Stargazing in Agafay: How to See the Milky Way Near Marrakech

Why Agafay is good for stargazing

Marrakech glows on the north-east horizon, but the rest of the sky over the Agafay plateau is dark, dry and often cloud-free. Low humidity makes stars sharp. You will not get the absolute darkness of the deep Sahara, but you will see far more than in any European city.

When to go

• Moon phase: the few days around the new moon are best. A full moon lights up the hills beautifully but hides faint stars.
• Season: the bright core of the Milky Way is visible roughly from April to September, low in the south. Winter nights are longer and very clear but cold.
• Time: at least 90 minutes after sunset, when twilight has gone.

Check moon phases on a site such as timeanddate.com.

Best way to see the stars

The easiest option is to stay for the dinner show and step away from the camp lights after dinner. For the full experience, sleep in an Agafay desert camp: you can watch the sky late at night and the sunrise in the morning.

What you can see

• The Milky Way (summer months)
• Bright planets such as Jupiter, Saturn or Venus depending on the year
• Constellations like Orion (winter) and Scorpius (summer)
• Shooting stars, especially during the Perseids in mid-August and the Geminids in mid-December

Photographing the stars

1. Use a tripod or rest your phone on a stable rock.
2. Phone: switch on night mode and keep still for 10–30 seconds.
3. Camera: wide lens, aperture f/2.8 or wider, ISO 1600–3200, 15–20 seconds.
4. Include a tent or a hill in the foreground for scale.

More tips in Agafay photography tips.

Bring warm clothes

Even in May the desert cools quickly at night. A fleece, a hat and a blanket make stargazing comfortable — see the packing list.