Atlas Mountains and three valleys private day trip from Marrakech

• Three High Atlas valleys in one private day
• 180 EUR per vehicle for 1 to 7 people, 250 EUR for 8 to 17
• Aït Mizane valley at the foot of Mount Toubkal
• Old forest track below Oukaïmeden to the Sidi Fares oasis
• Ourika Valley, women's argan cooperative and Setti Fatma
• Pickup and drop-off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech

The day, stop by stop

1. Pickup at your hotel or riad

   Your driver collects you early in the morning at your hotel or riad in Marrakech. If you stay inside the medina, we meet you at the nearest point a vehicle can reach. The exact pickup time is confirmed on WhatsApp the day before.

2. The Aït Mizane valley, at the foot of Toubkal

   The first valley climbs towards Mount Toubkal, at 4,167 m the highest summit of North Africa. The Aït Mizane valley is green, terraced and quiet, with earth and stone villages above the stream and walnut trees along the fields. There is time to walk a little and look at the peaks.

3. The forest track below Oukaïmeden

   Leaving the main roads, the route follows an old forest track beneath the Oukaïmeden plateau. It is the most scenic part of the day, with wide views over the villages and the slopes of the High Atlas.

4. The Sidi Fares oasis

   The track leads to the Sidi Fares oasis, a green pocket in the mountains with panoramic views over Douar Outghal and the surrounding peaks, at about 1,382 m. It is a favourite stop for photographers.

5. The Ourika Valley and the argan cooperative

   The third valley is the Ourika: clay slopes, terraced orchards and the river. We stop at a cooperative run by women, where you see how argan oil is made by hand, from cracking the nuts to kneading the paste.

6. Setti Fatma and return

   The road ends at Setti Fatma, the last village of the Ourika Valley, where a path climbs to the waterfalls and restaurants line the river. With the guide option, a local guide walks with you to the falls; with the lunch option, lunch is served by the river. Then the drive back to Marrakech.

Why this trip

The three valleys day is for travellers who want to see more of the High Atlas in a single day than one valley can show. In the morning you are below Mount Toubkal, in the green Aït Mizane valley; at midday an old forest track takes you along the slopes beneath the Oukaïmeden plateau to the Sidi Fares oasis; in the afternoon you come down into the Ourika Valley, its argan cooperative and the village of Setti Fatma. Three landscapes, three kinds of mountain villages, one vehicle and one driver for your group only.

It is a longer day than our private Ourika Valley day trip, with more time on the road and less time sitting by the river. In exchange, you see the Toubkal side of the mountains and the high track between the valleys, which most visitors to the Ourika never reach.

The route, valley by valley

The Aït Mizane valley

The first valley climbs towards Mount Toubkal, at 4,167 m the highest summit of North Africa. The Aït Mizane valley is narrow and green: terraced fields, walnut trees and earth and stone villages above the stream, with the peaks closing the view at the end. Life here follows the seasons and the water, and the pace is very different from Marrakech an hour and a half away.

This is a good place for a first short walk, to look at the terraces and the peaks, and for photographs in the morning light.

The forest track to Sidi Fares

Leaving the main roads, the route follows an old forest track beneath the Oukaïmeden plateau. This is the high point of the day for many travellers: wide views over the slopes, the villages and the valleys below, and very few other vehicles.

The track reaches the Sidi Fares oasis, a green pocket in the mountains with panoramic views over Douar Outghal and the surrounding peaks, at about 1,382 m. Photographers love this stop.

The Ourika Valley

The third valley is the one we know best. The Ourika Valley is a world of clay slopes, terraced orchards and the river that gives it its name. On the way we stop at a cooperative run by women, where you see how argan oil is made by hand: cracking the nuts between two stones, roasting the kernels, grinding them and kneading the paste. You can taste the oil and amlou, the argan, almond and honey spread, and buy directly from the women if you wish.

The road ends at Setti Fatma, the last village of the valley, where a path climbs up the gorge to the waterfalls and restaurants line the river. Our guide to the Setti Fatma waterfalls explains the path in detail.

A private day, at your pace

All our outings are private. The vehicle and the driver are for your group only, and the driver adapts the stops to you: more time for photographs on the track, a shorter stop at the cooperative, a walk towards the waterfalls or not. Your driver speaks French, English and Spanish.

Pickup is at your hotel or riad in Marrakech. If you stay inside the medina, where cars cannot enter most lanes, we meet you at the nearest point a vehicle can reach, as close as possible to your door.

Lunch and guide, two options

The price covers the vehicle, fuel, the driver and the pickup. Two options can be added when you book:

Without these options, your driver will show you where to eat and you pay your lunch on the spot.

What should you bring?

• Comfortable shoes with a good grip: the paths in the villages and towards the waterfalls are uneven.
• A warm layer. The Atlas is cooler than Marrakech, and the track is higher than the valley floors.
• Sun protection: hat, sunscreen and sunglasses, even in winter.
• Cash in dirhams for drinks, purchases at the cooperative and tips, and for the balance of the trip, paid to the driver on the day.
• Your camera, with a charged battery: the track and the Sidi Fares viewpoint are the best photo stops of the day.

When is the best time of year to go?

Spring is the classic season: the valleys are green, the orchards flower and the streams are full. Autumn is clear and pleasant. In summer the mountains are a welcome escape from the heat of Marrakech, but storms can build in the afternoon. In winter the peaks are often white with snow and the days are short, so we leave early. After heavy rain, mountain tracks can be damaged; our page on the weather in the Ourika Valley shows the forecast for the coming week.

How much does the three valleys day trip cost?

The price is per vehicle, not per person, so it goes down for each person as your group grows:

Prices in euros, all taxes included. The vehicle price is for the whole group, not per person.

You book online on this page and pay a 50% deposit with PayPal or a bank card through PayPal; the balance is paid in cash to the driver on the day. Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before the trip, with the deposit refunded in full.

Three valleys or the Ourika day trip?

If it is your first visit to the Atlas and you want to see as much as possible in one day, choose the three valleys. If you prefer a slower day by the river and a longer walk to the waterfalls, choose the Ourika Valley day trip. For snow and the high plateau, see our Oukaïmeden day trip, and for other ideas our guide to day trips from Marrakech.