Ourika Valley
- Around fifty aromatic, medicinal and ornamental plants
- Guided visit to smell, touch and taste the plants
- Workshops: mint tea, bread, henna, argan
- Shop with Nectarome's natural cosmetics
The Jardin Bio-Aromatique d'Ourika is an organic garden of aromatic and medicinal plants near Tnine Ourika, about 35 km from Marrakech, at roughly 840 m altitude at the foot of the High Atlas. It was created in 1998 by the brothers Jalil and AbdelFattah Belkamel, a phyto-aromatherapist and a pharmacist, and is the birthplace of their natural cosmetics brand, Nectarome. The garden covers about one hectare and grows around fifty plant species; roses are harvested in April, and a small distillery extracts essential oils a few times a year. According to the garden's website in September 2026, entry costs 35 MAD per adult and 20 MAD for children under 12, or about 80 MAD per person for a guided visit of around 30 minutes. Workshops (tea, bread, henna, argan oil), a restaurant open by reservation and a shop complete the visit. One hour is enough, more with a workshop or lunch.
It is a small place, quiet and green, and we like it most as a calm counterpoint to the busier parts of an Ourika day.
What is the Jardin Bio-Aromatique d'Ourika?
The Jardin Bio-Aromatique d'Ourika was created in 1998 by two brothers, Dr Jalil Belkamel, a phyto-aromatherapist, and Dr AbdelFattah Belkamel, a pharmacist, both specialists in essential oils. They turned a former potato field on the Ourika road into Morocco's first organic garden of aromatic and medicinal plants. The garden is also the birthplace of Nectarome, the natural cosmetics company they founded, whose production unit operates on site and employs people from the valley.
It covers about one hectare at roughly 840 m altitude, at the foot of the High Atlas. That altitude makes it a little cooler than Marrakech, and the water from the valley keeps it green long after the plain has turned brown.
Which plants grow in the garden?
The garden grows around fifty aromatic, medicinal and ornamental plants, mostly species from the region. The garden does not publish a full list, and what you see depends on the season, so we will not pretend to give you one. What we can tell you is how the visit works: the guides invite you to smell, touch and sometimes taste the plants, and explain their traditional uses in cooking, wellness and beauty.
Roses are one plant you can count on: April is the rose harvest in the garden, and the petals go into rose water, soaps and oils made by Nectarome. A small distillery on site runs a few times a year to extract essential oils. If you are lucky enough to visit during a distillation, the smell carries across the whole garden.
Amazigh herbal traditions
The garden sits in a valley where plants have always been medicine, food and cosmetics at once. In Amazigh (Berber) households of the High Atlas, knowledge of herbs traditionally passes from mother to daughter, and the weekly souks still have stalls selling dried leaves, roots and resins by the handful. A few habits you will notice in the valley:
- Herbs in tea. Fresh mint is the base of the everyday tea, but in the mountains families often add other herbs depending on the season and the weather, such as wormwood (chiba) in winter or lemon verbena (louiza). Our guide to Berber food explains how tea is prepared.
- Oils for everything. Argan oil, olive oil and pressed seed oils are used for cooking, skin and hair. The garden itself extracts argan, sesame and prickly pear seed oil. For how argan oil is made by hand, see our page on the women's argan cooperative.
- Henna. Used for decoration at weddings and celebrations, and also for hair and hands. The garden offers a henna workshop.
Treat these as traditions, not medical advice. The guides explain uses; they do not prescribe, and neither do we.
How does the visit work and how much does it cost?
Free or guided. At the time of writing (September 2026), the garden's official site lists entry at 35 MAD per adult (20 MAD for children under 12) to walk the garden on your own, or about 80 MAD per person for a guided visit of around 30 minutes. We recommend the guided visit.
Workshops. The garden runs short workshops, mostly by reservation, with prices listed on its website: Moroccan tea (about 30 minutes), bread-making, henna, argan oil extraction, a foot bath and massage, and a longer Moroccan cooking class around tagine or couscous. Workshops usually need a minimum of two people.
Lunch. A restaurant on site serves seasonal dishes made with vegetables from the garden's own plot, by reservation. It is a pleasant alternative to lunch at Setti Fatma if you are not going to the waterfalls.
Opening hours. The garden publishes seasonal hours: currently 9 am to 5 pm from October to May, with later closing in June, July and September. August is not listed, so check before going in midsummer. We always confirm before we include it.
The shop and products
The garden has a Nectarome shop selling the brand's natural cosmetics (hammam products, soaps, skin, hair and nail care) and some food products. There is no obligation to buy. If you do buy argan oil here or anywhere else, know the difference between cosmetic oil (from raw kernels, pale, almost no smell) and culinary oil (from roasted kernels, darker, nutty); our argan guide explains how to spot a good one.
Combining it with the rest of the valley
The garden is on the Ourika road near Tnine Ourika, so it fits easily into a day in the valley. Three combinations we often arrange:
- Half-day of gardens: Nectarome in the morning, then Anima Garden by André Heller, a few kilometres closer to Marrakech on the same road, before returning to the city.
- Culture morning: a women's argan cooperative or a potter's workshop, then Nectarome and lunch in its restaurant. The Berber Ecomuseum at Tafza nearby has been reported closed since the 2023 earthquake.
- Full day: a short stop at the garden on the way to Setti Fatma as part of our Ourika Valley day trip. Tell us when you book so we can build it into the timing.
If you prefer to set your own programme, a private car with driver waits at each stop and goes wherever you like.
Tips from our drivers
Come in the morning, when the plants are at their most fragrant and before the heat. Wear closed shoes; paths are earth and gravel. Bring some cash for small purchases and tips. And if you have a favourite herb at home, ask the guide about its Moroccan cousin: it is the kind of conversation that turns a garden walk into the most memorable part of the day.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nectarome the same as the Bio-Aromatic Garden of Ourika?
Yes and no. Nectarome is the Moroccan natural cosmetics company; the Jardin Bio-Aromatique d'Ourika is the garden where the brand was born and where its production site operates. Locals and drivers use both names for the same place on the Ourika road.
Do I need a guide to visit?
No. You can walk the garden alone for a small entry fee, or pay a little more for a guided visit of about 30 minutes. We recommend the guided version: without it, most plants are just green leaves, and the stories about how each one is used are the whole point.
When is the best time to visit?
Spring is the most fragrant season, and April is the rose harvest in the garden. Mornings are cooler and quieter in any season. The garden publishes seasonal hours; August is not listed on its current timetable, so we check before planning a summer visit.
Can I book a workshop or lunch?
Yes, the garden runs workshops (mint tea, bread-making, henna, argan oil, a Moroccan cooking class) and serves lunch made with produce from its vegetable garden, mostly by reservation. Tell us what interests you and we contact the garden when we plan your day.
Is it worth it with children?
It is a calm, shaded place where children can smell and touch plants, and the visit is short. Small children may find it quiet compared with Anima Garden or a camel ride, so we often pair it with another stop the same morning.
