Ourika Valley
Our shared excursion takes you from a fixed meeting point in Marrakech to the Ourika Valley and back for the day, with other travellers on board and a fixed schedule. It costs 25 EUR per person, lunch and return transport included, paid online. Ideal for solo travellers and couples.
- 25 EUR per person, lunch and return transport included
- Shared vehicle from a fixed meeting point in Marrakech
- Fixed schedule, confirmed after booking
- Paid online with PayPal or card, like the private trip
- Free cancellation up to 7 days before the trip
Not everyone needs a whole vehicle. If you are travelling alone or as a couple and you want a day by the river in the mountains without planning anything, the shared excursion is the simplest and cheapest way to do it with us. You pay one clear price, lunch is already covered, and we take care of the road.
The price, in one line
The shared excursion costs 25 EUR per person, lunch and return transport from Marrakech included. You pay online when you book, through PayPal with a PayPal account or a bank card, exactly like our private trip, and you receive a confirmation email. There is no supplement for the transport and no bill to settle for lunch, so the money you bring is only for extras: a drink on top, a tip, a jar of argan oil or a small pot from a roadside potter.
How the shared day works
You book a seat, not a vehicle. On the day, you meet the driver and the other travellers at a fixed meeting point or pickup place in Marrakech, which we send you at confirmation together with the departure time. The vehicle leaves on schedule, crosses the plain to Tnine Ourika, where the valley begins, and follows the Oued Ourika upstream past Aghbalou and its earth and stone villages.
In the valley you have lunch, which is included in your price, and time to enjoy the river. The exact programme of the day, the order of the stops and the time of the return are all in your confirmation, so you know before you leave what the day looks like. At the agreed hour everyone meets again for the drive back to Marrakech.
We do not promise a guide on the shared excursion. If you would like a local guide for the walk towards the waterfalls of Setti Fatma, ask us when you book and we tell you what is possible on your date.
Shared or private: an honest comparison
We run both, and we would rather you choose the right one than the wrong one. Here is how they compare.
| Shared excursion | Private day trip | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | 25 EUR, whatever your group size | 105 EUR alone, 55 EUR each for two, down to 25 EUR each for groups of six or more |
| Lunch | Included | Not included, paid on the spot at a riverside restaurant |
| Pickup | Fixed meeting point in Marrakech | Your hotel or riad (nearest vehicle access in the medina) |
| Schedule | Fixed | Your pace |
| Travel companions | Other travellers | Your group only |
| Local guide in the valley | Ask us | Included |
| Payment | Online | Online |
The numbers speak clearly for small groups. Alone, the private day trip costs 105 EUR before lunch, while the shared excursion costs 25 EUR with lunch. As a couple, it is 55 EUR each in private against 25 EUR each shared. For three people the private trip is 40 EUR each and for four 35 EUR each, still more than the shared price, and lunch comes on top.
From six people the picture changes. The private trip costs 25 EUR each for six or more. Lunch is not included in private, so with a meal it costs a little more than the shared excursion, but you get your own vehicle, pickup at your door, a local guide and a day that runs at your rhythm.
What you give up with the shared option is flexibility and door to door pickup. If you like to linger, to walk further up the gorge, or to stop whenever something catches your eye, a fixed schedule can feel tight. What you gain is price and simplicity: one payment, lunch sorted, and the company of other travellers, which many solo visitors enjoy.
Who should choose which
Choose the shared excursion if you travel alone or as a couple, you want the lowest cost for a full day with lunch, you are happy to follow a timetable, and you can easily reach a meeting point in Marrakech.
Choose the private day trip if you are a family or a group of five or more, you travel with small children or someone who walks slowly, you want a guide for the waterfalls without having to ask, or you want to add stops such as a women's argan oil cooperative, a potter or the Anima Garden. If you only need a car and a driver without a guide, a private transfer is another option.
Making the most of a shared day
- Know your return time and set an alarm on your phone. The driver waits for everyone, but a late passenger delays the whole vehicle.
- Wear shoes with a good grip. The path towards the falls is short but rocky, with some scrambling, and the stones are slippery when wet.
- Carry some cash in dirhams. Lunch is paid, but drinks on top, tips and small purchases in the villages are mostly paid in cash.
- Bring a warm layer. The valley is cooler than Marrakech, and the shade by the river is fresh even in summer.
- Watch the weather in July and August. Afternoon thunderstorms can raise the river very quickly. If the driver or a local asks you to leave the riverbed, do it at once. Our weather guide explains the seasons.
If you want to go completely on your own, our guide to getting to the Ourika Valley explains the shared grand taxis that local people use.
Booking and cancellation
Book your seat online on our booking page, or send us your date and the number of people on WhatsApp (+212 661 454 738) or by email at booking@ourika-valley.com if you have a question first. Cancellation is free up to 7 days before the trip, with a full refund. Later cancellations and no-shows are not refunded. If weather or river conditions make the valley unsafe on your date, we propose another date or a full refund.
Included
- Round-trip transport from Marrakech in a shared vehicle
- Lunch
- Driver speaking French, English and Spanish
Not included
- Door to door pickup at your hotel or riad (fixed meeting point)
- Drinks not served with lunch
- Local guide for the waterfalls (ask us when you book)
- Optional activities such as a camel ride
- Tips and purchases at cooperatives or stalls
Frequently asked questions
What exactly does the 25 EUR include?
The price covers your seat in the shared vehicle from Marrakech to the Ourika Valley and back, and lunch in the valley. Tips, purchases, optional activities and anything you order on top are paid on the spot. If you want a local guide for the walk to the falls, ask us when you book.
Where is the meeting point?
We send you the exact meeting point or pickup place in Marrakech with your confirmation. It is easy to reach by petit taxi or on foot from the medina. Please arrive a few minutes early: the vehicle leaves on time for everyone.
What happens if I am late for the departure?
Because other travellers are waiting, the vehicle cannot hold for long. Message us on WhatsApp as soon as you know you will be late. If you miss the departure, it counts as a no-show and the seat is not refunded.
Is the shared excursion cheaper than the private trip?
For one or two people, clearly yes: the private trip costs 105 EUR alone or 55 EUR each for two, lunch not included, against 25 EUR with lunch on the shared excursion. From six people the private trip costs the same 25 EUR per person, but lunch is extra.
Is it suitable for families with young children?
It works, but families often prefer the private trip: pickup at your door, your own pace and stops when children need them. For a family of four, the private trip costs 35 EUR each plus lunch, so compare both before deciding.
Can I cancel?
Yes. Cancellation is free up to 7 days before the trip, with a full refund. Later cancellations and no-shows are not refunded. If weather or river conditions make the valley unsafe, we propose another date or a full refund.
