Day Trips · Ouzoud
Ouzoud Waterfalls Day Trip from Marrakech: Boat, Monkeys, Hike and Costs
Par Rachid — Propriétaire et rédacteur des itinéraires, Rachid Excursions
Ouzoud is the biggest waterfall most visitors to Marrakech will see, and the day itself is simple: a long drive, a walk down, a boat into the spray, lunch with a view and a walk back up. This guide covers how the day runs on our shared and private trips, what you pay on site, what to wear and when to go. Prices and times come from our two Ouzoud tour pages, checked on 26 September 2026.
Where Ouzoud is, and why it is not Ourika
The Ouzoud waterfalls are in the Middle Atlas near Azilal, about 150 km north-east of Marrakech. They are often confused with the Ourika Valley, which is a different trip in the opposite direction: Ourika is in the High Atlas, about 65 km (1h15) south-east of the city, and its waterfalls at Setti Fatma are much smaller. Ouzoud is one big 110 m drop, often with a rainbow in the spray, with terrace restaurants on the slopes and a path that zigzags down to the pools at the base.
How the day runs
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 08:45 | Pickup from your hotel or riad in Marrakech |
| 08:45 → about 11:45 | About 3 hours north-east across the plains and up into the Middle Atlas, with photo stops in Berber villages |
| About 11:45 | Arrival at the top viewpoints, then the shaded walk down to the base (30–45 minutes), usually past the Barbary macaques |
| Midday | Optional boat ride under the spray (about 20 MAD), then lunch on a terrace over the falls (about 100–150 MAD) |
| Afternoon | Free time to walk, take photos or swim in summer, then the steeper climb back up to the viewpoints |
| About 19:30 | Back at your hotel or riad in Marrakech |
The private day starts earlier. Pickup is at 07:30 and you reach the falls around 10:00, ahead of the coach traffic. Your guide walks you from the top of the falls to the bottom, you take the boat, and you stop for lunch on a terrace before driving back to Marrakech before sunset. It runs about 10 hours.
The walk, the boat and the monkeys
The walk down is gentle: a shaded, mostly paved path with viewpoints, 30–45 minutes at an easy pace. The way back up is steeper and takes about 30 minutes, so carry water. Children from about 5 and reasonably fit older travellers manage it; the path is not wheelchair accessible.
At the base, small wooden boats take you right under the mist of the falls. The ride costs about 20 MAD per person, paid on site, on the shared trip and is included in the private price. It gives the best photograph of the day; expect some spray.
A group of wild Barbary macaques lives around the falls and is used to people, so you will almost always see them on the path. Do not feed them: it harms them and can lead to a fine. Keep bags zipped and food out of sight.
Swimming at Ouzoud
In summer, from June to September, the natural pool at the base is safe for a quick dip. Bring a swimsuit and a quick-dry towel. Outside those months, treat Ouzoud as a place to look rather than swim.
What you pay on the day
| Item | Shared day (€23) | Private day (€160 for two) |
|---|---|---|
| Boat ride under the falls | About 20 MAD per person, paid on site | Included |
| Lunch on a terrace over the falls | About 100–150 MAD per person | About 100–150 MAD per person |
| Guide at the falls | Not included | English-speaking guide included |
| Drinks and tips | Not included | Not included |
In practice, one person on the shared trip pays €23, plus about €2 for the boat and €10–15 for lunch: about €35–40 before drinks and tips. Two people on the private day pay €160, plus about €20–30 for two lunches: about €180–190 for the pair. Carry dirhams in small notes, because the boatmen and the terrace restaurants are paid on the spot.
Shared or private?
| Shared day trip | Private day | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €23 / MAD 230 per person | €160 / MAD 1,600 for 2 people |
| Pickup → return | 08:45 → about 19:30 (about 11 h) | 07:30 → before sunset (about 10 h) |
| Vehicle | Shared air-conditioned vehicle | Private minivan and driver |
| Guide at the falls | No | English-speaking guide |
| Boat ride | About 20 MAD, paid on site | Included |
| Lunch | About 100–150 MAD, paid on site | About 100–150 MAD, paid on site; your guide books a table |
| Best for | Solo travellers and tight budgets, happy with a fixed schedule | Couples and families who want an early start and their own pace |
For one person, shared is the obvious choice. For two, the private day works out at €80 each against about €25 each on the shared trip with the boat, and buys an earlier start, a guide and your own vehicle. Shared departures are confirmed for your date in writing before you pay.
What to wear and bring
- Closed shoes with grip: the path is mostly paved but steeper on the way up and damp near the spray
- A swimsuit and a quick-dry towel from June to September if you want to swim
- A hat, sun cream and water for the climb back up
- A light waterproof layer if you plan to take the boat into the spray
- Dirhams in small notes for the boat (about 20 MAD), lunch (about 100–150 MAD), drinks and tips
- Nothing for the monkeys: keep food packed away
When to go
Ouzoud works as a day trip all year. In summer it is one of the places we suggest to escape the heat in Marrakech, and the pool at the base is open for swimming from June to September. Spring and autumn bring comfortable walking weather. The amount of water varies with the season and recent rain, so we do not promise a particular flow on a given date. Whatever the month, the shared trip arrives at midday, when the falls are busiest; the private day's 07:30 start gets you there around 10:00.
Ouzoud or Ourika?
If you have one free day and do not want six hours in a vehicle, the Ourika Valley (€18, 09:45–17:30, about 1h15 each way) is the easier choice. If you want Morocco's tallest waterfall and a long day does not bother you, choose Ouzoud. You cannot sensibly do both in one day: they lie in opposite directions from Marrakech and each fills a full day.
Sources et vérification
Ces sources étayent le contexte sur la destination, le patrimoine, le climat, la santé ou les conseils aux voyageurs. Les prix et les informations sur les prestataires sont confirmés par écrit pour chaque réservation.
- Morocco travel advice
UK Government
Conseils à jour sur les voyages, la sécurité, les conditions d'entrée et la législation locale.
Questions fréquentes
Excursions citées dans cet article
Cascades d'Ouzoud — Journée partagée
Journée partagée · Chutes de 110 m · Barque à régler sur place · Macaques de Barbarie
Une journée de verdure, d'embruns et de singes : le contraste parfait avec la médina. Départ de Marrakech à 08h45 et environ 150 km vers le nord-est à travers le Moyen Atlas et de petits villages berbères, jusqu'aux cascades d'Ouzoud, les plus hautes du Maroc avec leurs 110 m. Descendez le sentier ombragé jusqu'au pied des chutes, montez dans une petite barque en bois sous les embruns, observez les macaques de Barbarie en liberté et prenez le temps d'un déjeuner autour d'un tajine sur une terrasse face aux cascades, avant de rentrer à Marrakech vers 19h30.
Cascades d'Ouzoud — Journée privée
Chauffeur privé et guide anglophone
Une journée entièrement privée dans le Moyen Atlas. Votre chauffeur et votre guide anglophone viennent vous chercher à 07h30, vous accompagnent du haut jusqu'au pied des cascades d'Ouzoud (110 mètres), vous emmènent en petite barque au pied des chutes, puis s'arrêtent pour le déjeuner sur une terrasse face aux cascades avant le retour à Marrakech.