Ourika Valley
- Expected around 7 or 8 February to around 8 March 2027, confirmed by moon sighting
- Eid al-Fitr expected around 9 March 2027
- Sunset in Marrakech from about 6:12 pm to 6:35 pm during the month
- Some local cafés close during the day; tourist places usually stay open
- Eat, drink and smoke discreetly in public during daylight
Ramadan 2027, the month of fasting from dawn to sunset, is expected to begin around 7 or 8 February 2027 and to end around 8 March, with Eid al-Fitr, the feast that closes it, around 9 March. In Morocco the start is confirmed by the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs only after the crescent moon is sighted, so the exact dates are announced at the last moment. The Ourika Valley stays open during the month: the road, the villages and Setti Fatma welcome visitors, and day trips go on. What changes is the rhythm. Some cafés and small restaurants that serve local people close during the day, everything slows in the afternoon, and life gathers around sunset, at about 6:12 pm in Marrakech in early February and about 6:35 pm in early March. Visitors are welcome; eating, drinking and smoking discreetly in public by day is the courtesy expected.
Ramadan 2027 falls in late winter, a quiet season in the valley anyway. For many travellers it is a good moment to come: fewer visitors, cool clear days, and the warmth of the evenings when the fast is broken. Here is what to expect and how we organise the day.
When is Ramadan 2027?
| Expected date | Good to know | |
|---|---|---|
| First day of Ramadan | Around 7 or 8 February 2027 | Confirmed after the sighting of the moon on the evening of 7 February |
| Last day | Around 8 March 2027 | The month lasts 29 or 30 days |
| Eid al-Fitr | Around 9 March 2027 | A family holiday; some shops and services close for a day or two |
These dates are expected, not certain: they move by a day with the sighting of the moon. In recent years Morocco has also moved its clocks back one hour for the month, on dates announced each year by the government. Check both before you book a flight or a pickup time.
What time is sunset?
The fast ends at sunset, with the evening call to prayer. Everything in the day is set by that hour. These are the sunset times in Marrakech, on the clock in use during Ramadan in recent years:
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| 8 February | About 7:19 am | About 6:12 pm |
| 15 February | About 7:13 am | About 6:18 pm |
| 22 February | About 7:06 am | About 6:24 pm |
| 1 March | About 6:58 am | About 6:29 pm |
| 9 March | About 6:49 am | About 6:35 pm |
Around sunset, the streets of Marrakech empty and traffic stops: everyone is home or at a table, waiting for the call. It is the one moment of the day when you do not want to be on the road.
What changes in the Ourika Valley?
- The valley stays open. The road, the villages, Setti Fatma and the waterfall path are as usual.
- Some cafés and restaurants close by day. Places that serve local people often stay shut until sunset. Places used to visitors usually serve lunch. Your driver knows which ones are open that week.
- The afternoon is slower. People who have fasted since dawn work at a gentler pace, and the valley is quiet after lunch.
- The weather is late winter. Cool mornings, mild middays, snow often still on the peaks. Our guide to the valley in winter covers the temperatures and the daylight.
How should you behave?
- Eat, drink and smoke discreetly in public by day. At a restaurant table, in your vehicle or at your hotel, not walking through a village or a souk.
- Dress a little more modestly than usual. Shoulders and knees covered.
- Ask before photographing people, and never photograph people breaking their fast without asking.
- Be patient and generous. Your driver, the cooks and the guides are working through long days without food or water. A thank you, and a tip if you are happy, mean a lot this month.
Our page on the people and culture of the valley explains the everyday manners of the villages.
How do you plan a day trip during Ramadan?
| Plan | Why |
|---|---|
| Leave Marrakech in the morning | The valley is at its liveliest and the light is good |
| Have lunch around midday | Restaurants that serve visitors are ready; later, the kitchen slows |
| Start back in the early afternoon | You are in Marrakech well before sunset |
| Avoid the hour around sunset on the road | Streets empty, and everyone, your driver included, is breaking the fast |
Our private Ourika Valley day trip costs 120 EUR per vehicle for 1 to 7 people, 200 EUR for 8 to 17, with pickup at your hotel or riad; you choose the time of departure and of return. Our walk and lunch with a Berber family and our cooking class run as usual during Ramadan: the family prepares the meal for its guests even while fasting, and you eat at the normal time.
What is good about visiting during Ramadan?
The valley is calm, and the evenings in Marrakech are some of the liveliest of the year once the fast is broken. If you are invited to share the iftar, the evening meal, accept: dates, harira soup, bread and mint tea are the classic start. Our guide to Berber food in the valley tells you more about what is on the table.
Sources
- Moratra, "Morocco in Ramadan 2027": expected dates, the role of the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs, what stays open, etiquette (read on 14 October 2026)
- Open-Meteo: sunrise and sunset in Marrakech for February and March
Frequently asked questions
When is Ramadan 2027 in Morocco?
It is expected to begin around 7 or 8 February 2027 and to end around 8 March, with Eid al-Fitr around 9 March. In Morocco the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs confirms the start only after the crescent moon is sighted, so the exact dates are known a day ahead.
Can you visit the Ourika Valley during Ramadan?
Yes. The road, the villages and Setti Fatma stay open, and tours keep running. Life slows down during the day and comes alive after sunset. Plan to be back in Marrakech before the evening meal, when the streets empty and drivers go home to break their fast.
Will restaurants be open in the valley during Ramadan?
Some cafés and small restaurants that serve local people close during the day. Places used to serving visitors usually stay open. Ask us before your date: your driver knows which places serve lunch that week.
How should visitors behave during Ramadan?
Eat, drink and smoke discreetly in public during daylight, dress a little more modestly than usual, and do not photograph people breaking their fast without asking. A little patience goes a long way: people are working through long days without food or water.
What time is sunset in Marrakech during Ramadan 2027?
About 6:12 pm in early February, 6:24 pm in late February and 6:35 pm around 9 March. The fast ends at sunset with the evening call to prayer, and the evening meal, called iftar, follows.
Is Eid al-Fitr a good day for a trip?
It is a major family holiday, around 9 March 2027. Some shops and services close for a day or two, and many families travel. If your trip falls then, tell us when you book and we tell you what to expect on that date.
Do the family lunch and the cooking class run during Ramadan?
Yes, both run as usual. The Berber family welcomes guests and serves lunch at the normal time, even though the family fasts. Excursions also run as usual; you choose your departure and return times.
