Ourika Valley- Cold mornings, clear days and snow on the High Atlas peaks
- Lower valley in January: about 1 °C at night, about 15 °C in the afternoon
- About ten hours of daylight at Christmas: sunrise around 8:30 am, sunset around 6:30 pm
- The quietest season: few visitors on the waterfall path
- Snow at Oukaïmeden when the winter allows, mostly January to March
- Private day trip bookable online for any date, holidays included
The Ourika Valley in winter, from December to February, is cold, bright and quiet. The peaks of the High Atlas above the villages are white with snow, the mornings are cold and the gorge at Setti Fatma stays in the shade for much of the day. In the lower valley around Tnine Ourika, average lows and highs are about 3 and 16 °C in December and about 1 and 15 °C in January. Daylight lasts about ten hours at Christmas, with sunrise at about 8:30 am and sunset at about 6:30 pm. It is the quietest season of the year, a good time for the villages, the cooperatives and a walk to the first waterfall on a dry day, and for the snow at Oukaïmeden when the winter allows. Our private day trip runs all winter and can be booked online for any date, holidays included: 120 EUR per vehicle for 1 to 7 people.
Many travellers come to Marrakech for Christmas and New Year and ask us the same question: is the valley worth it when it is cold? Our answer is yes on a clear day, and no on a wet one. This guide gives you the numbers to decide and the way to organise the day.
What is the weather like in winter?
| Month | Lower valley, low and high (about) | What it is like |
|---|---|---|
| November | About 6 and 18 °C | Cooler, first rains, yellow leaves |
| December | About 3 and 16 °C | Cold mornings, snow returns to the peaks |
| January | About 1 and 15 °C | The coldest month: crisp clear days, cold mornings |
| February | About 2 and 16 °C | Still cold, more rain possible, first blossom lower down |
| March | About 5 and 19 °C | Milder, showers, the river rises with the snowmelt |
These are approximate averages for the lower valley, rounded from climate-data.org. Higher up it is colder. For the Setti Fatma area, the weather archive of Open-Meteo gives for last winter an average daily maximum of about 11 °C in December 2025 and January 2026 and about 17 °C in February 2026, with average minimums of about 3 °C in December and January.
Winter is also the wet season. In the same archive, December 2025 counted 14 days with more than 1 mm of precipitation and January 2026 counted 13. That is why the forecast matters more in winter than at any other time: look at the live table on our Ourika Valley weather page before you choose your day.
How long are the days?
| Date | Sunrise at Setti Fatma | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 December | About 8:12 am | About 6:27 pm | About 10 hours 15 |
| 25 December | About 8:27 am | About 6:34 pm | About 10 hours |
| 1 January | About 8:29 am | About 6:39 pm | About 10 hours 10 |
| 15 February | About 8:12 am | About 7:17 pm | About 11 hours |
The sun rises late in winter. A departure from Marrakech around 9 am puts you in the valley as it warms up and brings you back before dark. Our half day, which leaves at 7 am, starts before sunrise in December and January: the drive up is in the dark and the first hour at Setti Fatma is cold. In winter the full private day trip is the better choice.
What can you do in the valley in winter?
- Enjoy the views. On a clear day the snow line on the Atlas is the best sight of the season, from the road and from the villages.
- Visit the villages and the cooperatives. A women's argan cooperative, a potter's workshop and a house in a village are indoor stops, welcome on a cold morning.
- Walk to the first waterfall, on a dry day and with a local guide. The path is quiet in winter; the rock is cold and wet, so shoes with grip matter more than ever. Our guide to the Setti Fatma waterfalls describes it.
- Have lunch in the sun or indoors. The riverside terraces are for sunny middays; on a cold day, ask your driver for a restaurant with an indoor room.
- Go up to the snow. The Oukaïmeden plateau, reached from Aghbalou, has snow mostly from January to March, depending on the year.
Is there snow, and where?
On the peaks, all winter: that is the white line you see from Marrakech. In the valley itself, snow in the villages is occasional and mostly in the higher ones. For snow under your feet you go up to Oukaïmeden, where the old weather records for 1982 to 1994, published by the Association Internationale de Climatologie and quoted by Wikipedia, give about 9 to 10 days of snowfall a month in January, February and March and 4 to 6 in November and December. Recent winters have been irregular, so we check before you book a snow day. Our Oukaïmeden guide also explains the state of the ski lifts.
