Ourika Valley Group Day Trip from Marrakech
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- Duration
- Full day, approximately 8 hours
- Tour type
- Shared / Group Tours
- Tour category
- Mountain Tours
- Availability
- Daily
- Languages
- English, French, Spanish
Seventeen euros gets you out of the city and into the mountains. Tagine on the riverbank at Setti Fatma, an argan cooperative on the way up, and a waterfall at the end of the valley.
About this tour
Seventeen euros gets you out of the city and into the mountains. Tagine on the riverbank at Setti Fatma, an argan cooperative on the way up, and a waterfall at the end of the valley.
Tour highlights
- Lunch at a cafe on the riverbank, Berber tagine eaten beneath the walnut trees
- A women's argan oil cooperative on the road up, with nothing to pay for the stop
- The waterfall at Setti Fatma, dropping into an amphitheatre of rock at 1,500 metres
- Berber villages holding on to the valley slopes
- The optional climb to the first waterfall, roughly 45 minutes of ascent in each direction
- Collection and return either at your hotel or at Jemaa el-Fna, in an air-conditioned minibus
- Natural pools along the river for a swim when the weather is warm
- Red-rock gorges, terraced greenery and walnut groves through the valley drive
- Monday departures take in the Berber souk held every week at Tnin Ourika village
- A flat, accessible valley floor for anyone who would rather skip the climb
About this tour
A shared minibus day out from Marrakech into the Ourika Valley, the closest mountain country to the city, 60 kilometres out and roughly an hour on the road. On the way the bus stops at a women’s argan oil cooperative, then climbs into the valley itself, past red-rock gorges, terraced fields, walnut groves and Berber villages built into the slopes.
The day ends up at Setti Fatma, 1,500 metres up, where you have free time. From there you can take the trail to the first waterfall, some 45 minutes of climbing in each direction, with a local guide hired on the spot, or keep to the flat valley floor with its riverside cafes and its village stalls. Lunch is under the walnut trees by the water and each traveller pays for their own.
Departures leave daily at 09:00 in an air-conditioned minibus carrying no more than 17 passengers and get back to Marrakech between 17:00 and 18:00, and on Mondays the weekly Berber market at Tnin Ourika is added to the route.
Day by day itinerary
Print this itinerary-
Day 01
Day 1 of 7
Marrakech — Departure at 9:00
You are collected from your accommodation in Marrakech or from Jemaa el-Fna Square and board a modern air-conditioned minibus that carries a maximum of 17 people. The road runs south over the Haouz plains to the green foothill valleys of the High Atlas.
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Day 02
Day 2 of 7
Argan Oil Cooperative
The bus pulls in at a women's argan cooperative on the way. You watch the oil being pressed out by hand the old way, hear how it is used in cooking and in cosmetics, and can buy directly if you want to. There is no extra charge for this visit.
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Day 03
Day 3 of 7
Ourika Valley — Around 10:00
The scenery shifts as soon as the valley opens. Red-rock gorges, terraced greenery, walnut groves, and Berber villages holding on to the hillsides.
On Mondays, the itinerary adds the weekly Berber market at Tnin Ourika village.
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Day 04
Day 4 of 7
Setti Fatma — Waterfall or Village Experience
At Setti Fatma, there are two ways to spend the time.
Option A is the waterfall, roughly 1.5 hours there and back. A local hiking guide can be hired on site for a small fee paid direct. The rocky trail climbs about 45 minutes to the first fall, crossing streams, threading past small cafes and working around boulders. It is moderate going and sturdy shoes are not optional. The waterfall drops into a mountain amphitheatre at 1,500 metres.
Option B keeps you low. Spend the time at the riverside cafes, explore the village stalls, or visit a Berber home in the traditional style for tea. The valley floor is level and easy enough to walk.
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Day 05
Day 5 of 7
Lunch by the River
Tables at the riverside cafes sit under walnut trees beside the stream. Berber tagine, grilled meats, fresh salads, and mint tea are available. Reckon on 60 to 120 Moroccan dirhams a head.
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Day 06
Day 6 of 7
River Pools and Local Stalls
When it turns warm, the mountain-fed pools along the river are open for a swim. Stalls by the river sell handwoven bracelets and mountain crafts.
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Day 07
Day 7 of 7
Return to Marrakech — Mid-Afternoon
The hour-long drive down comes with late afternoon light on the red walls of the valley, with drop-off at your hotel or at Jemaa el-Fna Square.
You are back in Marrakech between 17:00 and 18:00.
What's included
Included
- Collection from your Marrakech hotel or from Jemaa el-Fna
- A modern air-conditioned minibus, 17 passengers maximum
- A driver who speaks English
- French
- The argan oil cooperative visit on the way up
- A full day in the Ourika Valley
- Drop-off back at your hotel
Not included
- Lunch and drinks, paid by you, 60-120 MAD
- The local hiking guide hired at Setti Fatma, optional, for a small fee
- A donation at the Berber house visit, optional
- Driver tips, which are optional
What to bring
- Sturdy walking shoes and not sandals, which matter if you take the waterfall trail
- Light layers, since mornings in the valley can be chilly
- Sunscreen
- A hat
- A light waterproof for the spray near the falls
- Swimwear if you fancy the pools
Good to know
The rate is per person and covers every service in the inclusions list.
Nothing is published by way of a supplement, an upgrade or a single supplement.
Payable on the day: lunch and drinks at 60-120 MAD per person; the hiking guide you may take on at Setti Fatma, a small fee handed over on site; an optional donation if you visit the Berber house; optional tips for the driver.
Fitness and getting about: the waterfall trail is moderate going over rocky, uneven ground, about 45 minutes each way and roughly 1.5 hours in total. Sturdy shoes are essential and the climb is not advised for anyone with mobility difficulties. Anyone giving it a miss keeps to the level valley floor, which is easy underfoot.
The argan oil cooperative visit on the way up costs nothing extra.
Monday departures call at the weekly souk in Tnin Ourika, with produce, livestock, spices and handmade crafts
The river runs cold, being fed off the mountains, though it is welcome in summer. Swimming in the natural pools is possible in warm weather.
Setti Fatma stands at 1,500 metres. The valley lies 60 km from Marrakech, around an hour by road.
Departure is fixed at 09:00, in a shared air-conditioned minibus with a cap of 17 passengers.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Marrakech to the Ourika Valley?
The valley sits 60 kilometres out, roughly an hour by road, which makes it the closest mountain day trip you can do from the city.
When do we leave and when are we back?
The bus leaves at 09:00. You are dropped at your hotel or at Jemaa el-Fna somewhere between 17:00 and 18:00.
How tough is the climb to the Setti Fatma waterfall?
Moderate, about 45 minutes each way across rocky, uneven ground. You need sturdy shoes, and it is not advised for anyone with mobility difficulties. A local hiking guide can be hired on site for a small fee.
What happens at the Monday Berber market?
Tnin Ourika village holds its weekly souk every Monday, with produce, livestock, spices and handcrafts.
Is there somewhere to eat beside the river?
Yes. The cafes on the bank at Setti Fatma put tables out under the walnut trees by the stream and serve Berber tagine. Allow between 60 and 120 Moroccan dirhams.
Is swimming allowed in the Ourika River?
It is. The natural pools near the falls and along the river are open for a swim. The water comes off the mountains so it is cold, but it feels good in summer.
What should I put on for the day?
Walking shoes with a proper sole instead of sandals if you plan to hike, and light layers, since the morning can be chilly. A hat, sunscreen and a light waterproof near the falls are worth packing too.
How big is the group?
A maximum of 17 passengers share the modern air-conditioned minibus.
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