Ourika Valley - the closest mountains to Marrakech
The Ourika valley starts about 35 km south of Marrakech and takes roughly an hour to reach. The road climbs from the city's 470 m to around 1,500 m at Setti Fatma, the village at the head of the valley where the seven waterfalls are. It is the cheapest and quickest way to get out of the heat and into the Atlas, which is why it is the busiest valley on a Marrakech weekend.
€70 per vehicle
Reviewed September 2026 by Ahlam Giyat, travel editor at Taxi Maroc Aéroport, Marrakech.
The Ourika river rises in the High Atlas and flows through a valley roughly 30 km from Marrakech - close enough that this works comfortably as a day trip.
What the drive is like
South out of Marrakech, past Tnine Ourika where the Monday souk fills the roadside, then the valley narrows and the road follows the river. Terraced fields, walnut trees and cafés built out over the water on stilts.
About an hour each way in normal traffic. On Sundays and public holidays it fills with Marrakchis escaping the city - leave early or go on a weekday.
Setti Fatma and the seven waterfalls
The walk to the first waterfall takes 30 to 45 minutes from the village over rocks and a few improvised bridges. It is not a groomed path - trainers with grip, not sandals. The remaining six take another two to three hours and get progressively harder.
Most visitors do the first one and stop. That is a perfectly good outcome and nobody should feel short-changed by it.
An honest warning about flash floods
In August 1995 a flash flood swept through Setti Fatma and killed a large number of people. The valley is narrow, the catchment is steep, and heavy rain upstream arrives fast.
If it is raining hard, or has been, do not go up the riverbed. Your driver will tell you the same. This is the one piece of information about Ourika that matters more than the scenery.
What is included
- Private vehicle and driver, Marrakech to Ourika and back
- The driver waits - stay as long as you like
- Free child seats
- Not included: guides, meals, the argan or Berber-house stops if you want them
- No deposit, free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Frequently asked questions
How far is the Ourika valley from Marrakech?
About 35 km, roughly an hour by road.
How high does it go?
Setti Fatma sits at around 1,500 m; Marrakech is at 470 m.
How long is the walk to the waterfalls?
30 to 45 minutes to the first one, over rocks. The remaining six take another two to three hours.
Is it safe?
In dry weather, yes. After heavy rain the valley floods fast - the 1995 flash flood killed many people at Setti Fatma. Do not enter the riverbed in rain.
When is it busiest?
Sundays and public holidays, when Marrakchis come to escape the heat.
Sources & official information