Day trip — 165 km north-east of Marrakech
Ouzoud Waterfallsday tripfrom Marrakech
The Ouzoud Waterfalls stand 165 km north-east of Marrakech, a 2 h 30 drive. The 110-metre drop, the tallest in Morocco, pours down in three tiers over the El Abid river, in the Middle Atlas.
The descent to the base of the falls counts 600 steps: 25 minutes down, 40 minutes back up.
How does a day at the Ouzoud Waterfalls unfold?
The trip leaves Marrakech at 07:30 and returns at 17:30, a 10-hour day. It includes 2 h 30 of driving out, the same coming back, and five hours on site around the falls.
- 07:30
Pickup at your accommodation
Your driver collects you at your riad in the medina or your hotel in Guéliz.
0 km - 08:00
Leaving Marrakech via Aït Ourir
The road leaves Marrakech to the north-east and crosses the Haouz plain before the first foothills of the Middle Atlas.
40 km - 09:15
Crossing Azilal province
The road runs through Azilal province and follows the first slopes before Tanaghmeilt.
120 km - 10:00
Arrival at the top of the falls
Arrival at Tanaghmeilt, at the top of the path, next to the olive mills powered by the El Abid river.
165 km - 10:15
Descent to the base of the falls
The path counts 600 steps down to the base of the falls, a 25-minute descent.
- 10:45
Visit at the base of the falls
Barbary macaques occupy the forest lining the path. A boat ride runs along the base of the cascade.
- 12:00
Climb back up and lunch on a terrace
Climbing the 600 steps back up takes 40 minutes. Lunch is served on a terrace facing the three tiers of the falls.
- 14:30
Departure for Marrakech
The return leg retraces the same road, 2 h 30 back to Marrakech.
165 km - 17:30
Drop-off at your accommodation
Back at the pickup address.
Times shift with the season: in summer, a 06:30 departure avoids the heat on the 600 steps of the climb back up.
What is there to see at the Ouzoud Waterfalls?
Ouzoud brings together a 110-metre drop on the El Abid river, a colony of Barbary macaques and century-old olive mills. The site is covered on foot, from the top of the path down to the base of the falls.
The falls and the El Abid river
The Ouzoud falls drop 110 metres in three tiers, the tallest waterfall in Morocco. The El Abid river, which rises in the Middle Atlas, feeds the falls before joining the Oum Er-Rbia river further north.
The Barbary macaque colony
The Barbary macaque, Macaca sylvanus, occupies the holm oak forest lining the descent path. It is the only macaque species found north of the Sahara, and the easiest to spot in the country.
The olive mills and the boats
Traditional olive mills line the top of the path, driven by the force of the El Abid current. At the base of the falls, wooden boats carry visitors close to the curtain of water.
How long does it take to reach the Ouzoud Waterfalls from Marrakech?
It takes 2 h 30 to cover the 165 km between Marrakech and the Ouzoud Waterfalls, via Aït Ourir and Azilal province. The round trip uses 5 hours of driving within a 10-hour day.
The road runs through Aït Ourir then Azilal province before reaching Tanaghmeilt. A 15-minute stop at the halfway point completes the trip without adding more than 20 minutes.
How much does a trip to the Ouzoud Waterfalls cost?
The full-day trip costs €110 per vehicle in a 9-seater minibus, driver and fuel included. Access to the path and the falls is free; only the boat ride is paid on site.
This price covers the return transport and the driver waiting through the whole visit. It does not include the terrace lunch or the boat ride.
The boat ride at the base of the falls costs 20 MAD per person, ten minutes along the base of the cascade.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Full day |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes Vito | 7 | €95 |
| Hyundai Staria | 9 | €110 |
| Mercedes Sprinter | 12 | €140 |
| Mercedes Sprinter long | 15 | €165 |
The rate covers the 330 km round trip and the driver waiting through the five hours spent on site.
When is the best time to visit the Ouzoud Waterfalls?
March to May brings the strongest flow, after the Middle Atlas snowmelt swells the El Abid river. The flow drops to its lowest in September, before the autumn rains restore it gradually through November and into winter.
The flow depends directly on how much snow fell on the Middle Atlas the previous winter. A dry winter cuts the March-to-May flow by close to half compared with a snowy one.
| Period | Waterfall flow | Temperature | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
| December – February | Sustained by winter rain | 5 – 14 °C | Low |
| March – May | Peak, after the snowmelt | 10 – 20 °C | High |
| June – August | Declining gradually | 18 – 30 °C | Medium |
| September – November | Lowest in September, restored by November | 14 – 25 °C | High |
Temperatures recorded at Tanaghmeilt, at 1,060 m. They stay 4 to 5 °C below Marrakech.
What should you bring to the Ouzoud Waterfalls?
Bring non-slip walking shoes, a light waterproof layer and water. The 600 steps and the spray at the base of the falls keep the path slippery all year, even in summer.
- Walking shoes with a non-slip sole
- Light waterproof layer for the spray
- Water, 1 litre per person for the climb back up
- Waterproof pouch for the camera
- Cash in dirhams for the boat ride and lunch
Which vehicle suits the Ouzoud Waterfalls trip?
The 9-seater minibus suits most groups on this 165 km route, with room for luggage on the drive through the Middle Atlas. Above 12 passengers, allow extra time for the climb back up: the 600 steps slow down larger groups.
What do the Ouzoud Waterfalls look like?
Which day trips combine with the Ouzoud Waterfalls?
Ouzoud fills a full 10-hour day and does not combine with any other day trip. The Ourika Valley and Lalla Takerkoust Lake are booked separately, on another day of the stay.
Frequently asked questions
How many steps lead down to the base of the Ouzoud Waterfalls?
The path counts 600 steps between the top and the base of the falls. The descent takes 25 minutes, the climb back up 40 minutes. Rest points line the path near the olive mills.
Can you feed the Barbary macaques at Ouzoud?
Feeding the Barbary macaques is forbidden on the Ouzoud site. Food draws the monkeys toward visitors and leads to stolen bags and snacks. Path wardens repeat the rule on arrival.
Does the Ouzoud waterfall flow stay the same all year?
No, the flow varies sharply through the seasons. It peaks from March to May, after the Middle Atlas snowmelt, and drops to its lowest in September. Autumn rain restores it by November.
Does the Ouzoud Waterfalls trip suit people with reduced mobility?
The 600-step path limits access for people with reduced mobility. The top of the falls, with the olive mills and the viewpoint, stays reachable without descending the steps. The base requires the full descent.
Get a quote
Where are you going?
Send your dates and how many of you are travelling. You get a priced itinerary back — no commitment, no deposit.
- Phone
- +212 714 29 85 18
- Office
- Avenue Mohammed VI, Guéliz — 40000 Marrakech
- Hours
- Every day, 7:00 – 23:00 (GMT+1)