All our tours are private. These prices are for a private experience, not a shared group. We confirm the exact price on WhatsApp; you book directly with the local families and camps, no middlemen.
If you are in Marrakech for 31 December, the most distinctive way to end the year is
to leave the city for a couple of hours. The Agafay Desert is thirty minutes away, and a
private New Year’s Eve there starts at €220 per person, transport from
your accommodation included. This guide sets out what that night involves, what the Sahara
alternatives cost, and when you need to book.
The short version
- Agafay Desert — from €220 per person, 30 minutes from Marrakech, back the same night.
- Erg Chigaga (Sahara) — from €380 per person, 3 days and 2 nights.
- Zagora (Sahara) — €750, 2-day tour from Marrakech.
- December nights in Marrakech fall to 5–8°C, and the desert is colder still.
- Rooms and desert nights over the holiday week are booked well in advance, and prices rise.
Three ways to end the year near Marrakech
The choice comes down to how far you want to travel and how many nights you have. The
desert options below are the ones we run ourselves, so the prices are the ones we quote.
| Where | From | Length | Back in Marrakech |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agafay Desert | €220 per person | One evening | The same night |
| Erg Chigaga, Sahara | €380 per person | 3 days, 2 nights | Day three |
| Zagora, Sahara | €750 | 2 days | Day two |
If you only have the one evening free, Agafay is the only desert that works. The Sahara
is a six-hour drive each way, which is why every Sahara New Year’s Eve is a multi-day trip.
New Year’s Eve in the Agafay Desert — from €220
Agafay is a stone desert, not sand dunes: rolling grey-white hills about thirty minutes
south-west of Marrakech, with the Atlas on the horizon. The New Year’s Eve evening is private,
not a shared group, and it includes:
- Round-trip transport from your Marrakech accommodation to the desert and back
- A festive Moroccan dinner — salads, tagine or couscous, pastries and mint tea
- A heated tent with comfortable seating
- Live entertainment: Gnawa musicians, belly dancers and a fire show
- The midnight countdown under the stars
The heated tent is not a detail. Agafay in late December is colder after dark than the
city, and an unheated evening outdoors is the one thing that ruins a desert night in winter.
Going further: the Sahara for New Year
If you have three days, Erg Chigaga
gives you the real dunes — from €380 per person for 3 days and 2 nights from Marrakech.
Zagora
is the shorter Sahara option at €750 for a 2-day tour.
Both mean long drives, and both get properly cold at night. They are worth it if the dunes
are the point of the trip; they are not a substitute for an evening out of Marrakech.
What the night actually feels like in December
Marrakech in December gives mild, sunny days and genuinely cold nights. Afternoons sit
around 18 to 20°C under clear skies; once the sun drops, the city falls to 5 to 8°C,
and the desert is colder still. Every camp we book heats its tents, but you still want a
proper coat for the drive and for standing outside at midnight.
For the full picture of the month, see our guide to
Marrakech in December.
When to book, and why it matters
The week between Christmas and New Year is the busiest of the Marrakech winter. Rooms and
desert nights over that stretch go early and prices rise as the date approaches. If 31 December
is fixed in your plans, treat the booking as something to settle weeks ahead rather than on
arrival.
We are a local agency and you book directly with us — no middlemen. Message us on
WhatsApp with your date and group size and we confirm
the exact price the same day.
Frequently asked questions
How much is New Year’s Eve in the Agafay Desert?
From €220 per person for a private evening, including round-trip transport from your
Marrakech accommodation, the festive dinner, a heated tent and the live entertainment.
Is transport from Marrakech included?
Yes. Round-trip transport from your accommodation in Marrakech to the Agafay Desert and
back is part of the €220 package.
How far is the Agafay Desert from Marrakech?
About thirty minutes by road to the south-west. That is what makes it possible to spend
New Year’s Eve in the desert and sleep in Marrakech the same night.
Does the Agafay Desert have sand dunes?
No. Agafay is a stone desert — rolling grey-white hills and dry riverbeds. The dunes
are in the Sahara, at Erg Chigaga and Merzouga, which need at least two nights from Marrakech.
How cold does it get on 31 December?
City nights drop to around 5 to 8°C in December and the desert is colder. The tents are
heated; bring a warm layer for the transfer and for midnight outside.
Can we celebrate in the Sahara instead?
Yes, with more time. Erg Chigaga starts at €380 per person over 3 days and 2 nights, and
Zagora is €750 for a 2-day tour. Both leave from Marrakech.