Agafay Desert & Atlas Mountains Day Trip with Camel Ride

Summary

Atlas Mountains and Agafay Desert Adventure from Marrakech

You’ll get out of Marrakech for a day—walk through Berber villages in the Atlas Mountains, share tea with locals, eat real home-cooked food, then ride camels across Agafay’s rocky desert before heading home at sunset.

What’s the experience like?

The day kicked off right outside my riad in Marrakech—our driver was already waiting, engine humming softly in the early morning. As we left the city behind, the air shifted; it got cooler, almost crisp, with that faint smell of earth after last night’s drizzle. We wound our way up towards the Atlas Mountains, passing through Asni. If you’re here on a Saturday, you’ll see the Berber souk in full swing—locals haggling over spices and woven baskets, kids darting between stalls. Our guide Youssef greeted us with mint tea when we reached Imlil, which honestly hit the spot after the drive.

Imlil Valley feels like a different world—quiet except for distant goat bells and the occasional rooster. We walked through Ait Mizan and Imoula villages. At Tamatert, I stopped to watch an old man tending his terraced field; barley and corn grew in neat rows under cherry trees just starting to blossom. The path took us past walnut groves and stone houses where women baked bread in outdoor ovens. Lunch was at a Berber family’s home in Ait Souka: tajine bubbling away, couscous piled high, salad fresh from their garden. It’s simple food but so good—you can taste how local it is.

After lunch we drove out to Agafay desert. It’s not sand dunes like you might expect—more rocky plateaus and wide open spaces dotted with mud-brick villages. In springtime there’s even green patches between the stones. We met a camel handler named Hassan who helped us climb aboard for a short ride; honestly, camels are taller than they look! The wind picked up as we rode along a dry riverbed—just enough to kick up dust but not too much to spoil the view back toward the mountains. We rolled back into Marrakech around 6pm, tired but happy.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Atlas Mountains and Agafay Desert Tour

• Start from accommodation to Atlas Mountains
• Visit Asni Berber Souk and market
• Arrive in Imlil, welcome drink and meet guide
• Tour largest village in Imlil Valley
• Stop in Tamatert to view terraced fields and trees
• Travel through Ait Souka village
• Enjoy traditional Moroccan meal with Berber family
• Drive through plateau with diverse landscapes
• Visit Agafay desert sandstone plateau and mud villages
• Return to Marrakech by 6pm

Top questions

Is this tour suitable for families with young children?

Yes! Infants can join in prams or strollers and specialized infant seats are available. Just let us know your needs when booking.

Do I need any special fitness level?

You should be comfortable walking on uneven ground for short distances. Most travelers with moderate fitness will be fine.

What kind of food is served for lunch?

You’ll have traditional Moroccan dishes like tajine, couscous royale, salad, and fresh fruit—all prepared by a local Berber family.

Is it wheelchair accessible?

Yes—the vehicle and most areas are wheelchair accessible. Let us know ahead of time so we can make sure everything goes smoothly.

What’s included

Your transport is air-conditioned (which really helps once you leave Marrakech), bottled water is provided all day, plus your guide knows every shortcut and story along the way. Lunch is included—tajine, couscous royale, salad, fruit—and there’s a camel ride out in Agafay desert too.