Terre des Etoiles - Agafay

Introducing Agafay. Beautifully secluded at less than an hour's drive from Marrakech’s chaos. For a few days we forgot about time and went for the slow life in the Moroccan desert. We checked in at Terre des Etoiles and are still wild about it.

Craving for the real Moroccan desert experience, but not feeling the eight hour drive into the Sahara? Look no further, Agafay is where you want to head out to. This rugged piece of desert area just south of Marrakech offers a one-of-a kind experience, with nothing but endless sand plains, dusty gravel and the silhouette of the Atlas Mountains all around. The only thing that revealing sign of life are a few sleepy Berber villages and a handful of desert camps. Those well-done enclaves dressed in beige and off white offering a desert experience in style.

We stayed at Terre des Etoiles, an eco-luxury camp inspired by the Berber settlements around the Agafay desert. Spread over 25 hectares of land you’ll only find 18 tents here. All simply but elegantly decorated. Each tent comes with an en-suite bathroom, comfortable beds and a small terrace overlooking the Atlas Mountains. Thick wool blankets and warm rugs are also part of the deal and are much needed during these cold desert nights. Sustainability is key over at Terre des Etoiles so expect limited electricity, virtually no WiFi and no heating. What a blessing.

You can effortlessly fill your day (s) here with walks along old Berber villages, lounging at one of the two plunge pools, taking yoga classes before sunrise and camel rides at sunset. Also worth mentioning is that Terre des Etoiles is self-sufficient and has its own farm with vegetable garden. Expect farm-to-table dishes during every meal. From colorful salads, steaming tagines, almond tarts, sweet mint teas - Terre des Etoiles has got you covered.

In the evenings the terrain turns into a fairy tale. Crickets chirp almost deafeningly, the paths to the tents are lit with torches and the fire pit lights up outside the restaurant. Get yourself a sweater, a spot by the fire pit, beers at your fingertips and enjoy the most beautiful starry sky you've ever seen. You get it: we'll be back.
Terre des Etoiles, tents starting at EUR 150 per night (including breakfast and dinner)