Marrakech to Atlas Mountains Day trip with camel ride & Berber lunch
From 40 /per person- 1 Day
- Superb769 Reviews4.9
Enjoy a day trip to Ourika Valley from Marrakech to escape the busy streets of the Medina. Admire the scenic drive past lush green valleys located on the southern slopes of the High Atlas Mountains. Get ready to climb the waterfalls of Setti Fadma, visit a Berber house, and sip a cup of mint tea.
Start your Day trip to Ourika Valley at 09h00 am from your riad or hotel in Marrakech.
Take a short drive from Marrakech to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. You will have the opportunity to explore a local Berber open market, which is mainly very busy on Mondays. From here, continue your drive along the valley of Ourika and pass through successive mountain villages.
As you go up the hills, you will stop to enjoy various beautiful landscapes.
Your first stop will be in a traditional Berber family’s house living in the valley. You will be treated to a delicious local breakfast consisting of tea, bread, and olive oil.
After that, we carry on with our tour towards Setti Fatma, a favorite weekend destination for many Moroccans thanks to its lush green valleys, beautiful streams and waterfalls, cliffs, and open spaces. You will hike up to the first waterfall accompanied by your guide.
You will go back for lunch in a local café next to the stream with a stunning view. Along the way, you will visit a region that still uses medieval agricultural traditions. You will be able to take pictures of green terraces surrounding the Atlas Mountains while walking around the valley.
At around 04h00 pm, you will return to Marrakech, where your day trip to Ourika Valley will end.
Number of Participants: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6-7 | 8-10 | 11-14 | 15-17 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price per person: | 125€ | 70€ | 55€ | 45€ | 40€ | 35€ | 30€ | 25€ | 20€ |
Number of Participants: | Price per person: |
---|---|
1 | 125€ |
2 | 70€ |
3 | 55€ |
4 | 45€ |
5 | 40€ |
6-7 | 35€ |
8-10 | 30€ |
11-14 | 25€ |
15-17 | 20€ |
There are plenty of restaurants and cafes in Ourika Valley to choose from to take a lunch or a snack. You can choose from classic restaurants located inside guesthouses located in Berber villages. The best option ( weather permitting ) is the riverside cafes that serve BBQ and delicious Moroccan salads under the shade of walnut trees.
Setti Fatma waterfalls represent the best hiking opportunity in Ourika Valley. You can hike from the village of Setti Fatma ( 1500 m above sea level ) to the first waterfall at an altitude of 1700 m above sea level. This walk can take up to 2 hours. If you are a trekking fan, you can hike further to visit the seven waterfalls at 2200 m above sea level. This adventure requires 4 hours, and it requires an expert local hiking guide for your safety.
If you visit Ourika Valley with children, visiting a Berber house, riding a donkey or a camel along the stream, and paying a visit to a small Berber farm are considered the best activities for children.
It would take around 45 min to reach Ourika from Marrakech. However, if you travel through the fastest route, Via P2017, you have to cover just 40 Km to get to Ourika Valley from Marrakech.
You can enjoy hiking the Atlas Mountains and cherish the beauty of this countryside. Also, the best part of Ourika Valley day trip is seeing the waterfalls of Setti Fatima. Other good things to visit are Argon oil Cooperatives and Berber Village, located alongside the Ourika River. Le Jardin du Safran and Ghmat are some excellent spots you should not miss.
You can visit throughout the year, but the busiest month in Ourika are September, November, and March. The hotel and flights will be the most expensive during these months. Kindly prepare yourself in Advance if you plan to visit during these months.
Our guide Mhoamed and driver Reda were great, really hospitable and enthusiastic about their land and culture. The tagine meal was fantastic, and the view of the Atlas Mountains was breath-taking. It was nice to get out of the city. The hike in Ourika Valley was brief, but it was plenty in the heat to stretch your legs.
Discovering local markets, having tea with Berbers, enjoying traditional Moroccan food on a patio, hiking to the cascades, and receiving excellent direction and insights from our tour guide ( Hassan ) make this day trip to Ourika Valley a perfect escape from hectic Marrakech. Strongly recommend it!
Our driver Mohamed met us on time at our and drove us to Ourika Valley, On the way, he told us about the day plan as well as some Moroccan history. He was incredibly polite and eager to personalize our tour to our special interests. We went to a Berber house and enjoyed mint tea, as well as an Argan oil cooperative run by women. We hiked to Sitti Fatma's waterfall and ate lunch beside the river. Mohamed drove us off the main road on the way back so we could have a better look of the valley. Mohamed was an excellent guide who taught us a lot about Morocco.