Discover Ourika Valley & High Atlas: Private Day Trip from Marrakech

What your day looks like

Escape the heat of the city for the cool, fresh climes of the High Atlas to connect with nature in all its splendour, in the scenic lower foothills of the rugged mountains and Ourika Valley’s traditional Berber villages. The Ourika Valley is a lush expanse of terraced fields, forested hillsides, and cascading waterfalls in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. It is a gloriously lush and verdant natural oasis, a refreshing day trip from Marrakech and an easy distance of about an hour’s drive. Your Ourika Valley Full Day Excursion offers an escape from the heat of the city, to a cooler landscape in the shadow of snowcapped High Atlas peaks. The Ourika Valley stretches for 42 miles (68km) from the gates of the city, beginning at the plain of Haouz and grinding to a halt at the little village of Setti Fatma – meaning the end of the road - at 1500m altitude. The valley is a natural paradise, with vivid and bio-diverse terrain. Admire the almond orchards and olive groves, wildflower meadows and weeping willows by the flowing river of sparkling clear water, running through the valley. Richly endowed with waterfalls and lush green velvety carpets, you’ll delve into rocky outcrops to see prehistoric rock carvings and ancient mountain paths. You will also visit the picturesque Berber village of Setti Fatma meaning ‘the end of the road’, nestled amidst beautiful countryside, with picturesque streams and bridges. See the square mud huts, baked pink in the sun, clinging to the scrubland of the hillsides where you’ll learn about the local farmers who live and work in a centuries-old traditional way. You will be welcomed for lunch by a local Berber family and enjoy a delicious, traditional Moroccan lunch. After lunch, you will have the chance to climb some of the scenic paths, across rocky plateaus and rising stone trails and marvel at the landscape’s dramatic panoramic views. In the warmer months, bring your swimwear and enjoy a refreshing dip in the sparkling, crystal-clear waterfalls! Once you’ve dried off, it will be time to return to Marrakech along the scenic valley route, and back to your hotel.