Sunset in the Agafay Desert: times by month, and when you'll actually see it

Agafay sunset times by month

Times are for the middle of each month and shift by a few minutes from the start to the end of the month. The right-hand column shows where you'll be at sunset on one of our trips (3:00 PM pickup, dinner around 7:00 PM, back in Marrakech around 8:00 PM).

Month	Sunset (mid-month)	Where you'll be on our trip
January	6:50 PM	In the desert, before dinner
February	7:20 PM	In the desert, around dinner
March	7:40 PM	On the drive back
April	8:00 PM	On the drive back or arriving in Marrakech
May	8:20 PM	Back in Marrakech
June	8:40 PM	Back in Marrakech
July	8:40 PM	Back in Marrakech
August	8:15 PM	Back in Marrakech
September	7:40 PM	On the drive back
October	7:00 PM	In the desert, around dinner
November	6:35 PM	In the desert, before dinner
December	6:30 PM	In the desert, before dinner

Ramadan changes the clock. During Ramadan, Morocco moves its clocks back one hour, so sunset is about an hour earlier by the clock. If you visit during Ramadan (in 2027, roughly February to early March), the sun sets while you're still in the desert.

The best months to see the sunset in Agafay

November, December and January are the surest: the sun goes down around 6:30 to 7:00 PM, as the afternoon's activities end and before dinner starts. October and February are close behind, with sunset around dinner time; early October and late February are the tightest, when it can fall just as you leave.

From March to September you won't see the sun set in the desert on a 3:00 PM trip. You still get the late-afternoon desert at its gentlest, with the heat easing and long shadows on the hills, and in March and September the sky is often colouring as you drive back to Marrakech.

If watching the sun go down in the desert matters more than anything to you in spring or summer, the only way is to stay later or overnight. There are camps in Agafay that offer overnight stays; we don't sell those.

What an Agafay sunset looks like

Agafay is a stone desert, so you won't see the sun drop behind sand dunes. Instead it sets over layer after layer of rolling hills, which turn from beige to gold to pink as the light goes. On clear evenings the High Atlas, on the horizon to the south, can catch the last pink light, and in winter its peaks are often snow-capped. After the sun is gone the sky keeps colouring for another 20 to 30 minutes, and the temperature drops quickly.

Sunset camel rides: what to expect

A camel ride is the classic way to enjoy the late-afternoon desert, and many people search for a "sunset camel ride". On our trips the camel ride happens in the late afternoon, before dinner. From November to January the light is already low and golden at that time, and the sun sets not long after. The rest of the year you ride in brighter, warmer afternoon light. Either way, our camel ride page has the details, and the Camel Ride + Dinner & Show is the simplest trip, from 200 MAD per person.

Tips for sunset photos

• Shoot the 30 minutes before sunset. The warmest light comes before the sun touches the horizon, not after.
• Use silhouettes. Camels, riders and quads look striking against a bright sky. Tap the sky on your phone screen to expose for it.
• Turn around. The hills facing the sunset glow, but so does the landscape behind you, and on clear days the Atlas too.
• Keep your phone safe on a ride. A bag worn across the body or a zipped pocket is better than holding it on a quad or a camel.

What to wear for a winter sunset in the desert

The months with a desert sunset are also the cold ones. In December and January, nights in the Marrakech area average 6 to 7 °C, and in the open desert it feels colder as soon as the sun goes down. Bring a warm jumper and a proper jacket, plus long trousers and closed shoes. A scarf helps twice: against the dust on a ride and against the cold at dinner. Our Agafay weather guide covers every month.

How to plan your trip around the sunset

• Check the month. October to February for a desert sunset; March to September for a lighter, warmer afternoon instead.
• Watch out for Ramadan, when the earlier clock puts sunset back inside the trip.
• Choose your activity. All trips follow the same timetable, so pick the one you'll enjoy most: a camel ride, a quad or a buggy, each followed by dinner with a show.
• Book ahead if your date matters. Same-day booking is possible up to an hour before the 3:00 PM start, but booking a day or two ahead keeps things simple.