Day trip — 40 km south-west of Marrakech
Lalla Takerkoust Lakeday tripfrom Marrakech
Lalla Takerkoust Lake spreads out 40 km south-west of Marrakech, a 50-minute drive. This dam on the Nfis river, built in 1935, sits at the foot of the Kik plateau.
The trip combines with the Agafay plateau, 12 km to the east, in a single half-day.
How does a half-day at Lalla Takerkoust Lake unfold?
The trip leaves Marrakech at 09:00 and returns at 14:00, a 5-hour half-day. It includes 50 minutes of driving out, the same coming back, and 3 h 20 on the lake shore.
- 09:00
Pickup at your accommodation
Your driver collects you at your riad in the medina or your hotel in Guéliz, before the road to the dam.
0 km - 09:10
Leaving Marrakech on the Amizmiz road
The road leaves Marrakech to the south-west and crosses the Haouz plain, irrigated by the Nfis river.
18 km - 09:50
Arrival at the dam
Arrival on the lake shore, facing the dam and the Kik plateau.
40 km - 10:00
Walk along the shore
Free walking on the flat shoreline, with no incline, past olive trees and fishing boats.
- 11:00
Water activity
An hour of pedalo or jet-ski on the reservoir. These are booked and paid for on site.
- 12:30
Lunch on a lakeside terrace
Lunch of freshwater fish or tagine, on a terrace facing the dam.
- 13:30
Departure for Marrakech
The return leg retraces the same road, 50 minutes back to Marrakech.
40 km - 14:00
Drop-off at your accommodation
Back at the pickup address.
The trip extends to a full day by adding the Agafay plateau, 12 km to the east, without adding more than 25 minutes of driving.
What is there to see at Lalla Takerkoust Lake?
Takerkoust brings together a 1935 dam on the Nfis river, the Kik plateau to the north and the Agafay plateau 12 km to the east. The flat shore is covered on foot, in 30 minutes of walking.
The dam and the Nfis river
The Lalla Takerkoust dam has held back the Nfis river since 1935, built under the French protectorate to generate electricity for Marrakech. It now also irrigates the Haouz plain downstream of the reservoir.
The Kik plateau
The Kik plateau overlooks the lake’s northern shore and offers a view of the High Atlas, snow-covered from December to April. The road along it continues to Ouirgane and Toubkal.
The Agafay plateau
The Agafay plateau, a hamada of stone and marl, spreads out 12 km east of the dam. It combines with Takerkoust in a single half-day without adding more than 25 minutes of driving.
How long does it take to reach Lalla Takerkoust Lake from Marrakech?
It takes 50 minutes to cover the 40 km between Marrakech and the Lalla Takerkoust dam, via the Amizmiz road. The round trip uses 1 h 40 of driving within a 5-hour half-day.
The road stays paved for the whole trip, with no track and no notable incline. It suits every vehicle in the fleet, from the 7-seater van to the 15-seater minibus.
How much does a trip to Lalla Takerkoust Lake cost?
The half-day trip costs €70 per vehicle in a 9-seater minibus, driver and fuel included. Access to the lake shore is free; only the water activities are paid on site.
This price covers the return transport and the driver waiting through the 3 h 20 spent on the lake shore. It does not include the terrace lunch or the water activities.
A pedalo costs 100 MAD per half hour, a jet-ski 350 MAD for fifteen minutes. Both are booked directly on the shore.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Half-day |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes Vito | 7 | €60 |
| Hyundai Staria | 9 | €70 |
| Mercedes Sprinter | 12 | €90 |
| Mercedes Sprinter long | 15 | €105 |
The rate covers the 80 km round trip and the driver waiting through the 3 h 20 spent on site.
When is the best time to visit Lalla Takerkoust Lake?
March to May brings the highest water level, after the High Atlas snowmelt swells the Nfis river feeding the reservoir. The level drops to its lowest in September and October, before winter rain restores it through the following spring.
The level depends directly on High Atlas snowfall and the spring flow of the Nfis river. A wider shore appears each autumn, before the dam refills over winter.
| Period | Lake level | Temperature | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
| December – February | 615 – 620 m, rising | 8 – 17 °C | Low |
| March – May | 620 – 625 m, at its highest | 15 – 27 °C | High |
| June – August | 618 – 622 m, stable | 25 – 35 °C | High, swimming |
| September – November | 610 – 615 m, at its lowest | 18 – 29 °C | Medium |
Levels recorded at the main jetty, at an average altitude of 620 m. The shoreline retreats by more than 15 metres between May and October.
What should you bring to Lalla Takerkoust Lake?
Bring a swimsuit, sunscreen and a towel. Exposure on the open water increases sunburn faster than in the medina, and the reservoir stays open for swimming from June to August, once the spring water level has stabilised.
- Swimsuit for swimming
- Beach towel
- Factor 50 sunscreen for the exposure on the water
- Hat or cap
- A change of clothes after swimming
- Cash in dirhams for the pedalo and lunch
Which vehicle suits the Lalla Takerkoust trip?
The 9-seater minibus suits most groups on this flat 40 km route. The paved road with no incline lets the 15-seater through without losing time, unlike the mountain day trips.
What does Lalla Takerkoust Lake look like?
Which day trips combine with Lalla Takerkoust Lake?
The Agafay plateau, 12 km to the east, completes Takerkoust in a single half-day, without adding more than 25 minutes of driving. The Ouzoud Waterfalls, a full day on their own, are booked separately.
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim in Lalla Takerkoust Lake?
Yes, swimming is possible in Lalla Takerkoust Lake from June to August. The water level then reaches 618 to 622 metres. No lifeguard covers the shore, so swimming stays at your own responsibility.
Does Lalla Takerkoust Lake combine with another day trip?
Yes, the Agafay plateau is visited the same day, 12 km east of the dam. The addition extends the drive by only 25 minutes. The Ouzoud Waterfalls, a full day, are booked on another day.
When was the Lalla Takerkoust dam built?
The Lalla Takerkoust dam dates from 1935, built under the French protectorate on the Nfis river. It generated Marrakech’s electricity originally, before the national grid took over that role. It now also irrigates the Haouz plain.
Does the Lalla Takerkoust trip suit children?
Yes, from the youngest ages. The flat 50-minute drive avoids the travel sickness of mountain roads. The 5-hour half-day stays short for young children. Child seats are supplied at no extra charge.
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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)