If there is one thing that will make your Marrakech trip unforgettable, it’s getting out into the desert. Morocco has two very different desert experiences accessible from the city, the Agafay Desert just outside Marrakech, and the legendary Sahara Desert further south, and knowing which one is right for your family can make or break the trip.
We’ve done both. A camel ride and dinner show in the Agafay on our second visit, and a full multi-day adventure into the Sahara on our first. They are wildly different experiences and both are absolutely worth considering. Here’s everything you need to know to decide.
The Two Desert Options from Marrakech
The Agafay Desert: Close, Easy & Incredible for Families
The Agafay Desert sits about 40 minutes outside Marrakech, making it the most accessible desert experience from the city. It’s a rocky, lunar-style desert landscape rather than the rolling sand dunes most people picture, but it is dramatic, beautiful, and genuinely stunning, especially at sunset.
For families, the Agafay is a brilliant choice. Everything is easier: shorter travel time, no overnight commitment required, and a wide range of tours that handle all the logistics for you. On our second visit to Marrakech we opted for the Agafay camel ride with dinner and a show, and we have zero regrets. The camp was gorgeous, the kids were obsessed, and we were back at our resort the same night.
What you can do in the Agafay Desert:
- Camel rides through the rocky landscape with traditional Berber outfits for photos
- ATV and quad bike tours through the dunes and Berber villages, available for older kids and adults
- Sunset dinner and show at a desert camp with live Berber music and entertainment
- Hot air balloon rides at sunrise over the Atlas Mountains and desert landscape
- Overnight luxury camp stays for families who want the magic of sleeping under the stars without the 9-hour drive
Agafay Desert: Pros and Cons for Families
Pros:
- Only 40 minutes from Marrakech
- Easy to combine with a city day
- Wide range of family-friendly tour operators who handle everything
- Great for young children and toddlers
- Stunning sunset views without the extreme heat of the deeper desert
Cons:
- Rocky landscape rather than classic sand dunes
- Less remote and immersive than the Sahara
- Camps are more polished and tourist-facing
Book a Camel Ride in the Agafay Desert here
Book an Agafay Desert ATV Tour here
Book a Hot Air Balloon Ride from Marrakech here
Book an Agafay Desert Camp Overnight here
The Sahara Desert: The Ultimate Family Bucket List Trip
The Sahara is something else entirely. This is the real deal, and if you have the time, the right ages in your kids, and the spirit of adventure, it will be one of the most profound experiences your family ever has together.
The total drive from Marrakech is about 9 hours on the N9, so it needs to be broken into at least two legs. We stayed overnight in Ouarzazate on the way, a quaint town with great riads, before continuing to Mourzouga the next day. That last leg of the drive, passing through barren desert outskirts and over rocks in our compact rental car, was exhilarating and a little terrifying all at once. There were moments we questioned our decision. The adventure took over quickly.
The Sahara is not a day trip. It is a destination in itself, and the families who experience it come back changed.
What you can do in the Sahara Desert:
- Camel rides into camp at sunset, winding through dunes for around 90 minutes as the sky turns orange and gold
- Sandboarding down the dunes with guides from camp
- Desert off-roading in all-terrain vehicles through dramatic landscapes including dry river beds and oases
- Berber family visits to learn about traditional nomadic lifestyles, try homemade bread, and meet the people who call this land home
- Stargazing with zero light pollution and a night sky unlike anything you will see at home
- Sunrise watching from the top of the dunes with strong local coffee and a traditional breakfast spread
- Campfire music nights where guides play traditional Moroccan instruments and everyone sings and dances together
Sahara Desert: Pros and Cons for Families
Pros:
- One of the most extraordinary travel experiences in the world
- Incredible for older kids and adventurous families
- Sunrise and stargazing are truly life-changing
- Deep cultural immersion with Berber guides and families
- The kind of memory your kids will talk about forever
Cons:
- 9 hours from Marrakech, requires at least 2-3 nights away
- Long drive is exhausting, especially with young children
- Extreme heat during the day inside camp
- No air conditioning in the tents, fans only
- Roads can be rough and single-lane in places
- Not recommended as a day trip
Agafay vs. Sahara: Which Desert Is Right for Your Family?
Choose the Agafay if:
- You have toddlers or very young children
- You only have one or two days in Marrakech
- You want the desert experience without the commitment of a long drive
- You’re nervous about rougher conditions
Choose the Sahara if:
- Your kids are older and up for an adventure
- You have at least 3 extra days to dedicate to the journey
- You want total immersion rather than a curated excursion
- Your family loves camping, stars, and remote landscapes
- You’re happy to handle some logistical complexity for an extraordinary payoff
Our honest take: The Agafay is the better choice for most families visiting Marrakech, especially those with young children. It delivers a genuine desert experience with far less stress. The Sahara, though, is a bucket list trip in its own right. If you have the time and the right-aged kids, do not skip it.
Where to Stay for a Sahara Desert Trip
Ouarzazate (Stop 1)
Ouarzazate is a great overnight stop on the way to the Sahara. It’s a charming town often called the gateway to the desert, and it’s worth building in a half day here if you can.
Find hotels in Ouarzazate here
Riad Mamouche, Mourzouga (Stop 2)
Riad Mamouche is a traditional guesthouse in Mourzouga, right at the edge of the Sahara, and the recommended base before heading into camp. It has a gorgeous pool, a hammam spa, traditional Moroccan decor, and staff who genuinely go out of their way for families. Leave your rental car here for the duration of your desert stay since you won’t need it once you’ve arrived.
One important note: GPS is very weak in Mourzouga, so choose your meeting point carefully and don’t rely on your phone to navigate once you’re in town.
Sunrise Sahara Camp (The Desert Camp)
Sunrise Sahara Camp was one of our favorite family experiences to date. Their haimas are custom-made dome tents that look and feel like luxury space bubbles in the middle of nowhere. Each morning you’re served a traditional breakfast spread with breads, cheeses, and coffee, and you can take it anywhere in the camp, on the dunes, in the dining tent, or right in your haima.
Mohamed and his team are extraordinary. Moubarak, one of our guides, was especially great with the kids and made our whole family feel like part of the Berber family. We were genuinely sad to leave.
Essential Tips for Desert Excursions from Marrakech
- Book camel rides in advance. The best operators fill up fast, especially in peak season. Don’t leave it to chance.
- Dress for the heat and the cold. Desert temperatures swing dramatically. Lightweight, breathable layers during the day and a warm layer for early mornings are both essential.
- Bring scarves for everyone. They double as sun protection on the camel ride and as a shield during sandstorms.
- Pack extra water. More than you think you need. The desert dryness hits harder than you expect, especially in the first 24 hours.
- Bring chapstick and high SPF sunscreen. The desert sun is intense and your lips will feel it fast.
- Carry cash for tips. Your guides work incredibly hard and tipping in Moroccan Dirham is expected and appreciated.
- Don’t drive at night in the desert. We learned this the hard way during an off-road excursion that ran long. Get back before dark.
- Bring a light jacket for mornings. Even in summer, the Sahara is chilly before the sun is fully up.
Getting to the Desert from Marrakech
The most flexible option for the Sahara is renting a car so you can set your own pace and make stops along the way. The drive itself is part of the adventure.
Find the best rental car rates here
Prefer to have everything handled for you? There are excellent multi-day guided tours that include transport, accommodation, camel rides, and camp stays.
Browse Marrakech to Sahara Desert Tours here
For flights into Marrakech, we always start our search with Skyscanner to find the best deals.
And for peace of mind on any international trip, we travel with SafetyWing travel insurance, which covers the whole family including kids under 10 at no extra cost.
