to couples who want to ride side by side under a roll cage. Our outing is by quad; if you really want a buggy, tell us when you book and we will let you know what is possible on your dates.
Combining it with something else
Half a day of quad biking leaves the rest of the day free. Two combinations work well:
- Quad in the morning, pool in the afternoon, at an Agafay camp or at your riad.
- Quad in the afternoon, then dinner in the desert: simply stay on for the evening at a camp. Our Agafay desert dinner guide explains how these evenings work.
For a quieter day, Lalla Takerkoust lake is about twenty minutes from the tracks.
Price and booking
The Agafay desert quad biking trip costs €50 per person, including return transport from Marrakech, the quad, fuel, equipment, the guide and tea. Personal insurance and tips are not included. Book the day before if you can; during the Easter holidays, in October and over Christmas and New Year, two or three days ahead is safer.
In short
- Agafay is stones and hills, not dunes: ideal terrain for beginners.
- Two hours of riding, four and a half hours with transport.
- Mornings in summer, afternoons in winter.
- Long trousers, closed shoes, nothing white.
