North of Marrakech stretch the bare hills of the Jbilets, a stone desert with an almost lunar feel. This is where Dunes & Desert started out, introducing many travellers to quad biking, buggies and camel rides… until 2020. Since then, we have moved everything to our oasis in the Agafay desert. Here’s the story.
The Jbilets, an ancient stone desert
Marrakech sits on the Haouz plain, between the High Atlas to the south and the Jbilets massif to the north. These grey to yellowish hills are the heavily eroded remains of the Hercynian mountain range, formed at the end of the Paleozoic era, around 300 million years ago, which also left its mark on the High Atlas.
No dunes here: a stony plain, dry riverbeds and jagged rocks, with the Marrakech palm grove and the Atlas peaks as a backdrop. A striking landscape, still little known to tourists.
Our story in the Jbilets
The Jbilets quad ride was one of the very first activities offered by Dunes & Desert, founded in 2007. For years, our base was located there, and we are proud of it: in 2019, this ride even won a GetYourGuide Award, among more than 55,000 activities worldwide.
2020: moving to the Agafay oasis
Then we found something even better. In 2020, we moved all our activities to our oasis, in the heart of the Agafay desert, about 45 minutes from Marrakech. Why?
- A unique setting: more than 10 hectares of palm trees, a green riverbed and Berber tents, in the middle of the desert.
- Even more spectacular scenery: endless ochre hills facing the snow-capped Atlas peaks.
- Everything in one place: quad and buggy trails, camel rides, traditional lunches and dinners under the stars.
What can you do with Dunes & Desert today?
From the oasis, head out by quad bike or buggy, or take it slow with a camel ride. For double the fun, try our quad & camel or buggy & camel combos, or end the day with a dinner under the stars.
What to bring: sunscreen, a cap, closed shoes and covering clothes, warmer in winter. And don’t forget your camera!
Ready for adventure? Book online and meet us at the oasis.
