Get away from the hustle and bustle and the overwhelming heat of the Red City. Discover 10-day trips to do from Marrakech.
From the Jamaâ el-Fna square to the Saadian tombs, through palaces and gardens, Marrakech already awakens all the senses. Nevertheless, getting away from its effervescence and its districts sometimes flooded with tourists allows other splendid discoveries. Taking a break a few kilometers from Marrakech brings you to meet a wild, breathtaking nature and villages that have lost nothing of their deep authenticity.
Thirty minutes to a little more than two hours are enough. Before taking the road, take a look at the weather forecast to ensure good conditions on the mountain roads. If a few bus lines are serving certain destinations, the simplest and safest way is a visit organized by a tourist agency. Besides, you will be assured of the company of a real guide.
Let's go on 10-day trips to do from Marrakech!
1. The Berber villages of Arempt, Imlil, and Ouirgane
- 100 kilometers
- By car: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Things to see/do: hiking and traditional culture
A day trip from Marrakech to some Berber villages allows a unique and deep discovery of the country. In the heart of the Atlas Mountains, visit the villages Arempt, Imlil, and Ouirgane. These mountain hamlets are still untouched by tourism and very rooted in their traditions.
You will breathe the pure air, very different from that of the Red City, embraced by the peaks. The village of Imlil is the best known. Auréolé of chocolate hills and similar to a mosaic of small pink cubes, it is the starting point for hikes that leave to the assault of Mount Toubkal.
2. The Waterfalls of Ouzoud
- 160 kilometers
- By car: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- By bus: although these buses connect Marrakech to the city of Azilal (from where you will have to take a cab to the waterfalls) the journey takes four hours.
- Things to see/do: walking, swimming, boating, handicrafts
This long excursion from Marrakech, through the Middle Atlas, finally leads to one of the most spectacular places in the Moroccan mountains. The waterfalls of Ouzoud, one hundred and ten meters high, roar in the heart of a natural site with dense vegetation. Curious inhabitants will not fail to visit you: monkeys (a little too accustomed to the food of the visitors...).
Moreover, the path leading to the remarkable waterfalls is strewn with basins, small streams, and breathtaking panoramas. Without forgetting the small gargotes of merchants or the Argan oil factory.
3. The Valley of Aït Oucheg
- 70 kilometers
- By car: 1 hour and 40 minutes
- Things to see/do: hiking and paragliding
Although the Ourika Valley is overshadowed by the Aït Oucheg Valley, the latter is certainly worth the detour. Especially if you want an excursion from Marrakech that is out of the ordinary. This glowing Garden of Eden is a blessed land for trekking enthusiasts. Along the way, the villagers on donkeys will be happy to ride a few meters beside you. Also to accompany you is a kaleidoscope of small streams and refreshing waterfalls.
4. The Kik Plateau
- 70 kilometers
- By car: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Things to see/do: hiking and paragliding
Towards the southwest, day trips from Marrakech are numerous. On the way to the lake Lalla Takerkoust, to the Berber villages at the foot of Mount Toubkal, or even during a visit in its own right, the landscapes of the Kik are a marvel. This plateau, crisscrossed by the snowy chain of the High Atlas, is located just above the village of Asni. This Berber village, embedded in a spectacular circus, is also worth the detour.
Let yourself be charmed by the welcome of its peasants who, despite their harsh living conditions, will be happy to offer you a mint tea. Then, take a stroll on the dreamy curves of the Plateau de Kik. If its limestone topography, with a few rivers running through it, is a fabulous playground for walking, it is also a favorite place for paragliders.
5. The rock engravings of the Oukaïmeden
- 75 kilometers
- By car: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Things to see/do: hiking, winter sports, historical discovery
Oukaïmeden is, first of all, a very famous ski resort in the country. It is ideal for an excursion from Marrakech if you want to live the incredible experience of snow in Morocco. Perched at an altitude of 3,000 meters, the resort of Oukaïmeden can also be visited on sunny days. It is even a paradise for trekking and natural observation enthusiasts.