What about Christmas and New Year?
The two holiday weeks are the busiest of the winter in Marrakech, and the valley is a simple way to spend a day out of the city. Three things to know:
- Every date can be booked online, including 25 December and 1 January, at the usual prices.
- Book a few days ahead. Vehicles are in demand that fortnight.
- Keep a spare day if you can. If rain is forecast on your date, we offer another one, or a full refund.
| Day | Price | Good to know in winter |
|---|---|---|
| Private Ourika Valley day trip | 120 EUR per vehicle for 1 to 7 people, 200 EUR for 8 to 17 | Leave around 9 am for the warmest hours |
| Ourika + Oukaïmeden | 180 EUR per vehicle for 1 to 7 people, 260 EUR for 8 to 17 | For the snow, when the winter allows |
| Walk and lunch with a Berber family | 60 EUR per person | A warm family table after a walk between villages |
| Cooking class with a local family | 60 EUR per person | An indoor activity for a cold day |
| Shared excursion | 25 EUR per person | Lunch and return transport included |
Everything is paid online, with free cancellation up to 7 days before.
What should you wear and bring?
- Layers: a warm jacket, a jumper and a lighter layer, because midday in the sun is much warmer than the morning.
- A hat and gloves for the first hours and for the shade of the gorge.
- Closed shoes with grip. Never smooth soles on the waterfall path.
- Sunglasses and sun cream. The winter sun is strong at altitude, and stronger on snow.
- Cash in dirhams, as in every season.
Should you sleep in the valley in winter?
A winter night in the valley is very quiet and very cold. If you stay, ask whether the rooms are heated, and remember that the last part of the road to several hotels is a track. Our guide to the best rated hotels of the Ourika Valley lists them, with the private transfer to each. To compare the valley with the other mountain days from Marrakech, see our guide to an Atlas Mountains day trip.
Sources
- Climate-data.org, lower Ourika valley: approximate monthly lows and highs
- Open-Meteo, weather archive and sun times for the Setti Fatma area: winter 2025-2026
- Wikipedia, Oukaïmeden: days of snowfall, records for 1982 to 1994 of the Association Internationale de Climatologie
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ourika Valley worth visiting in winter?
Yes, on a clear day. The light is sharp, the peaks are white, the villages are quiet and you have the waterfall path almost to yourself. On a wet day the valley is cold and grey, and we would rather move your trip: we check the forecast the evening before.
How cold is the Ourika Valley in December and January?
In the lower valley around Tnine Ourika, average lows and highs are about 3 and 16 °C in December and about 1 and 15 °C in January. Setti Fatma, at about 1,500 m, is colder, and the gorge stays in the shade for much of the day. Dress as you would for a winter walk in the mountains.
Does it snow in the Ourika Valley?
The peaks above the valley are white all winter. Snow in the villages is occasional and mostly in the higher ones. For a real day in the snow, Oukaïmeden, at 2,600 m and above, is the place, mostly from January to March and depending on the year.
Can you book a day trip at Christmas or on New Year's Day?
Yes. Our excursions can be booked online for any date, including 25 December and 1 January, at the usual prices. The holiday weeks are busy in Marrakech, so book a few days ahead.
Can you walk to the Setti Fatma waterfalls in winter?
Yes on a dry day, with a local guide and shoes with good grip: the rock is cold and wet, and the gorge is in the shade. After rain or snow, we skip the walk and keep to the villages and the cooperatives.
What time should a winter day trip start?
Not too early. The sun rises at about 8:30 am in late December, so a departure around 9 am gives you daylight for the whole day and warmer hours at Setti Fatma. Our half day, which leaves at 7 am, starts before sunrise in December and January.
What should you wear in the valley in winter?
A warm jacket, a jumper, long trousers, a hat and gloves for the morning, and closed shoes with grip. Bring sunglasses too: on a clear day the sun is strong, and warmer than you expect at midday.
