When you only have one day to see the mountains from Marrakech, the Ourika Valley is the trip we recommend. You go from palm trees to the peaks of the High Atlas without spending half the day on the road. From your hotel to the waterfalls, the day comes down to a few simple stages.
How far is the Ourika Valley from Marrakech?
68 km. It is the closest valley to Marrakech: you leave the city in the morning and you are already in the mountains, which leaves most of the day for the valley.
What is the landscape like on the way up?
Villages and a river. The road follows the river that carved the valley. On either side, Berber villages cling to the slopes, their earth houses set among the fields. The view changes at every bend, and that is usually where people ask the driver to stop for a photo.
How do you reach the Setti Fatma waterfalls?
On foot. The road ends at the village of Setti Fatma, at the far end of the valley, and the waterfalls are then reached along a rocky path. You need no hiking gear: good shoes are all it takes.
Where do you have lunch in the valley?
By the water. Terraces are set up right in the riverbed, and you eat in the cool air to the sound of the river before heading back.
Why do the Ourika as a private day trip?
Because the day is built around you. The vehicle and the driver are yours alone: you leave early, stop wherever you like and head back when you decide. We collect you from outside your hotel or riad; if the lane cannot be reached by vehicle, the driver meets you at the closest spot the road allows, and you are told the day before. The vehicle depends on the size of your group: all of them are on our fleet page.
