My cousin went to Marrakech last year and kept telling me, You have to do the camel thing, it’s not what you think. I sort of brushed it off because every list of things to do in Marrakech mentions camel rides and I figured it was one of those overhyped tourist activities, like a photo op and not much else. Then we got there ourselves and saw how many people were actually heading out for it, locals included as guides obviously, and we figured, why not? Turns out my cousin was right and I was wrong, which she has not let me forget. A Camel Ride Marrakech experience genuinely earns its reputation; it’s not just something tourists do because it’s on a list.
If you’re trying to work out the basics before booking—where to go, how long it takes, and what’s included—here’s everything broken down based on what we figured out and what we wish someone had told us beforehand.
Two Spots, Agafay or the Palmeraie
Here’s the bit that tripped us up at first. There isn’t just one camel ride experience in Marrakech; there are two pretty different ones depending on where you go.
Agafay Desert is about 40 minutes outside the city, and this is the dramatic option. Rocky open plains, the Atlas Mountains sitting in the background, and that proper desert feeling. If you go for a sunset slot, the light does something to the rocks that’s hard to explain; everything turns this warm orange color, and it looks almost unreal.
The Palmeraie is way closer, basically just outside the medina. It’s an oasis area; palm trees are everywhere, and the camel ride takes you through shaded green trails instead of open desert. Much calmer vibe, less postcard-dramatic but really nice if you’ve spent the day in the busy parts of the city and want something quieter.
We ended up doing Agafay because we wanted the bigger desert experience, but honestly, either one would have been a good choice; they’re just different moods entirely.
How Long Is This Thing
The standard is one hour, and that ended up being the right amount of time. Not so long that it gets tiring if you’re not used to it, but enough that you actually settle into it properly. The first ten minutes or so you’re getting used to the movement, and then after that you’re just enjoying it.
Some packages bundle the ride with other stuff, which makes the overall day longer, but the actual time on the camel tends to stay around an hour either way. By the time we got off, we were ready for a break and some tea anyway, so the timing felt right.
What’s Included Besides the Ride Itself
This part surprised me a bit because I assumed it would just be get on camel, ride camel, get off camel. There’s more to it.
Mint tea is included, usually served in a Berber-style tent before or after the ride. Not a rushed thing either; there’s time to sit, the guides chat a bit, and sometimes you learn something about the area or local traditions while you’re drinking it.
A guide walks alongside the whole time and handles everything to do with the camel, so you’re not steering or controlling anything yourself. They also know the good photo spots, which honestly made a difference; some of our best photos from the trip came from this.
Hotel pickup and drop-off were included too, which we didn’t fully appreciate until later when we were trying to sort transport for other things ourselves and remembered how easy this part had been.
What It Actually Costs
The one-hour ride is around 25 euros per person, and that’s the price whether you pick Agafay or the Palmeraie. For what’s included, transport, the guide, the ride, and tea afterward, that felt like good value to us, especially compared to some other activities we’d priced out.
If you add other things to it, quad biking or a dinner experience, for example, the price obviously goes up, but the standalone ride at this price is one of the more affordable things you can do given everything that comes with it.
Do You Need to Have Ridden Before
No, and I mean that genuinely, not in a reassuring brochure kind of way. The camels are calm, they’re used to people who’ve never done this before, and the guides do all the actual work of managing them.
The one moment that catches people off guard is when the camel stands up or sits down. There’s a forward lurch, then a backward one, fairly sudden. Once you know it’s coming, it’s fine; just hold onto the saddle when it happens and you’re good.
Age-range-wise, this works for pretty much everyone. Kids can ride with an adult; older travelers who might not want anything too physical are completely fine since the pace is gentle the whole way through. My aunt did it on the same trip, and she’s not exactly the adventurous type; she had no issues at all.
Picking Between the Two and Actually Booking
If you’re stuck between Agafay and the Palmeraie, think about what you want to see more. Open desert and mountains in the distance: go to Agafay. Green palm groves closer to the city, Palmeraie. Both give you a solid hour, just very different scenery.
Sunset slots are popular, especially for Agafay, because of how the light looks. Morning slots are quieter and cooler if that’s more your thing, particularly useful if you’re visiting somewhere warmer.
Once you’ve got a sense of which one fits your trip, have a look through the Marrakech camel ride packages to see what’s available and whether any combo options catch your eye. After that it’s just booking, showing up, and letting the guide do the rest. My cousin was right about this one, and yes, she’s already said I told you so more than once.