Who has never dreamed of sleeping in the Sahara cozily nestled between sand dunes while looking at the stars? The desert has always inspired me and as a young boy, I would often imagine myself riding camels between the sand dunes of some far away country like agafay desert camp. I would imagine nights spent under the stars in the desert while drinking tea next to a campfire.
Agafay in the southern region of Marrakech was the perfect place for me to live all of these fantasies. It’s a small Moroccan town in the Sahara Desert, not too far from the Alhouz border. It’s known as the door to Erg Chebbi, a huge stretch of sand dunes south of town.
I was there five years ago and couldn’t resist visiting this charming little village once more this year. I pitched my tent in the desert, got lost between the dunes, drank plenty of tea and saw more camels than I could imagine. The best part is that it was super easy to get there and I did all of these activities without spending a fortune. If you want to experience the beauties of the Sahara desert without breaking your piggy bank, this is the place to visit.
I wrote this guide to help you plan your trip to this gorgeous desert village, covering almost everything I could think of so you can get the most out of your visit to the Sahara desert
The best time of the year to visit desert agafay camp is in spring between the months of March and May, or in fall between the months of September and November. During these periods, the weather isn’t too hot and you’ll be able to enjoy your time in the desert much more. The temperature in summer reaches highs of 40°C (104°F ) and it rarely drops below 26.7°C (80°F) at night.
Regardless of the time of the year you visit Merzouga, always cover your head to avoid getting a sunstroke. Sun protection is vital. It could be a good idea to cover yourself with a wide-brimmed hat or a bandana. To avoid losing a lot of water through sweat, a good clothing option to spend time in the desert are light-colored long-sleeve shirts and pants
No matter what time of the year you visit this village (although I wouldn’t recommend summertime, it’s just way too hot then), you’ll always find plenty of cool things to do. Here is a small list of super fun activities you can do in Merzouga, whether you are a budget traveler like us or whether you prefer to travel a bit more luxuriously. Since Merzouga is the perfect place to do many free activities, I really encourage you to try these first
Also, make sure to always drink plenty of water while you visit the desert. The general rule is to drink at least a gallon a day—and you should double that amount if you are going on long walks.