| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 30 to 40 km, roughly an hour by road (sources differ) |
| Best night | Moonless, clear sky, not a hazy night |
| Cold | Nights are cool, very cold in winter: bring warm clothes |
| Guided observation | Some camps offer it: ask before booking |
When the sky is best
Choose a moonless night or one with a very thin moon: check a lunar calendar for your dates. The dry desert air is an asset, but wind and dust can veil the sky on some days. Meteor showers, such as those of mid-August and mid-December, add to the show if your stay falls on those dates. In winter, count on the cold at night.
Which camp to choose
Camps range from the shared tent to the luxury camp with a private tent, bathroom and pool. For stargazing, favour a camp away from the road and dimly lit, and ask whether the lights are switched off or reduced after dinner. Compare the formulas on our page about the night in an Agafay camp and the one about glamping in Agafay.
Dinner and guided observation
The evening often follows the same thread: sunset, dinner in the tent, fire and music, then the sky. Some camps or operators organise a guided observation with someone who points out the constellations; ask what the offer includes and its price. Our page on dinner shows in Agafay compares full evenings. For the daytime, you can also book a pool pass with lunch at the Inara camp, but that pass is a day visit: for the stars you need a night at the camp.
Agafay or Merzouga
Agafay works as one night from Marrakech; Merzouga offers a darker sky but needs at least two or three days. To choose, see desert from Marrakech and when to go to the Moroccan desert.
La rédaction Marrakech Authority, information from October 2026.
