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.
| Duration | Full day, approximately 8 hours |
|---|---|
| Starts from | Marrakech |
| Group size | up to 17 people |
| Availability | Daily |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.