Atlas Mountains Tours from Marrakech

Which Atlas day trip is right for you

Ourika Valley: the easy and green one

About 60 to 65 kilometres and an hour and a quarter from Marrakech, the Ourika Valley is the closest mountain day. You drive up a green valley, visit a Berber house for tea with the family, see how women make argan oil at a cooperative and walk with a local mountain guide to the waterfalls of Setti Fatma. The first waterfall is easy. The walk to the higher ones is steep and rocky, so wear trainers or walking shoes. It is the most affordable tour on our list and works well for first visits.

Atlas 4x4 with lunch in a Berber village: the quiet one

This is the day for people who want to meet the mountains rather than see them from a window. You drive about 65 kilometres, around an hour and a half, to Imlil in a comfortable 4x4, with a maximum of six guests per vehicle. You walk through villages below Toubkal, which is 4,167 metres high, and you eat lunch and drink mint tea in a Berber home. The walk is easy to moderate and takes about an hour and a half.

Road of the Kasbahs: the long and spectacular one

This day crosses the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 metres, the highest road pass in Morocco, visits the Glaoui kasbah of Telouet and ends at Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with lunch included. It is about 180 kilometres each way, around eight hours of driving in total, with many bends, so it suits travellers who love a road trip and do not get car sick.

Ouzoud Waterfalls: the big water

Ouzoud lies about 150 kilometres from Marrakech, around two and a half to three hours each way, in the Middle Atlas. The falls drop 110 metres into a green gorge, and wild Barbary macaques live around them. The day includes a walk of about an hour and a half with many steps, lunch with a view of the falls and a stop at Imi n'Ifri, a natural rock bridge and cave. March to June is the best season for the most water.

When to go

The mountains are open all year, but the experience changes. In spring the valleys are green and the rivers are full. In summer the mountains are a cool escape from the heat of Marrakech. In autumn the light is clear and warm. In winter the peaks are covered in snow, and the roads can be cold, so bring a warm layer. The High Atlas tours run best from March to November, and the Kasbah road is at its best from March to May and September to November.

What to bring

• Comfortable shoes with grip, because village paths and waterfall steps can be uneven.
• A warm layer, even in summer. It is always cooler in the mountains.
• Sunscreen, a hat and water.
• Some cash in dirham for small purchases and tips.
• A travel sickness remedy if you are sensitive to winding roads.

Our packing guide has a longer list by season.

A note on accessibility

The mountain tours involve walking on uneven paths and steps, and the 4x4 and Kasbah road tours are not suitable for guests with reduced mobility. If you are unsure whether a tour fits, write to us before booking. We prefer to tell you honestly than to disappoint you on the day.

Frequently asked questions