Ourika Valley
You can sleep in the Ourika Valley from Tnine Ourika, about 30 km from Marrakech, up to Setti Fatma at the end of the road. Choose the lower valley for comfort and gardens, Aghbalou for a middle base, or Setti Fatma for early walks. Options run from simple gîtes to kasbah hotels.
- Quiet evenings and early walks before the day visitors arrive
- Lower valley: gardens, pools, kasbah-style hotels
- Setti Fatma: simple guesthouses close to the waterfalls
- We drive you to any lodge from Marrakech or the airport
Most people see the Ourika Valley between late morning and late afternoon, in a car, with the rest of the day-trip traffic. Stay one night and it becomes a different place: the river gets louder when the road goes quiet, families gather on the terraces, and at dawn you have the paths almost to yourself.
Why stay the night
Quiet evenings. By the end of the afternoon the day visitors have gone back to Marrakech. What is left is the sound of water in the seguias, the call to prayer from the village mosque, and the smell of bread and wood fires.
Early walks. The walk to the Setti Fatma waterfalls is at its best early in the morning, when it is cool and the path is empty. The same goes for walks between villages and up to viewpoints.
A slower rhythm. From a base in the valley you can visit the Berber Ecomuseum at Tafza, a cooperative, a garden and a village at your own pace, rather than packing it all into one day.
Clear skies. Away from city lights, the night sky on a clear evening is worth staying up for.
The areas, from bottom to top
Tnine Ourika and the lower valley
The lower valley starts about 30 km from Marrakech, around the small town of Tnine Ourika, whose weekly souk is held on Monday ("tnine" means Monday). This is where you find most of the larger properties: hotels with gardens, pools and space, often with views up the valley towards the mountains. The drive from Marrakech is short, which makes it a good choice for a first or last night of a trip, for families, and for anyone who wants comfort and calm without a long drive. Anima Garden and the Nectarome aromatic garden are nearby.
Aghbalou and the middle valley
Aghbalou is the village where the road to Oukaïmeden branches off. It is a practical middle base: closer to Setti Fatma than the lower valley, with easy access to the high plateau and ski resort of Oukaïmeden in season. Lodging here is mostly guesthouses and small hotels along the river or on the slopes above it. It suits travellers who plan walks in the upper valley but want to be a little away from the bustle of the end of the road.
Setti Fatma and the upper valley
Setti Fatma, at around 1,500 m, is the last village on the road, about 60-65 km from Marrakech. Accommodation here is simpler: gîtes, family guesthouses and small auberges, some with terraces over the river. You are a short walk from the start of the waterfall path and from the riverside restaurants. It is the best choice for walkers and for anyone who wants to wake up in the mountains. It is also the busiest place in the valley by day, especially on weekends and in summer, and it gets cooler at night than the lower valley.
The side valleys and villages
Above the main road, small douars cling to the slopes of the side valleys. Some families there welcome guests in simple rooms or as part of a trek, often with dinner and breakfast included. This is the most authentic option and the least comfortable: expect shared bathrooms, basic heating and steep paths. We can arrange a night like this as part of a walk with a local guide; our trek and lunch with a Berber family is a good introduction.
Types of lodging
- Gîtes and auberges. Simple mountain lodgings, often run by a family, with basic rooms, sometimes shared bathrooms, and home cooking. Common in the upper valley and used by walkers.
- Guesthouses (maisons d'hôtes). Small, family-run houses with a handful of rooms, usually with breakfast and dinner on request. The best way to meet local people.
- Eco-lodges. Places built with local materials such as earth and wood, often with solar power, vegetable gardens and a focus on quiet.
- Kasbah-style hotels. Larger properties built in earth or in the style of a traditional kasbah, with gardens, pools, restaurants and sometimes a spa. Mostly in the lower valley.
A few places we know
We only name places that we have checked are currently operating at the time of writing. This is not a ranking. Always check directly for current conditions.
- Kasbah Bab Ourika, near Tnine Ourika. A hotel on a hilltop above the valley, built largely of pisé using traditional techniques, with gardens of olive, orange and lemon trees, a pool and a restaurant.
- Ferme by Ikalimo, on a hillside in the valley. A farm-style hotel with a restaurant serving Moroccan and local food and activities such as bread-making and pottery.
- La Clé des Huiles, in the lower valley, a short drive from Anima Garden. A guesthouse with a garden, a pool and a hammam.
- Le Douar Berbère, an adults-only eco-lodge in the Ourika Valley set in a traditional village, which states that it runs on solar energy and its own well.
In Setti Fatma itself, a number of family guesthouses and auberges operate along the river. Ask us and we will point you to one that suits your budget and needs.
Practical tips
Book ahead in high season. Spring, the autumn holidays and the August moussem at Setti Fatma fill the valley quickly.
Bring cash. Cash machines are few beyond Tnine Ourika. Many small guesthouses prefer dirhams.
Pack a warm layer. Evenings are cooler than in Marrakech, and much cooler up at Setti Fatma. See our guide to the weather in the Ourika Valley.
Summer storms. In July and August, afternoon thunderstorms can cause the river to rise very quickly. If your lodge is by the river, follow the owners' advice and never stay in the riverbed during a storm.
Dinner. Many lodges serve dinner only on request. Tell them in the morning. Our guide to Berber food in the valley tells you what to expect on the table.
How to get there
The valley is easy to reach: our page on getting to the Ourika Valley covers every option. The simplest is to let us drive you. We arrange a private transfer from your hotel or riad in Marrakech, or from the airport, to any lodge in the valley, and back when you leave. On the way we can stop at an argan cooperative, a garden or a pottery, so the transfer becomes a first taste of the valley.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth staying overnight in the Ourika Valley?
Yes, if you want calm. Most visitors come on a day trip from Marrakech, so the valley empties in the late afternoon. Staying a night gives you quiet evenings, a starry sky away from city lights, and the chance to walk to the waterfalls or between villages early in the morning, before the crowds.
Which area is best for families?
The lower valley around Tnine Ourika, where several lodges have gardens and pools and the drive from Marrakech is short. Setti Fatma is more rustic, with steep paths and a river that can rise quickly after storms, so it suits families with older children who like walking.
Can you drive us to our lodge?
Yes. We arrange private transfers from your Marrakech hotel, riad or the airport to any lodge in the valley, and back. We can also stop on the way at an argan cooperative or a garden. Send us the name of your lodge and your dates and we reply the same day.
Do guesthouses in the valley accept cards?
It varies. Larger hotels generally do; small gîtes and family guesthouses often prefer cash in dirhams. Check with your lodge when you book, and withdraw cash in Marrakech or Tnine Ourika before heading up the valley, where cash machines are scarce.
Is it cold at night?
It can be, especially from November to March and higher up the valley. Setti Fatma, at around 1,500 m, is noticeably cooler than Marrakech in every season. Pack a warm layer for evenings, and in winter ask your lodge whether rooms are heated.
