Day trip — 68 km south of Marrakech
Day tripOurika Valleyfrom Marrakech
The Ourika Valley is a High Atlas valley carved by the Ourika river, 68 km south of Marrakech, a 1 h 15 drive. It leads to the village of Setti Fatma, at 1,500 metres.
On Mondays, the trip can include a stop at the weekly market of Tnine Ourika, on the valley road.
How does a day in the Ourika Valley unfold?
The trip leaves Marrakech at 08:30 and returns at 18:30. It includes 1 h 15 of driving out, four hours on site at Setti Fatma and 1 h 15 back, lunch on a riverside terrace included.
- 08:30
Pickup at your accommodation
Pickup starts at your accommodation: riad in the medina, hotel in Guéliz or villa in the Palmeraie, ahead of the morning drive to the Ourika.
0 km - 08:50
Leaving Marrakech to the south
Past the city limits, the Haouz plain gives way to the first foothills of the High Atlas, on the road shared with Oukaïmeden.
15 km - 09:10
Passing through Tnine Ourika
This village hosts the weekly Monday market, where growers from the valley sell fruit, vegetables and Berber rugs.
32 km - 09:25
Road fork at Arhbalou
The road to the Ourika Valley and the road to Oukaïmeden share the same route for these first 40 kilometres before splitting here.
40 km - 09:45
Arrival at Setti Fatma
The village marks the head of the Ourika Valley, at 1,500 metres, at the foot of the seven waterfalls.
68 km - 10:00
Walk to the waterfalls
The first waterfall is reached by a 30-minute walk. Stronger walkers continue on towards the falls further up.
- 13:00
Lunch on a riverside terrace
A meal at your own cost on a terrace above the Ourika river, in one of the restaurants built on stilts over the riverbed.
- 15:15
Return to Marrakech
Departure from Setti Fatma, 1 h 15 of driving by the same route.
68 km
Times adjust to your request: an earlier start reaches the seventh waterfall, a later return follows the Monday market at Tnine Ourika.
What is there to see on an Ourika Valley trip?
The Ourika Valley brings together three things: the village of Setti Fatma and its seven waterfalls, the Tnine Ourika market and the Ourika river itself. The valley runs 30 km between Arhbalou and the High Atlas.
Setti Fatma and the seven waterfalls
Setti Fatma is a Berber village at the head of the Ourika Valley, at 1,500 metres. Seven waterfalls step up the mountainside above it, fed by snowmelt from the High Atlas.
The first waterfall is reached by a 30-minute walk on a family-friendly path. Reaching the seventh waterfall takes 2 h 30 of walking on a steeper trail.
Riverside restaurants line the water at the foot of the village. They serve tagines and skewers on wooden terraces built over the river.
The Ourika river
The Ourika river is the watercourse that carves the valley from the High Atlas down to the Haouz plain. It feeds the terraced fields visible along the whole route.
The river produced an exceptional flood in 1995, which damaged homes built close to its banks. A siren warning system now covers Setti Fatma and the villages downstream.
Tnine Ourika
Tnine Ourika is a village on the valley road that hosts a weekly market every Monday. Local growers sell their produce and crafts there to passing visitors.
How long does it take to reach the Ourika Valley from Marrakech?
It takes 1 h 15 to cover the 68 km between Marrakech and Setti Fatma. The road follows the Ourika river for its last thirty kilometres, between Arhbalou and the village.
The route to Oukaïmeden coincides with the Ourika road for the first 40 km, up to the Arhbalou fork. Past that hamlet, each road climbs its own side of the High Atlas.
A return trip in a single day uses 2 h 30 of driving in total, against four hours on site at Setti Fatma for the walk and lunch.
How much does an Ourika Valley trip cost?
Private transport costs €62 in a 7-seater van and €70 in a 9-seater minibus, driver and fuel included. Access to the valley and the walk to the waterfalls carries no official entry fee.
Lunch on a riverside terrace is paid on site, 80 to 150 MAD per person depending on the restaurant and the dishes ordered.
TODO: local guide fee for the walk to the seventh waterfall.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Day trip |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes Vito | 7 | €62 |
| Hyundai Staria | 9 | €70 |
| Mercedes Sprinter | 12 | €92 |
| Mercedes Sprinter long | 15 | €110 |
The price covers the return drive and the driver waiting through the walk and lunch at Setti Fatma.
When is the best time to visit the Ourika Valley?
March to June and September to November give the best conditions in the valley: 16 to 23 °C and a strong flow over the waterfalls. July and August stay busy for the river’s cool water.
Flash floods remain the valley’s main risk, especially after a storm upstream. The 1995 flood marked the region, and a siren warning system now protects Setti Fatma and the villages downstream.
| Period | Daytime | Waterfall flow | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
| December – February | 10 – 14 °C | Strong | Low |
| March – May | 16 – 22 °C | Very strong | High |
| June – August | 26 – 31 °C | Moderate | High |
| September – November | 18 – 23 °C | Moderate | High |
Temperatures recorded at Setti Fatma, at 1,500 m. They run 6 to 8 °C below Marrakech.
What should you bring to the Ourika Valley?
Bring walking shoes, a swimsuit, a towel and cash. The pools below the waterfalls invite a swim, and the restaurants at Setti Fatma do not take cards, even for a simple mint tea.
- Walking shoes with a non-slip sole
- Swimsuit for the waterfall pools
- Quick-dry towel
- Light windbreaker between December and February
- Cash in dirhams for lunch and the local guide
- Factor 50 sunscreen
Which vehicle suits the Ourika Valley trip?
The 9-seater minibus suits most groups: the road stays tarmacked all the way to the Setti Fatma car park. The 15-seater also gets through without difficulty, with no hairpin bends like the Oukaïmeden road.
What does the Ourika Valley look like?
Which day trips combine with the Ourika Valley?
The Oukaïmeden plateau, 75 km away, shares the first 40 km of road with the Ourika Valley before forking at Arhbalou. A third High Atlas valley, Imlil, rounds out the programme on another day of the stay.
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim in the Ourika waterfalls?
Yes, in the pools below the falls. The water comes down from the High Atlas and stays cool even in summer, between 12 and 16 °C. Swimming is at the visitor’s own risk, unsupervised.
Does the Ourika Valley trip suit children?
Yes, from age 4 for the walk to the first waterfall. The 1 h 15 drive stays shorter than the longer mountain routes. Child seats are supplied at no extra charge.
What happens during a flood in the valley?
A siren system warns the villages downstream of Setti Fatma. It was installed after the 1995 flood. Trips are postponed as soon as a storm is forecast upstream in the valley.
Does the Tnine Ourika market run every day?
No, only on Mondays. On other days the village returns to its ordinary farming activity. The Monday trip combines the market with the walk to the Setti Fatma waterfalls, within the same excursion.
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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)