Day trip — 75 km south of Marrakech
Day tripOukaïmedenfrom Marrakech
Oukaïmeden is a High Atlas plateau at 2,600 metres, 75 km south of Marrakech, a 1 h 30 drive. The station runs Africa’s highest ski resort.
The lifts run from late December to early March. The rest of the year, the plateau is explored on foot.
How does a day at Oukaïmeden unfold?
The trip leaves Marrakech at 08:00 and returns at 16:30. It includes 1 h 30 of driving out, six hours on the plateau and 1 h 30 back, lunch at a mountain lodge included.
- 08:00
Pickup at your accommodation
Your driver collects you at your riad in the medina, your hotel in Guéliz or your villa in the Palmeraie.
0 km - 08:20
Leaving Marrakech to the south
The road leaves the city and crosses the Haouz plain before entering the first foothills of the High Atlas.
15 km - 08:35
Road fork at Arhbalou
The road to Oukaïmeden splits here from the road to the Ourika Valley, after 40 kilometres of shared route. It then climbs towards the plateau through a series of hairpin bends.
40 km - 09:00
Climbing to the plateau
The road climbs from 466 to 2,600 metres over the 75 km from Marrakech, an average gradient of 28 metres per kilometre on this section.
60 km - 09:30
Arrival at the Oukaïmeden station
The station runs Africa’s highest ski resort, at 2,600 metres, below Jbel Oukaïmeden at 3,273 metres.
75 km - 10:15
Visiting the rock engravings
The plateau carries engravings dated to the Bronze Age, protected as national heritage, a short walk from the lodges.
- 13:00
Lunch at a mountain lodge
A meal at your own cost at a station lodge, looking out over the surrounding peaks.
- 15:00
Return to Marrakech
Departure from the plateau, 1 h 30 of driving by the same route.
75 km
In ski season the day is built around the lifts rather than around the walk to the rock engravings.
What is there to see on an Oukaïmeden trip?
Oukaïmeden brings together three things: the ski station, the plateau’s protected rock engravings and Jbel Oukaïmeden, which peaks at 3,273 metres. The road climbs from 466 to 2,600 metres from Marrakech.
The ski station
Oukaïmeden runs Africa’s highest ski resort, at 2,600 metres. The lifts operate from late December to early March, with three to five drag lifts open depending on snow cover.
Outside ski season the slopes are walked or mountain-biked. The station’s lodges stay open all year for meals.
The rock engravings
The Oukaïmeden plateau carries rock engravings dated to the Bronze Age, protected as national heritage. They depict weapons, animals and human figures carved into the rock.
Jbel Oukaïmeden
Jbel Oukaïmeden peaks at 3,273 metres above the plateau and the station. Climbing it from the lifts takes 2 to 3 hours of walking depending on the hiker’s fitness.
How long does it take to reach Oukaïmeden from Marrakech?
It takes 1 h 30 to cover the 75 km between Marrakech and the Oukaïmeden plateau. The road climbs from 466 to 2,600 metres, an average gradient of 28 metres per kilometre.
The road to Oukaïmeden and the road to the Ourika Valley share the same route for the first 40 km, as far as the hamlet of Arhbalou. The two trips overlap for the first half of the drive.
The last 35 km cross a series of hairpin bends. They demand a slower pace than the Ourika road, which stays tarmacked along the valley floor.
How much does an Oukaïmeden trip cost?
Private transport costs €75 in a 7-seater van and €85 in a 9-seater minibus, driver and fuel included. Access to the plateau and the rock engravings carries no official entry fee.
Lunch at a mountain lodge is paid on site, 90 to 160 MAD per person depending on the dish ordered.
TODO: ski lift pass price at Oukaïmeden for the current season.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Day trip |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes Vito | 7 | €75 |
| Hyundai Staria | 9 | €85 |
| Mercedes Sprinter | 12 | €110 |
| Mercedes Sprinter long | 15 | €130 |
The price covers the return drive and the driver waiting through the plateau visit.
When is the best time to visit Oukaïmeden?
Late December to early March suits skiing, June to September suits hiking. The plateau stays 15 to 18 °C colder than Marrakech all year, with sub-zero nights in winter and three to five lifts running at the peak of the season.
Winter nights drop below -10 °C on the plateau. The station’s lodges stay heated, but the road can close for 1 to 3 days after heavy snowfall.
| Period | Daytime | Night | Snow on the ground |
|---|---|---|---|
| December – February | 1 – 5 °C | -12 – -8 °C | Yes, lifts running |
| March – May | 8 – 12 °C | -7 – -3 °C | Yes, above the station until May |
| June – August | 18 – 22 °C | 1 – 5 °C | No |
| September – November | 10 – 14 °C | -4 – 0 °C | Rare, from November |
Temperatures recorded on the plateau, at 2,600 m. They run 15 to 18 °C below Marrakech depending on the season.
What should you bring to Oukaïmeden?
Bring a padded jacket, walking shoes, gloves and sunscreen. The plateau stays 15 to 18 °C colder than Marrakech, and the sun’s glare intensifies with altitude, especially on the snow-covered slopes between December and March.
- Padded or warm jacket, all year round
- Walking shoes with grip in winter
- Gloves and a hat between December and March
- Snow-rated sunglasses
- Factor 50 sunscreen, stronger at altitude
- Cash in dirhams for the lodge and the lifts
Which vehicle suits the Oukaïmeden trip?
The 9-seater minibus handles the hairpin bends on the final 35 km to the plateau without difficulty. The 15-seater also gets through this section, but at a slower pace near the summit.
What does Oukaïmeden look like?
Which day trips combine with Oukaïmeden?
The Ourika Valley, 68 km away, shares the first 40 km of road before forking at Arhbalou. The Imlil trip, in another High Atlas valley, is best kept for a separate day.
Frequently asked questions
Can you ski at Oukaïmeden?
Yes, from late December to early March. Three to five drag lifts run depending on snow cover, on Africa’s highest ski resort. Equipment rental happens on site, at the foot of the slopes.
What are the Oukaïmeden rock engravings?
Protected engravings dated to the Bronze Age. They depict weapons, animals and human figures carved into the plateau’s open rock. The site stays reachable on foot from the station all year, without any entry fee.
Does the Oukaïmeden trip suit children?
Yes, from age 6 for the walk on the plateau. The 2,600-metre altitude can cause mild breathlessness in younger children, so a slower pace suits them better. Child seats are supplied at no extra charge.
Can you visit Oukaïmeden in summer?
Yes, for hiking and the rock engravings. Snow disappears from the slopes between June and September, and days stay 15 to 18 °C cooler than Marrakech. The lifts stay closed.
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Where are you going?
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- Phone
- +212 714 29 85 18
- Office
- Avenue Mohammed VI, Guéliz — 40000 Marrakech
- Hours
- Every day, 7:00 – 23:00 (GMT+1)