When the Marrakech heat builds in the afternoon, a sunbed by the water and an unhurried lunch can be the best plan of the day. You don't need to check into a resort for that: a pool day pass lets you in for a few hours, meal included, and you still sleep in your own riad.
Moorava lists ten of these passes in three very different settings: desert camps in Agafay, palace hotels in the Palmeraie and a lodge near Lalla Takerkoust lake. This guide groups them by setting, sums up what each page says, then helps you choose, pack and book.
What is a pool day pass?
A pool day pass gives you access to the pool of a hotel, lodge or desert camp for part of the day, without booking a room. Every pool formula on Moorava pairs that access with a meal and is priced per person, and most pages also mention sunbeds or lounge areas and towels. What really changes from one venue to the next:
- Timing: lunch formulas cover the middle of the day, dinner formulas run into the evening.
- Setting: desert hills, palace gardens or a view around the lake.
- Atmosphere: quiet at some addresses, music, DJ sets or a live show at others.
- Rules: children, dress code and transport differ from page to page.
Agafay desert camps: a pool facing the hills
Agafay is a stony desert of hills and plateaus about 40 km from Marrakech, 30 to 45 minutes by road. Seven camps there sell pool day passes on Moorava. For the landscape, nearby activities and a closer look at each camp, read our guide to the best Agafay desert camps.
Le Bedouin Agafay
Le Bedouin Agafay suits anyone who wants the evening to feel like an occasion. The lunch formula runs from 10am to 6pm; the dinner formula starts at 3pm, takes in the sunset and lasts until 11pm or 11:30pm, with a Moroccan dinner, live music and performances. A welcome mint tea is included, vegetarian dishes can be requested and the page calls it family-friendly.
Be Agafay
Around an hour from Marrakech, Be Agafay adds a jacuzzi to its pool. Lunch with pool access is two courses, dinner with pool access three, and there is also dinner only or a sunset aperitif with canapés before dinner. Children usually pay less. The access road is hard going without a 4x4, so the page advises a private transfer.
The White Camel
Calm is the point at The White Camel, built around a panoramic pool. Come for lunch, dinner or a full day with both, each meal served as starter, main and dessert. Children pay the adult price, and drinks are usually extra.
Agafay Valley
Agafay Valley pairs its panoramic pool with a Moroccan lunch or dinner among rocky landscapes, towels and lounge areas included. Evening entertainment can round off the visit. Drinks are generally extra, and child pricing applies to certain age groups.
WE Agafay
WE Agafay is an upscale venue with a panoramic pool, sunbeds, towels and a lunch or dinner mixing Moroccan and international flavours. The page pitches it at couples, friends and celebrations, and sunset often comes with a stylish musical backdrop. Group bookings are possible on request; drinks are charged separately.
La Bohème Agafay
La Bohème Agafay brings a lively daytime mood, with DJ and lounge music around its pool and jacuzzi. Lunch is starter, main and dessert, and dinner formulas are listed too. Smart casual clothing is recommended, quad or camel rides can be added, and families are welcome with supervision.
Seven Saints Agafay
Seven Saints Agafay offers pool and lunch, pool and dinner, or a full day with both meals, plus a welcome tea and on-site assistance. Mind the practical side: payment is on site on the day, and pick-up in Marrakech is not included, though a private van can be added.
Palace pools in the Palmeraie
Prefer to stay close to the city? Two palace hotels in the Palmeraie, the palm grove on the edge of Marrakech, sell day passes. Both keep a calm, mostly adult atmosphere and ask guests to dress appropriately.
Palais Ronsard
Set in lush gardens, Palais Ronsard offers a half day around its heated outdoor pool. The classic pass includes sun loungers, towels, a welcome cocktail and a three-course gourmet lunch; the second formula adds a 45-minute massage. Booking ahead is recommended, smart dress is required and payment is on site on the day. The page welcomes adults and children aged 12 and over.
