Day trip
to Ourika Valley from Marrakech.

The Ourika Valley begins roughly 30 km southeast of Marrakech and is one of the most accessible day trips from the city. The drive takes 45 to 60 minutes up a winding road along the Ourika river, past Berber villages, terraced vegetable plots, and increasingly dramatic High Atlas scenery. Most day trips continue to the end of the tarmac road at Setti Fatma, where a short hike of 20 to 30 minutes reaches the first of seven waterfalls in the upper gorge. The falls are most impressive from March to June when snowmelt feeds the river. Lunch is typically taken at one of the riverside restaurants at Setti Fatma - trout from the local river farms is a speciality. A stop at a Berber herb garden or argan cooperative is standard on guided versions of this trip. Return to Marrakech by late afternoon. The valley gets busy with Moroccan city families at weekends; a weekday departure gives a quieter experience. In summer, the valley is visibly cooler than Marrakech by 4 to 6 degrees, making it a practical escape from the medina heat. This is a good introductory outing for travellers hesitant about longer Atlas excursions who want to see a different face of Morocco.