In the heart of the site, don't miss the enigmatic rock carvings that bear witness to the passage of nomadic peoples. Have fun guessing the animals engraved in the smooth sandstone.
6. The Zat Valley and the village of Tighdouine
- 60 kilometers
- By car: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Things to see/do: hiking, the discovery of Berber villages in adobe
If you are looking for an excursion from Marrakech that goes off the beaten track, take the road to the Zat Valley. In the High Atlas, it takes place along adorable Berber villages that you will fall in love within a fraction of a second. The hospitality of the inhabitants is without restraint. The landscapes overturn the imagination, far from what one imagines of Morocco. Palm trees, flowerbeds sprinkled with short vegetation and greenery follow one another along the confidential paths.
The highlight of your day will probably be the visit to Tighdouine. Its souk, one of the most traditional is an enchantment of the senses. It is also the starting point of a hike to the seven springs. A natural place where waters with healing virtues flow.
7. The Agafay Desert
- 30 kilometers
- By car: 1 hour
- Things to see/do: hiking, quad, buggy, 4×4, discovery of Berber villages
An unmissable among the day trips to be made from Marrakech: a trip to the desert. Of course, this is not the Sahara. But the Agafay desert is a true natural jewel. No sand here, but a rocky desert, cut into white and golden dunes. The colors and the optical games are incredible.
Just like the permanent backdrop: the pristine peaks of the Atlas Mountains. This enchanted oasis, where the wadi winds, is also the guardian of extremely rare fauna and flora. In this nature as austere as it is fascinating, a few Berbers remain and live in harmony with the elements.
8. The Ourika Valley
- 60 kilometers
- By car: 1 hour
- Things to see/do: hiking, the discovery of Berber villages in adobe
The Ourika valley is one of the best-preserved in Morocco. It is a flagship destination for those who want to taste the geography of the Atlas. Bitten by Berber tribes, the Ourika takes you from turn to turn, in an authentic and green walk.
During this day trip from Marrakech, take the time to stop in the popular adobe hamlets. Their shopping center, their handicrafts, their old collapsed walls: they are overflowing with charms and traditions. Along the winding roads, the landscape unfolds in lush vegetation. A dense nature sometimes leaves a little room for a few minarets, mineral merchants, and market gardens.
Follow the river, go up in altitude, crawl in the mountains, it has nothing to do with the tourist capital.
9. The Village of Lalla Takerkoust and its lake
- 40 kilometers
- By car: 45 minutes
- By bus: Sidi Mimoum station (near the Koutoubia) direction Amizmiz, departure every half hour.
- Things to see/do: hiking, motorsports, donkey rides, swimming
Ready for a day trip from Marrakech, under the sign of rest and Moroccan legends?
Before being a village licked by a beautiful lake, Lalla Takerkoust was home to a mosque and the mausoleum of a woman of the same name. A Koranic figure celebrated for her kindness and fertility powers. Hardly arrived, the azure of the lake in which the Atlas dances jumps to the eyes. The panorama is enchanting and perfect for a day in exile, far from the tumult and heat of Marrakech. Hotels and restaurants dot the shores, offering moments of relaxation and idleness.
But some of you will prefer to plant your towel directly on the lake beach. The more adventurous will opt, as for them, for a ride on a donkey, quad, buggy, or even a trek around the water point.
10. The Jbilets Desert
- 30 kilometers
- By car: 30 minutes
- Things to see/do: camel rides, quad, buggy, hot air balloon
North of the Red City, the Jbilets desert is a well-kept secret of the Marrakchis. Its lunar scenery, crowned by the Atlas Mountains, offers many activities. Its peeled hills are not sandy but are formed of stones with extraordinary geology. The folds, faults, and crevices guarantee extraordinary sensations on quad bikes or buggies. The amateurs of photography will also be delighted by the ochre color palette and the sometimes phantasmagorical shapes of the rocks.
During this excursion from Marrakech, you can live the unusual experience of a hot air balloon flight at sunrise over a desert of rocks.
