Excursion à la journée
Day Trip: Ourika Valley & Atlas from Marrakech
From €45 / person — tailor-made quote
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Destination
Atlas Valleys — Ourika & Ouzoud
Spectacular waterfalls, Berber villages and snow-capped peaks an hour from Marrakech
Why visit Atlas Valleys?
Atlas Valleys, an exceptional destination
Less than two hours from Marrakech, the foothills of the High Atlas offer a total change of scenery: the Ourika Valley with its terraced Berber villages, the Setti Fatma waterfalls, or the Ouzoud waterfalls, 110 metres high and among the most beautiful in North Africa. These day trips are ideal for combining nature, encounters with Berber communities and fresh mountain air — a striking contrast to the bustle of the red city, especially welcome in summer when the valley is 10 degrees cooler than Marrakech. Along the way, weekly Berber markets, women's argan oil cooperatives and traditional earthen houses punctuate the road, offering a glimpse of rural Morocco that few travellers take the time to discover.
Must-sees
What to see in Atlas Valleys
The sites and monuments to discover with your local guide.
- 01
Ourika Valley
A lush valley along the Ourika river, dotted with Berber villages, traditional mills and cultivated terraces.
- 02
Setti Fatma waterfalls
Seven waterfalls accessible by a hiking trail at the heart of the Ourika Valley, very popular in summer.
- 03
Ouzoud waterfalls
A 110-metre waterfall, one of the tallest in Morocco, surrounded by olive trees and often crossed by rainbows.
- 04
Berber villages
Traditional earthen dwellings on the mountainside, a rural way of life still close to Amazigh traditions.
Tailor-made programmes
Our tours to Atlas Valleys
- Excursion à la journée
Day Trip: Ouzoud Waterfalls from Marrakech
From €55 / person — tailor-made quote
View programme →
Guide's tips
Practical information
Best time to visit
April to October to fully enjoy the waterfalls, snow-capped in winter at higher altitudes
Recommended duration
1 day per excursion (Ourika or Ouzoud), the two sites are hard to combine in a single day
Guide's tips
- Bring walking shoes for the trails around the waterfalls
- Swimming is possible at Ouzoud and Setti Fatma in the warm season
- Barbary macaques are frequently seen at the Ouzoud site
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Atlas Valleys
- Ourika ou Ouzoud : quelle excursion choisir depuis Marrakech ?
- L'Ourika (1h de route, dès 45 €/pers) est idéale pour une demi-journée ou une journée détendue : villages berbères, déjeuner au bord de l'oued, courte marche vers les cascades de Setti Fatma. Ouzoud (2h30 de route, dès 55 €/pers) demande une journée complète mais offre la cascade la plus spectaculaire du Maroc, avec ses 110 mètres de chute et ses singes magots.
- Peut-on se baigner aux cascades d'Ouzoud ?
- Oui, la baignade est possible dans les bassins naturels au pied des chutes, surtout de mai à septembre. L'eau reste fraîche toute l'année. Prévoyez maillot, serviette et chaussures antidérapantes pour les rochers ; de petites barques permettent aussi de s'approcher du rideau d'eau.
- Les excursions dans l'Atlas conviennent-elles aux personnes peu sportives ?
- Oui : les sites principaux sont accessibles avec peu de marche. À Ouzoud, un sentier aménagé descend au pied des cascades (comptez 15-20 minutes de remontée) ; à l'Ourika, on peut se limiter aux premiers bassins de Setti Fatma. En circuit privé, le rythme s'adapte entièrement à vous.
Visit Atlas Valleys with an expert guide
Tailor-made programme, transport included, local guide. Free quote within 24 h.