Palais Rhoul & Spa
A former private residence, Palais Rhoul & Spa frames its large outdoor pool with columns and gardens. The pass runs from 11am to 7pm and includes loungers, towels, free Wi-Fi and lunch (starter and main, or main and dessert). Drinks and transport are not included, and the pool is not heated. The page describes a mainly adult setting where children depend on the venue's rules on the day, so ask before coming as a family.
A lakeside pool at Lalla Takerkoust
Lalla Takerkoust lake lies about 40 km from Marrakech, and Laho Lodge, close by, has an infinity pool looking over the surrounding landscape. The pass covers sunbeds, towels and a full lunch of starter, main and dessert made with fresh local ingredients, for 4 to 6 hours on site. Children are welcome from 4 years old.
Two rules matter here: payment is on site on the day, and the page states that a booking is cancelled after a 30-minute delay, so leave a margin on the road. Transfers are not included, but a private van can be requested for a fee.
How to choose your pool day
Families with children
Start with the age rules. Laho Lodge takes children from 4, and all seven Agafay camps are open to all ages, most with a child rate. The Palmeraie palaces suit young children least: Palais Ronsard takes children from 12 and Palais Rhoul is mainly for adults.
Couples and friends
For two, WE Agafay's page names couples first, and the massage formula at Palais Ronsard turns lunch into a spa day. Palais Rhoul fits a slow, quiet day. Friends who like music will enjoy La Bohème Agafay by day, or Le Bedouin for a dinner show.
Lunch, dinner or both
Choose lunch if swimming comes first: you arrive earlier and get the brightest hours by the water. Choose dinner for the desert sunset, since evening formulas are only offered in Agafay. Can't decide? The White Camel and Seven Saints Agafay both have a full-day formula. The palace and lake passes are lunch only. Outside the hot months, Palais Ronsard's heated pool is a real advantage.
Getting there
Agafay is 30 to 45 minutes from Marrakech by road depending on the place, and Lalla Takerkoust around 45 minutes; the Palmeraie is much closer. All ten pages offer a private van as an extra on the booking form, and several add a supplement if your hotel is more than 10 km from the city centre. Transport is not included at any of the ten venues, so read the transport details before you pay.
What to bring
- Swimwear, sunscreen and a towel: the list on the Laho Lodge page. Most venues provide towels, but a few pages don't mention them.
- A hat and sunglasses for long hours in the sun.
- Something smart for lunch: Palais Ronsard and Palais Rhoul both have a dress requirement, and La Bohème Agafay recommends smart casual.
- A warm layer for dinner formulas: desert evenings can turn cool after sunset, especially outside summer.
- Money for extras: drinks are usually extra, and payment is on site on the day.
Booking your pool day pass
Pool capacity is limited at several venues and some require advance booking, so reserve rather than turning up. Prices depend on the formula and change over time, so check the current price on each page.
- Pick your formula and check what the meal includes.
- Enter adults and children separately, as many pages show a child rate.
- Add a private van if transport isn't included.
- All ten pages show free cancellation.
FAQ
Can I use a hotel pool in Marrakech without staying there?
Yes, that is what a day pass is for. Palais Ronsard and Palais Rhoul & Spa, both in the Palmeraie, sell pool access with lunch, no room booking needed.
Are drinks included in pool day passes?
Usually not. Several pages say drinks are extra or charged separately. Palais Ronsard includes a welcome cocktail, and Le Bedouin and Seven Saints Agafay a welcome tea, but plan to pay for anything else.
How long does a pool day pass last?
It depends on the formula. At Le Bedouin, lunch runs from 10am to 6pm and dinner from 3pm to 11pm or 11:30pm; Palais Rhoul runs from 11am to 7pm, Laho Lodge plans 4 to 6 hours on site and Palais Ronsard is a half day. Add travel time on top.
Found your pool? Compare every formula and the current prices for each pool day pass in Marrakech, then book the date that suits you.
