Looking for the perfect Agafay Desert day trip from Marrakech, Morocco? The BE Agafay desert camp is the perfect place to experience the beauty of the Moroccan desert! In this BE Agafay review, I share all about my time at this luxury camp on their day pass experience.
I recently visited Marrakech for the first time and knew I wanted to visit the nearby desert on a day trip. I had just a few days in the city so I didn’t want to stay overnight but really wanted to visit one of the desert’s iconic luxury camps for the day. When I came across the newly opened BE Agafay and saw they had a day pass option to visit, I knew I had to check it out.
Here’s my review of BE Agafay’s day pass experience!
About the Agafay Desert
The Agafay desert is a stony desert located within an hours’ drive of Marrakech. It’s made up of vast barren plains, rocky terrain, and rolling hills. And while it’s a beautiful and picturesque landscape, it may not be exactly what you picture when you think of a desert.
It’s not quite like the wind-blown expansive sand dunes of the famous Sahara desert but, in my opinion, it’s still absolutely worth a visit. And it’s proximity to Marrakech makes it’s a no brainer for a day trip!
In fact, the Agafay desert is a very popular day trip excursion from the city since it’s such a convenient destination for visitors seeking a desert experience without traveling long distances to the Sahara — which can take almost a whole day to travel to!
Top Things to do in the Agafay Desert
Desert Excursions: Visitors can partake in lots of desert activities like camel rides, quad biking, horseback riding, and off-road vehicle tours, allowing them to explore the rugged terrain and experience the tranquil desert environment.
Sunset and Stargazing: The Agafay Desert is known for its breathtaking sunsets and panoramic views of the nearby Atlas mountains. Many tour operators offer sunset excursions where visitors can take in the changing pink and orange colors of the sky over the desert. Plus, the absence of any city lights makes it the perfect place for stargazing on clear nights!
Luxury Camps: There are tons of luxury desert camps and accommodations in the Agafay Desert that offer a unique experience. These camps typically feature comfortable tents and luxe amenities (like A/C and heat, both very important in the desert!), allowing guests to spend a night under the desert sky in comfort.
Cultural Activities: Some desert camps host cultural activities like traditional Berber music and dance performances, as well as traditional Moroccan cuisine, giving visitors a glimpse into local life and traditions.
BE Agafay Luxury Camp
I spent a lot of time researching luxury camp options in the Agafay Desert and was excited to see that Riad BE Marrakech opened a sister hotel in the desert: BE Agafay.
While I didn’t get a chance to stay at Riad BE Marrakech (sadly, it was unavailable for my visit dates!), I had heard very good reviews of this gorgeous riad so I was excited to see what they had created in the desert.
BE Agafay is a luxury camp located in the heart of the Agafay Desert surrounded by rolling hills and rocky terrain with views of the Atlas mountains in the distance. The camp has a gorgeous boho Morroccan design style and features luxury yurt tents where visitors can stay overnight and witness the magical desert sunsets and enchanting night sky. Prices for a night in a luxury tent (including breakfast and dinner) starts from 320€.
The camp is also home to a restaurant serving a mix of traditional Moroccan and western style dishes, as well as a stunning pool area where visitors can lounge under the hot desert sun.
When you’re done soaking in the breathtaking property, there are plenty of activities to immerse yourself in the desert. From camel and horse rides to quad or buggy riding, you can take your pick on how to explore the area.
During the evenings, BE Agafay often has sunset cocktails with expansive views, live music, and even performances including an impressive fire show!
BE Agafay Day Pass
If you don’t plan to stay the night in one of their beautiful yurts (which I hope to do one day!), you can still visit BE Agafay with their day pass options:
Lunch & Pool (50€ / person): includes access to the pool and a two course lunch menu. Opening hours for the pool pass with lunch are 11:30 am – 6:30 pm, and the lunch includes a starter, main course, or dessert. Note that the camp requests you arrive by 1pm at the latest to reserve your place at the pool.
