The Agafay is not a desert of dunes like Merzouga: it is a stony plateau of ochre hills, with the Atlas as a backdrop on clear days. Less than an hour's drive from Marrakech, it gives a group the experience of the desert for an evening, with no night on site and no long transfer. It has become a gala setting many groups now ask for.
Why choose the Agafay for a gala?
For the surprise: leaving the city at sunset, arriving in a silent, mineral landscape, dining under a large tent or under the open sky. The drive stays short, so the evening fits into a busy seminar programme.
How does a group get there?
The group leaves Marrakech by coach or minibus. The last kilometres are often on tracks: check that the chosen vehicles can reach the site, or plan a transfer. For a large group, staggered departures avoid waiting both on arrival and on the way back.
What needs to be set up on site?
- A tent or a covered area, even in fine weather, against the wind and the evening chill.
- Lighting: lanterns, candles, discreet spotlights. In the desert, night falls quickly.
- Sound, for speeches and entertainment.
- Comfortable washrooms, often the forgotten item.
- Heating in winter and spring, and a few blankets.
What if the weather changes?
The wind can pick up, and evenings are cool for much of the year. A closed tent or a fallback venue nearby keeps the evening going whatever happens. Better to decide this beforehand, not on the night.
The Agafay or a palace in town?
For a group that prefers to stay in the city, the palaces and private restaurants of Marrakech offer another kind of magic: courtyards, pools, lanterns. The choice depends on the day's programme, the number of guests and the effect you want.
In the desert, a successful gala is prepared like a show: everything must be in place before the first guest arrives.
