Ourika Valley
- About 1 hour to 1 hour 30 by road from Marrakech
- River, footbridges, gardens and workshops that children enjoy
- First waterfall: 30 minutes of steep, rocky walking, not for pushchairs
- Private vehicle priced per vehicle: a family of four pays 30 EUR each
Short answers
How far is the Ourika Valley from Marrakech with children?
The Ourika Valley is about 1 hour to 1 hour 30 by road from Marrakech to Setti Fatma, which makes it one of the easiest family days out of the city. With a private vehicle you set the pace and stop when children need to, and a child seat is available on request if you tell us their ages when booking.
How much does an Ourika Valley day trip cost for a family?
The private Ourika Valley day trip costs 120 EUR per vehicle for 1 to 7 people, driver included, whatever the ages, so a family of four pays 30 EUR each. Options are counted per person, such as lunch at 20 EUR, or per group, such as the waterfalls guide at 40 EUR.
Can young children walk to the Setti Fatma waterfalls?
The walk to the first Setti Fatma waterfall takes about 30 minutes on a steep, rocky path where hands are needed in places, so it suits children who walk confidently. A pushchair is no use on the path; it works in gardens such as Anima and at the riverside restaurants, and small children must be carried to the falls.
What can children do in the Ourika Valley besides the waterfalls?
Children in the Ourika Valley enjoy the river, the footbridges, the gardens and hands-on workshops: the pottery workshop costs 30 EUR per person and they take home the piece they shaped, and a cooking class with a family costs 60 EUR per person. For little ones, our half day leaves Marrakech at 8:00 am and is back around 1 pm.
The Ourika Valley with children works best as a private day from Marrakech built around three things: the river at Setti Fatma, one hands-on stop such as the pottery workshop or a women's argan cooperative, and, for children who walk confidently, the 30 minute climb to the first waterfall. The drive takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 30 each way. The valley is cooler than the city all year, the water is cold and fast, and summer afternoons can bring storms, so families do best with a morning walk and lunch in the shade. A private vehicle costs 120 EUR for 1 to 7 people, whatever the ages, which makes it 30 EUR each for a family of four. Pushchairs are fine in the gardens and at the riverside restaurants, not on the waterfall path. A child seat is available on request.
Families write to us every week with the same worry: is it too much for the children? Here is what we have learned from the families we drive, with an honest word on what to skip.
What do children enjoy in the Ourika Valley?
- The river at Setti Fatma. Restaurant tables stand right beside the water, and the footbridges are an attraction in themselves. See our Setti Fatma guide.
- The first waterfall, for children who walk well. It is a real scramble of about 30 minutes, and reaching the fall feels like an achievement. Our waterfalls guide describes the path.
- A women's argan cooperative. Children watch the kernels being cracked and ground by hand. See the argan cooperative guide.
- The pottery workshop. Each child shapes a piece on the wheel with the potter and takes it home. Details on our pottery page.
- A camel ride, which can be added to the day.
- The gardens. Anima Garden and the bio-aromatic garden are an easy, calm choice with very young children.
- Cooking with a family. In our cooking class, children help make bread and tagine in a village home.
Which activity suits which child?
We do not give age limits, because children differ too much. The table says what each activity asks of them, so you can judge for yourself.
| Activity | What it asks of a child | Pushchair | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| River and footbridges at Setti Fatma | Nothing, apart from staying close to an adult | Fine at the restaurants | Lunch option: 20 EUR per person |
| Walk to the first waterfall | About 30 minutes of steep, rocky climbing, with places where hands are needed | No | Local guide option: 40 EUR per group |
| Women's argan cooperative | Watching and tasting | See with your driver on the day | No obligation to buy |
| Pottery workshop | Sitting at the wheel with the potter | See with your driver on the day | 30 EUR per person |
| Camel ride | Sitting on a camel, with an adult for the little ones | No | 15 EUR per person in our camel package |
| Anima Garden or bio-aromatic garden | An easy stroll | Fine | Entry paid on the spot |
| Cooking class with a family | Kneading, mixing, then eating together | Not needed | 60 EUR per person |
What should you skip with little ones?
The higher waterfalls. Most visitors stop at the first fall anyway, and beyond it the path gets steeper. Skip the pools under the falls too: the water is very cold and the rocks are slippery. On a weekend in summer Setti Fatma is crowded, so a weekday morning is far easier with children.
