Caravan Agafay by Our Habitas

Posted in Projects on 30 June, 2025

An antidote to the noise of Marrakech: a tented camp nestled between the medina and the mountains.

Words by Jess Miles

Just under an hour from the rose-toned bustle of Marrakech, lies a different rhythm entirely. One defined not by calls to prayer or the chaos of scooters, but by the soft crunch of gravel under camel hooves and the flutter of canvas in the desert breeze. With the city behind you, the road dissolves into rocky scrubland and dusty trails, with only clusters of cacti and the occasional meandering goat herd marking the approach to Caravan Agafay by Our Habitas – a mirage-like outpost pitched between the cinematic peaks of the Atlas Mountains and the arid expanse of Morocco’s Agafay Desert. This is not glamping reinvented – it’s glamping returned to its roots, shaped by the customs, craft, and culture of the Moroccan desert.

Caravan Agafay by Our Habitas, Morocco

Glamping returned to its roots, shaped by the customs, craft, and culture of the Moroccan desert

Spanning five hectares and housing 40 Moroccan-style tents and lodges, Caravan Agafay is a showcase of the Habitas formula: human connection, environmental awareness, and aesthetic rigour. Each accommodation – whether the entry level Explorer Tent or the premium Atlas Lodge – is pitched with the confidence of a brand that knows its audience and is willing to let the landscape do most of the talking. Interiors are sparse (in all the right ways) but textural and considered: think hand-thrown ceramics, fluffy Berber rugs, sculptural timber furniture and soft lighting, all sourced through a mix of local artisans by Habitas’ own design team.

The design leans into understatement, allowing the desert to take the lead. Tents are discreetly spaced and oriented outward, offering uninterrupted views and a sense of privacy, rather than turning inwards toward each other. Sprawling from the main hub of the camp that hosts the Olivar restaurant, sunset bar, the library, and reception, gravel paths wind between tents and further communal spaces including two swimming pools, a spa tent, and the central agora, which hosts everything from music sessions to workshops. Meander a little further and there’s also chicken coops, stables, and an agricultural garden for vegetables and herbs used in Olivar’s cuisine. The layout feels calm and intentional, with each element placed to serve the rhythm of the day rather than disrupt it. Sustainability underpins the design strategy, but it’s executed with a quiet restraint – solar lighting, reclaimed materials and natural ventilation take precedence over gimmicky green flourishes.

Sustainability underpins the design strategy, but it’s executed with a quiet restraint – solar lighting, reclaimed materials and natural ventilation take precedence over gimmicky green flourishes

The effect is both cinematic and deeply grounded. From your tent’s private porch, the desert seems to perform for you – light skimming across shale, clouds casting Rorschach patterns on the sand, the Atlas peaks sharpening into view at dusk. But unlike other design-driven destinations that fetishise stillness, Caravan Agafay hums with activity. Programming is the soul of the experience, reflecting Habitas’ six signature pillars: wellness, adventure, music, food, learning and art & culture. Days begin with yin yoga or breathwork in the open-air dome, while afternoons are made for camel treks, intuitive ceramics workshops or e-bike safaris. Come evening, guests gather around the communal fire pit for dusk before dinner, then settle in for stargazing sessions led by a local expert, telescope trained on the Milky Way.

The dining experience at Olivar – the camp’s signature restaurant – is led by Moroccan-born Chef Youssef Erraji Chahid, who leans into the regional larder with flair. His menu celebrates North African flavours shaped by Berber, Moorish and Middle Eastern influences: saffron-scented prawns, lamb souris slow-braised to silkiness, fragrant kabsa, and tagines layered with warming spices and preserved lemon. Meals here are less about formality and more about gathering – communal tables are encouraged (but optional), where guests pass dishes between each other whilst swapping stories, as music drifts in from the open-air sunset bar just outside.

Interiors are sparse (in all the right ways) but textural and considered: think hand-thrown ceramics, fluffy Berber rugs, sculptural timber furniture and soft lighting, all sourced through a mix of local artisans by Habitas’ own design team

This spirit of togetherness is intentional. Our Habitas isn’t a cookie cutter hospitality brand, describing itself as a “global home for a global community,” with locations from Mexico to Namibia and Qatar. Originally launched by a group of creatives with backgrounds spanning music, events and design, Our Habitas was built around the idea of travel as a vehicle for connection and cultural exchange. As of last year, the brand found its home under Ennismore’s umbrella – making a distinctive addition to the group’s growing collection of disruptive lifestyle brands. At heart, Our Habitas sidelines traditional tick-box five-star luxury in favour of something more intangible: connection, cultural immersion, and temporary community.

Caravan is its sub-brand – a roving concept designed to plug into remote, under-visited landscapes and activate them through modular, movable hospitality. The format is particularly well suited to the current wave of experiential tourism, which favours itineraries rich in storytelling and sensory experience over traditional resort opulence. With Caravan Agafay, Our Habitas makes a strong case for the luxe tented camp as the new gold standard of slow, intentional travel.

Caravan Agafay by Our Habitas – a mirage-like outpost pitched between the cinematic peaks of the Atlas Mountains and the arid expanse of Morocco’s Agafay Desert

The location helps, of course. Agafay – unlike the sand dunes of the Sahara – is a stone desert, lending itself to moody palettes and striking compositions. Though it’s not entirely remote – on the horizon, strings of camel tours pass in slow procession, and the buzz of quad bikes occasionally cuts across the hills. With a number of resorts and activity centres scattered across its landscape, Agafay has become a popular backdrop for Marrakech’s more adventurous day-trippers, as well as an easy add on for bustling city break itineraries. But within Caravan’s grounds, the energy softens. Reflexology and deep-tissue massages are offered in canvas spa tents scented with eucalyptus and desert herbs, and the camp is dotted with shaded spots to lie back, drift off, or let the heat work its slow kind of magic. It’s a rare kind of wellness – not driven by gadgets or biohacks, but by quiet, sun, and space to breathe.

Programming also includes visits to nearby Berber communities, an extension of the group’s RISE initiative – a social impact platform supporting local education, environmental stewardship and employment. Guests are encouraged to engage meaningfully with local culture, whether through bread-baking workshops, traditional tea ceremonies, or simply listening – an experience often more profound than any guided tour. It’s a gentle reminder that luxury needn’t be passive. Sometimes, the most memorable experiences come from participation rather than consumption.

For Our Habitas, this is the point. The group’s hotels are designed not just as places to stay, but as platforms for co-creation – between guests, locals, and the natural environment. It’s an ambitious vision, but one that seems to be resonating. In an era when many travellers are tired of carbon-copy resorts and transactional tourism, Caravan Agafay feels like a breath of desert air: unpredictable, grounding, and quietly transformational. That’s not to say it’s all earnest reflection and barefoot minimalism. There’s joy here too – DJ sets during sunset sessions, the laughter of children by the pool, impromptu dance circles around the fire. The experience is textured, playful, and very much alive.

Caravan Agafay may not be for everyone. There are no TVs in the rooms, no minibars, and little interest in high-gloss glamour. But for those seeking something more elemental – something that leans into the land rather than rising above it – it offers an antidote to the noise of Marrakech. A kind of luxurious deceleration, if you will.