Dinner (55€ / person): includes a three course dinner menu. The times for dinner are 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, and dinner includes an appetizer, main course, and dessert. Note that with the dinner pass, you cannot use the pool area.
Sunset Hill Apero & Dinner (75€ / person): includes a cocktail and three course dinner menu. The times for dinner are 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, and dinner includes an appetizer, main course, and dessert.
And, day pass visitors are welcome to set up activities during their visit:
Camel ride: 30€ / person (1 hour experience)
Horseback ride: 80€ / person (1 hour experience)
Quad ride: 50€ / person (1 hour experience)
Buggy ride: 150€ for 2 people (1 hour experience)
And to get to BE Agafay, the camp will organize transportation for you to and from your hotel in Marrakech for 80€. I would highly recommend this option as our driver picked us up directly from our riad and knew exactly where to drop us off at BE Agafay. When we were ready to head home, we just let the reception know and they communicated with our driver to come get us. It made for a very seamless experience!
*Note: prices are based on my experience in 2023 so please check with BE Agafay for the most current prices and offerings. For payment, BE Agafay accepted credit card for the day passes and activities but we had to pay the driver in cash for the transportation to and from BE Agafay. So make sure you have enough cash on hand!
To set up your visit to BE Agafay and reserve your day pass and activities, email beincontact@be-agafay.com.
My Thoughts on BE Agafay
Arriving at the camp, we were very delighted to find a gorgeous desert oasis. We were welcomed at the outdoor reception and invited to relax in the boho seating area overlooking the stony sand dunes while we checked in.
The staff was very friendly and welcoming, and showed us where we could change for the pool. Afterwards, we were taken to the pool area and had our pick of pool chairs (at around 11am, we found that most of the sun lounges were unoccupied!).
The juxtaposition of the beautiful blue water in the pool against the expansive dry desert landscape was mesmerizing. It was truly a desert oasis!
We spent a few hours relaxing by the pool, reading our books, soaking in the hot desert sun, and cooling off in the refreshing water. The hotel staff were very accommodating and we were offered tea and drinks!
Since we were in the Agafay Desert, we knew we had to go on an excursion so we chose to do a camel ride…. When in Rome, right?! On our camel ride, our guide led us around the desert areas surrounding the property where we climbed up the rocky hills and got a spectacular panoramic view of the moon-like landscape.
It was definitely a bucket list experience!
Afterward working up an appetite on our camel ride, we had lunch at the BE Agafay restaurant. We shared the traditional Moroccan mezze dishes and then enjoyed the burger for lunch. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a kitchen in the middle of the desert… But I was delighted to find that the food was very delicious!
We spent the rest of the day enjoying the swimming pool and relaxing in the desert — a welcome respite after exploring the bustling and lively Medina of Marrakech the previous day.
Overall, I had a wonderful experience at BE Agafay camp and would recommend to anyone looking for a quick day trip from Marrakech. It was so nice to be able to experience the captivating Agafay Desert in such a luxurious and tranquil setting!
What to Pack for the Agafay Desert
Depending on the time of day and season of the year, the Agafay Desert can be very hot or very cold so you’ll want to pack appropriately. Pack layers for the cold weather, and lightweight, breathable fabrics for those hot, sun-filled days. Speaking of the heat, the sun is notoriously strong here so bringing sun protection is essential — don’t forget sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.
And, of course, if you plan to partake in some of the exciting activities like camel riding or exploring on a quad, you’ll want to wear an appropriate outfit. I wore lightweight pants and a loose caftan that was comfortable for the camel ride and protected me from the sun but didn’t leave me too hot. For shoes, wear supportable sneakers or comfortable sandals that strap to your feet — the terrain is rocky and sandy so your footwear will get dusty for sure!
Lastly, if you plan to use the pool, pack a swimsuit and cover-up. Plus, anything else you want for a pool day: sunglasses, sunscreen, chapstick, a hat, a good book, magazines, or earbuds to listen to music. BE Agafay has towels for guests so you don’t need to bring one!
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