What does a family day look like, step by step?
| Step | What happens | Good to know with children |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup | Your driver collects you in the morning at your hotel or riad in Marrakech | In the medina we meet you at the nearest point a vehicle can reach |
| The road | About 1 hour to 1 hour 30 to Setti Fatma, across the plain then up the valley | Bring water and a snack; you can stop whenever someone needs a break |
| Cooperative | A women's argan cooperative on the way | A short, calm stop that breaks up the drive |
| Optional stop | Pottery workshop, a Berber house for mint tea, or a camel ride | Choose one, not all three, with young children |
| Setti Fatma | The village at the end of the road, with footbridges over the river | Hold hands on the bridges |
| Waterfall | The climb to the first fall, about 30 minutes | Only for children who walk confidently; a local guide helps a lot |
| Lunch | By the river, at a table in the shade | The best moment of the day for most children |
| Return | Back to your door in Marrakech | You decide when the children have had enough |
How much does it cost for a family?
Our private day trip is priced per vehicle, not per person: 120 EUR for 1 to 7 people, driver included. Children do not change the price of the vehicle. Lunch by the river is an option at 20 EUR per person, and a local guide for the waterfalls walk is an option at 40 EUR per group. With children we recommend the guide, because the guide knows where to put small feet.
| Family | Vehicle only | With lunch | With lunch and guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 adults and 1 child | 120 EUR | 180 EUR | 220 EUR |
| 2 adults and 2 children | 120 EUR | 200 EUR | 240 EUR |
| 2 adults and 3 children | 120 EUR | 220 EUR | 260 EUR |
| 2 adults and 4 children | 120 EUR | 240 EUR | 280 EUR |
If a whole day is too long, the half day leaves at 8:00 am and is back around 1 pm, at the same vehicle price.
Which season is best with children?
| Season | What the valley is like | What it means for a family |
|---|---|---|
| Spring, March to May | Mild days, green valley, strongest waterfalls, river high | The most comfortable season; keep children well back from the fast water |
| Summer, June to August | Hot days but cooler than Marrakech, afternoon thunderstorms possible, very busy in August | Walk in the morning, lunch in the shade, leave the riverbed if the sky darkens |
| Autumn, September to November | Mild, clear light, calmer after early September | Quiet and easy, a very good season with children |
| Winter, December to February | Cold mornings, snow on the peaks | Warm layers for everyone; the valley is quiet |
Our page on the weather in the Ourika Valley gives the month by month detail and the live forecast for the week.
How do you keep the day safe?
- Hold hands on the rocks and the footbridges.
- Paddling only at the edge of the river, beside an adult.
- Shoes with a real grip for everyone, not sandals.
- Leave the riverbed if the water changes colour or rises, which can happen after a storm higher up.
- In summer, do the walk in the morning and keep the afternoon for lunch in the shade.
What should you pack for children?
- Closed shoes with a grip, and a spare pair of socks
- A warm layer, because the valley is cooler than Marrakech
- Hat and sunscreen
- A change of clothes for anyone who gets wet
- Water and a snack for the drive
- Cash for drinks and small purchases
For everything else there is to do, see our list of things to do in the Ourika Valley, and to see where each stop is, open the map of the valley.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ourika Valley suitable for young children?
Yes, as long as you plan the day around them. The river, the footbridges, the gardens and the workshops work at any age. The walk to the first waterfall is steep and rocky, with places where hands are needed, so it is for children who walk confidently. With little ones, stay by the river at Setti Fatma or choose a garden instead.
Can you take a pushchair to the Setti Fatma waterfalls?
No. The path is rocky and steep from the first minutes. A pushchair is fine in the gardens, such as Anima, and at the riverside restaurants. For the waterfalls, small children need to be carried.
Is the water safe for children to play in?
The river is cold and moves fast, even where it looks shallow. Let children paddle only at the edge, beside you, and keep them out of the pools under the falls. Leave the riverbed at once if the water turns muddy or starts to rise, which can happen after a storm higher up.
Do you provide child seats?
A child seat is available on request. Tell us the ages of the children when you book, so the right seat is in the vehicle on the day.
How long should a family plan for the Ourika Valley?
A full day is comfortable with stops. If your children nap or tire quickly, our half day leaves Marrakech at 8:00 am and is back around 1 pm, before the heat of the afternoon.
Do children pay the same price as adults?
The private day trip is priced per vehicle: 120 EUR for 1 to 7 people, whatever their ages, so children do not change the price of the vehicle. The options are counted per person (lunch, 20 EUR) or per group (waterfalls guide, 40 EUR).
Which season is best for the Ourika Valley with children?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable: mild days and a quieter valley. In summer, come in the morning, because afternoons can bring thunderstorms and August is very busy. In winter the mornings are cold and the peaks are snowy, so bring warm layers.
