Camel ride in Marrakech: Palmeraie or Agafay Desert? Prices, ride lengths and what to wear

Palmeraie or Agafay: the quick comparison

	Palmeraie	Agafay Desert
Distance from Marrakech	On the edge of the city	About 30–40 km, 40–60 minutes
Landscape	Palm trees, sandy tracks, villages	Stone desert, rolling hills, Atlas views
Time needed	A couple of hours	An afternoon and evening
Usually combined with	Mint tea, a quad ride	Quad or buggy, dinner and a show
Best for	A quick first ride	The feeling of being in the desert

Camel riding in the Palmeraie

The Palmeraie is a large palm grove wrapping around the north of Marrakech, and it's the quickest place to ride a camel near the city. Transfers are short, rides run at most times of day, and you can be back in the medina for lunch. Expect a gentle walk between palm trunks and along sandy paths, often with a stop for tea.

It's pleasant and easy, and it suits people with very little time or very young children. The honest limitation is the scenery: you're close to roads, houses and other riders, so it doesn't feel like a desert. We don't sell Palmeraie rides, so if that's what you want, you'll need to book it with a local company there.

Camel riding in the Agafay Desert

Agafay is a stone desert south-west of Marrakech, near Lalla Takerkoust lake. There are no sand dunes; instead you ride over bare, rounded hills and plateaus in warm desert colours, with the High Atlas on the skyline. It's empty enough to feel like real desert, yet close enough for an afternoon trip.

The trips we offer leave Marrakech at 3:00 PM, with free pickup at 7 meeting points in the city, so the ride happens in the late afternoon when the heat is easing and the light is softer. There are two ride lengths:

• 15 minutes, included in all three of our packages. The simplest is the Camel Ride + Dinner & Show, about 4 hours in total.
• 1 hour, included with the longer option of the Quad + Camel + Dinner & Show (1h30 on the quad), or chosen on its own through Build Your Own Experience.

How long should a camel ride be?

For most people, 15 minutes is enough for the photos, the funny moment when the camel stands up, and the feeling of riding through the desert. It's also the right length for children and for anyone unsure whether they'll enjoy it.

Choose 1 hour if the camel ride is the main reason for your trip. A longer ride lets you settle into the camel's rocking rhythm and get further away from the camp, and it feels more like a short trek than a photo stop. If you're new to it, bear in mind that an hour on a camel saddle is noticeable the next day.

How much does a camel ride in Marrakech cost?

Prices depend on where you ride, how long, and what's included. In the Palmeraie, rides are usually sold on their own, so compare the ride length and whether transport is included.

In Agafay, the camel ride is usually part of an afternoon package. Our Camel Ride + Dinner & Show costs 200 MAD per person and includes the 15-minute ride, dinner with a live show and free pickup and drop-off at our meeting points in Marrakech. There's no online payment: you book on the website and pay in cash on the day. Prices on our tour pages are always the current ones.

What to wear on a camel ride

• Long, comfortable trousers. Much better than shorts or a short skirt: you sit astride a saddle, and long trousers protect your legs from rubbing and from the sun.
• Closed shoes or sandals with a back strap, so nothing falls off when the camel stands up.
• A scarf, a hat and sunglasses. Scarves aren't provided, and the desert can be dusty and bright.
• A warm layer for the evening from October to April, when the desert cools down fast after the sun goes down.
• A bag you can wear across your body for your phone, so you can take photos with both hands free when you need them.

Getting on and off a camel

This is the part people worry about, and it's simpler than it looks. The camel kneels on the ground while you climb into the saddle. When it stands up, it rises back legs first, so you tip forward, then front legs, so you tip back. Lean back slightly, hold the saddle handle and let the camel do the work. Getting off is the same movement in reverse. Then it's a slow walk, usually with a guide leading the camels on foot.

Camel rides with children

Camel rides are one of the most family-friendly desert activities. Children aged 3 to 15 pay the child price and ride with the group; babies and toddlers under 3 come free but don't ride on their own. The 15-minute ride is ideal for younger children. Bring a hat and water for them, and a warm layer for the evening.

Which camel ride should you choose?

• You have a morning or an hour spare: the Palmeraie.
• You want open desert, a ride and dinner in one outing: Agafay, with the Camel Ride + Dinner & Show.
• You want adventure too: Agafay with a quad or buggy ride before the camels.
• You want tall sand dunes: that's the Sahara, several days away. Our Agafay vs Sahara guide explains the difference.