Sahara Desert: Day Trips and Tours from Agadir

The Moroccan resort town of Agadir is the perfect starting point for a desert escape. Enjoy the chance of a lifetime as you venture to the sand dunes on the outskirts of Agadir on a day trip to the Sahara Desert. Feel like you're in a mirage, zooming over desert banks and trekking the terrain on the back of a camel.

Stop in Berber villages and enjoy fragranced teas and mouth-watering foods filled with exotic spices and flavors. (The term ‘Berber’ refers to the local ethnic group in this part of Northern Africa.)

Fall asleep in tents under twinkling stars and wake under the African sun. Or for those that prefer the comforts of a hotel, spend a night in the town by the seaside. What are you waiting for? It's finally time to say you’ve touched the sands of the Sahara in Africa.

Here's all you need to know about the Sahara Desert, one of the most fascinating day trips from Agadir.

How to get to the Sahara Desert from Agadir?

Agadir lies along Morocco’s southern coastline and, although it’s a port city, on the outskirts sit the dunes of the Sahara Desert.

Guided tour to the Sahara Desert from Agadir

The desert is a vast place, and instead of relying on online maps and directions, sit back and take in the magnificent sights of desert landscapes.

You’ll be collected from your accommodation in Agadir before heading closer into the Sahara Desert for the day. Returning home, transfer back to your Agadir hotel via a private air-conditioned vehicle.

What is the typical itinerary of a day tour to the Sahara Desert from Agadir?

Departing from your accommodation in Agadir around 8 AM, travel by private vehicle through the city of Agadir, rallying through sand dunes. Visit traditional towns, beaches, museums, parks and mosques .

Maneuver over sand trails, stopping at a local fishing village and crossing Sidi R'bat beach. En route, head across barren desert landscapes, riding sandy banks and spotting wildlife along the riverside at Souss-Massa National Park — like flamingos!

At Tiznit, wander the fort-like town (and its many jewelry shops), visiting a local’s home for a spectacular Moroccan lunch.

Bellies full, drive into Rasmouka right near Tiznit to the soft dunes, exploring the area by foot and snapping your perfect desert selfie! Enjoy an optional camel ride or photograph, before making your way back to Agadir city by private transfer.

What kind of tours are available to go to the Sahara Desert?

Choose to spend half the day close to the city, or a full day out visiting the vast sands further away. Stay overnight in the heart of the Sahara opting for a multiple-day trip instead.

Full day 4x4 safari tour to the Sahara Desert from Agadir

Starting the morning between 8 AM and 9 AM, a private transfer picks you up from your accommodation in Agadir. Departing for the sand dunes, enjoy seven to 10 hours of adventuring desert attractions and natural scenes.

Indulge in an aromatic traditional lunch included in the tour at a local village or town en route to Rasmouka — known as Little Sahara.

Stopping here for photos, camel rides and free time to walk the orange sands, some tours visit Rasmouka first and skip out the local towns. Instead, travel to Paradise Valley in the Atlas Mountains and bathe in crystal, see-through rock pools … where the sights are truly magical!

An extra option is to book a tour from Agadir to Paradise Valley that includes a private cooking class, as well as a trip to a local market to shop for ingredients. Arriving back in Agadir around 5 PM, transfer back to your hotel with a private drop-off.

Half-day trip to the Sahara Desert from Agadir

Traveling one hour from Agadir, make your way to Takad and Tifnit beaches via 4x4 vehicle. Driving in between the two destinations, spend four hours off-road touring the dunes, charging across glistening sandbanks right next to the ocean.

Visit a fishing village in Tifnit for tea time and transfer back to Agadir with a private hotel dropoff in the afternoon.

Sandboarding trip to the Sahara Desert from Agadir

Adventure enthusiasts, swap the usual ocean or snow-capped mountains for soft sands and enjoy a five-hour sand surfing escapade in the desert near Agadir. The day begins with a pickup from your accommodation in the city, traveling directly to Tifnit or Tamri villages in a 4x4.

Hit the dunes and begin your sand skiing session (a mixture of snowboarding and surfing techniques). After hours of sliding, gliding and catching some serious air, explore the desert lands and take photos. Lunch at a local home in the village is served and head back to Agadir.

ATV or buggy tour to the Sahara Desert from Agadir

Take a thrill-seeking tour along the desert terrains and beaches close to Agadir via a quad bike or beach buggy. Starting with a pickup from your hotel in the main city, head to one of the local Berber villages. Enjoy the thrills as you explore the scenes around you with the wind in your hair.

