Near Marrakech, you can ride a camel in three settings: the Palmeraie palm grove (20 minutes from the medina), the Agafay desert at sunset (45 minutes away), or the real Sahara dunes of Zagora or Merzouga on a 2 to 4-day trip. For most visitors, a one-hour sunset ride in Agafay offers the best mix of desert scenery and convenience. If you want camels on golden sand dunes, you need the Sahara.
A quick note on words: the animals ridden in Morocco are dromedaries, the one-humped camel. Everyone, including us, simply calls them camels.
| Palmeraie | Agafay desert | Sahara (Zagora / Merzouga) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time from Marrakech | About 20 min | About 45 min | 7 to 10 hours |
| Landscape | Palm trees, villages | Stony hills, Atlas views | Sand dunes |
| Ride length | 30 min to 2 h | About 1 h at sunset | 1 to 2 h to a desert camp |
| Trip length | 2 to 3 hours | 3.5 to 4 hours | 2 to 4 days |
| Price from | Ask for a quote | €30 per person | €135 per person (2 days) |
The Palmeraie is the palm grove on the northern edge of Marrakech. Camel rides there follow sandy paths between date palms and traditional houses, often with a stop for mint tea in a Berber home. It is the quickest option and works well for families with young children or travellers with very little time. The landscape is green rather than desert, which some people love and others find less dramatic.
This is the ride we recommend most. The caravan leaves about an hour before sunset and walks over the pale stone hills of Agafay while the light turns gold and pink, with the High Atlas on the horizon. It lasts about one hour and ends with mint tea and pastries. Including the transfer, you are back in Marrakech three and a half to four hours later.
Price: from €30 per person with hotel pickup. See all details on our Agafay camel ride page. To make it an evening, add dinner, live music and a fire show with our Agafay dinner show (from €45 with the camel ride).
A ride on real sand dunes is a different experience. In Zagora or Merzouga, you ride into the dunes in the late afternoon, watch the sunset from the top of a dune and sleep in a desert camp. In the morning, you can ride back at sunrise. Zagora is reachable on a 2-day trip; the high dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga need at least 3 days from Marrakech.
Our 2-day private Zagora tour starts at €135 per person and includes the camel trek, one night in a camp, dinner and breakfast. For Merzouga, see our Sahara desert tours from Marrakech. For a deeper look at trekking in the dunes, read our Sahara camel trekking guide.
For one hour, yes. The trickiest moments are when the camel stands up and sits down: it rises back legs first, so lean back, then forward. Hold the handle on the saddle and follow the guide's instructions. A guide walks with the caravan the whole time. Wear long trousers so the saddle does not rub; see our desert clothing guide.
A responsible camel ride should show animals that are calm, well fed and not overloaded, with padded saddles and no wounds. Rides should be at walking pace, and camels should rest in the shade between rides. If something looks wrong, say so, or choose another operator. You can read more about the dromedary on Wikipedia.
Most camel handlers in Agafay and the Sahara are local families who depend on their animals. Do not hesitate to ask how the camels are cared for and how many rides they do a day: good handlers are happy to answer. Avoid any offer where camels are made to run or carry two adults on a long ride.
