Ourika Valley
What we offer in the Ourika Valley
Ourika Valley Day Trip
Private car, local guide, argan cooperative, Setti Fatma waterfalls and riverside lunch. From 25 EUR per person, paid online.
from 25 € per person
Shared excursion, 25 EUR
A day in the Ourika Valley with other travellers: 25 EUR per person, lunch and return transport from Marrakech included.
from 25 € per person
Trek and lunch with a Berber family
Walk between earth villages and terraced fields with a local guide, then share a home-cooked tagine and mint tea with a family.
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Private transport to Ourika
Car or minivan with driver from Marrakech to any village or lodge in the valley, one way or return with waiting time.
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Ourika Valley packages
Ourika plus a camel ride, a quad session, a Berber family lunch or Oukaïmeden. Private days built around your group.
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Cooperatives and villages
Argan oil, pottery, rugs, gardens and village life: the local economy of the valley, visited with a guide who knows the people.
See the offer →Marrakech is loud, hot and wonderful. An hour south, the air cools, the river runs between orchards and red earth villages, and life follows the rhythm of the fields and the weekly souk. This is our valley, and this site is where we share it: how to get here, what to see, and the trips we run ourselves.
Why the Ourika Valley
The Ourika Valley is the closest High Atlas escape from Marrakech. The road leaves the plain at Tnine Ourika, a small town named after its Monday market ("tnine" means Monday), and climbs along the Oued Ourika to Setti Fatma, the last village on the road, at about 1,500 m.
On the way you pass Amazigh (Berber) villages built of earth and stone, terraced fields watered by traditional canals called seguias, and orchards of walnut, apple, cherry and olive trees. People here speak Tashelhit, and most families still farm. It is a real place, not a set, which is exactly why it is worth the drive.
What we offer
The Ourika Valley day trip
Our main product is a full private day trip from Marrakech: pickup at your hotel or riad, a stop at a women's argan oil cooperative, a guided walk to the waterfalls of Setti Fatma, and lunch by the river. The price per person goes down as your group grows, from 105 EUR for one traveller to 25 EUR per person for groups of six or more, and you pay online when you book.
Transport to the valley
If you prefer to explore on your own, we drive you there and back. Our private transport covers one way or return trips, with waiting time if you want it. For travellers on a smaller budget, our shared excursion costs 25 EUR per person, lunch and return transport from Marrakech included, with a fixed meeting point and schedule.
Packages
Some visitors want more than one day of waterfalls. Our packages add a camel ride, a quad session, a trek with lunch in a Berber home, or a trip up to Oukaïmeden. Tell us what you have in mind and we build it around your dates.
Cooperatives and villages
The valley lives on small crafts: argan oil pressed by women, tagine pots shaped by hand, rugs woven at home. Our cooperatives and villages tour takes you to meet the makers, with time to understand what you are buying and why the price is what it is.
How booking works
We kept it simple, because nobody wants to spend their holiday on email.
- Choose your offer and date. On the booking page, pick the day trip, your date, the number of people and your pickup address.
- Pay online. The day trip is paid at booking through PayPal, with a PayPal account or a bank card. You never share your card details with us.
- Receive your confirmation. An email arrives straight away with the details of your booking.
- Hear from your driver. The day before the trip, your driver contacts you on WhatsApp to confirm the pickup time and place.
For every other offer, send us a request with your dates and group size. We answer the same day by email or WhatsApp with a clear proposal. You can also write to us directly on WhatsApp at +212 661 454 738 or at booking@ourika-valley.com.
Cancellation is free up to 7 days before the trip, with a full refund.
Plan your visit
A little preparation makes a big difference in the mountains. These guides answer the questions our guests ask us most often:
- When to go: the valley is cooler than Marrakech all year, but each season feels different. Our weather guide explains the best months, snow on the peaks, and why summer afternoons need watching.
- How to get there: grand taxi, rental car, organised tour or private driver, compared in our guide on getting to the Ourika Valley.
- What to do: waterfalls, gardens, markets, potteries and more in our list of things to do in Ourika.
- The story of the valley: from Amazigh settlement to the shrine of Setti Fatma, read the history of the Ourika Valley.
- Who lives here: language, village life, mint tea and photo etiquette in our page about the Ourika people and culture.
A practical tip to finish: bring shoes with a real grip. The path to the waterfalls of Setti Fatma is rocky, and visitors in flip-flops or smooth sandals often turn back well before the first falls.
Ourika guide
Nature and wildlife of Ourika
River, orchards, juniper slopes and high pastures, with the birds and shy mammals you may meet and when.
Setti Fatma waterfalls
The rocky walk to the seven falls above Setti Fatma: difficulty, season, safety and what to wear.
Setti Fatma village
The end of the Ourika road: footbridges, river restaurants, official guides and the start of the waterfall walk.
Responsible travel in Ourika
How valley families make a living, the realities of mountain life and simple ways your visit helps without doing harm.
People and culture of Ourika
Amazigh identity, Tashelhit words, seguias, souks, mint tea and simple etiquette for visiting the villages.
Berber food in the valley
Tagines, clay-oven bread, amlou and mint tea: what to eat in Ourika, how to eat it, and three home recipes.
History of the Ourika Valley
Rock engravings, Aghmat, qaids, the 1995 flood and the 2023 earthquake: the valley's story in dated facts.
Berber rugs
Flat weaves, rag rugs and thick wool pile: how to recognise the main types and choose a rug that will last.
Pottery and tagines
Roadside workshops, potters at the wheel and plain terracotta tagines: how to choose one that cooks, and how to bring it home.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the Ourika Valley from Marrakech?
The valley begins about 30 km south of Marrakech, at Tnine Ourika, and the road ends at Setti Fatma, about 60 to 65 km from the city. Allow about one hour of driving to reach Setti Fatma, a little more when traffic is heavy.
Is the Ourika Valley day trip private?
Yes. The day trip you book online is a private tour: the vehicle, the driver and the local guide are for your group only. You choose the pace, how long you stay at each stop and whether to add an optional stop on the way.
How do I pay?
The day trip, private or shared, is paid online when you book, through PayPal, either with a PayPal account or with a bank card via PayPal. You receive a confirmation email straight away. Other offers are booked by request and we confirm them within the day.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Summer thunderstorms can cause the river to rise quickly. If weather or river conditions make the valley unsafe on your date, we propose another date or give you a full refund. Our drivers and guides watch the sky and the river closely.
Can you pick us up inside the Marrakech medina?
Cars cannot drive through most of the medina lanes. If your riad is inside the medina, we meet you at the nearest point a vehicle can reach, as close as possible to your door, and we send you the exact meeting point the day before.