The two-hour excursion from Agadir ends back where it started, but before heading home, enjoy a light local meal. ATV tours in the Sahara are available in the morning or afternoon.

Multiple day tours to the Sahara Desert from Agadir

If you have more than one day to spare, get the full desert experience, venturing deep into the oasis of the Sahara Desert. Choose between a 2-day and 7-day expedition, and begin the tour with a private morning pickup from your accommodation in Agadir.

Make your way across the Moroccan desert, spending the night glamping under the stars, or at a boutique hotel (depending on how many days the tour is). Two-day trips cross to the desert in El Borj, and 3-day tours visit Dades and further onto Merzouga near the Algerian border.

Travel from Agadir to Marrakech on a 5-day journey, or for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, take a guided 6-day horseback ride across the Sahara Desert.

How much does a tour to the Sahara Desert from Agadir cost?

A full day trip to the Sahara from Agadir costs MAD508 to MAD1,007 (US$50 to US$100) per person. Prices vary depending on the chosen day trip destinations included in the tour. Excursions from Agadir to Paradise Valley are pricier than other full-day tours.

Specialized full day tours, such as a day trip from Agadir to Paradise Valley with a cooking class, are MAD1,334 (US$133) per person.

Half-day desert experiences around Agadir cost MAD430 to MAD581 (US$43 to €58) per person, and six-hour ATV adventures are MAD521 (US$52) per person. A desert buggy tour is slightly more, costing MAD691 (€69) per person. Five hours of sandboarding the dunes costs MAD731 to MAD831 (US$73 to US$83) per person.

Multiple-day tours to the Sahara are more expensive than a day trip and vary in price depending on the duration of your tour.

• 2-day tour costs MAD1,683 to MAD2,956 (US$168 to US$295) per person.
• 3-day trip costs MAD4,439 to MAD5,080 (US$443 to US$507) per person.
• 4-day trips cost MAD5,080 (US$507) per person
• 5-day tours cost MAD10,382 (US$1,036) per person.

What will you see and do in the Sahara Desert?

Local beaches

Travel to nearby beach areas where mountains of dunes lay, like Tifnit and Sidi R'bat beaches, crossing from one area to the next off-the-beaten pathway in a 4x4.

Souss-Massa National Park

Don’t expect this park to be filled with tall lush trees, instead, the area is made up of light soft coastal sands and the Souss-Massa River begins here. It’s a popular destination for bird-watching enthusiasts.

Tiznit

This traditional Berber village is home to a plethora of jewelry shops that specialize in precious stones and silver. The city was founded in 1881 and is filled with fort-like buildings. Visit Mirleft Beach and enjoy a camel ride.

Rasmouka

One of the closest spots to the Sahara, while you can’t imagine anything else around for miles, there is a small local town community that lives in this part. You feel all the desert vibes here — cue the red hot sands.

It’s popular for wandering the dunes by foot, 4x4 and for sandboarding adventures. It’s no surprise its nickname is Little Sahara.

Paradise Valley

The natural cascading rock pools surrounded by palm trees are the perfect oasis and truly are a Moroccan dream. Hike its valleys and take refreshing dips in the natural blue pools along the way.

Tamri

Believe it or not, this beach area sports a popular surf break and there’s a surf school here if you want to learn how. A local banana plantation grows here, giving Tamri its nickname Banana Village.

When is the best time to visit the Sahara Desert?

Avoid the blistering dry summer heat of the Sahara and visit Agadir in springtime (March to May) or in autumn (September to October) for the most comfortable trip.

If traveling here in winter, temperatures drop in the evenings to freezing, so take note when booking a multiple-day stay in the Sahara. Sandstorm season is from January to May.

Are there any tours to the Sahara Desert from other cities in Morocco?

Yes, there are other tours departing from several other cities in Morocco:

• Sahara Desert multi-day trips from Marrakesh
• Day trips to Sahara Desert from Fez
• Sahara Desert day tours from Essaouira
• Multi-day trips and tours to Sahara Desert from Tunis

Travel tips

• Bring extra spending money for shopping or camel rides (not usually included in a tour).
• Pack loads of drinking water to stay hydrated.
• Wear comfortable, light clothing and shoes for walking the sand dunes.
• A super-high SPF sunblock is recommended, as well as wearing extra protective sun gear.
• For extended tours like a three-night stay, pack lightly but make sure you have everything you need, like mobile chargers, a camera and reading books.