Day Trips from Marrakech
Choose a Day Trip
If you have one day, we would love to show you around the historic city of Marrakech. If you have longer, we can travel to other cities, too.
If you have longer, we can travel to other cities.
Day Trip 1: Marrakech to Ourika Valley.
Day Trip 2: Marrakech to Essaouira.
Day Trip 3: Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou.
Day Trip 4: Marrakech to Ouarzazate.
Excursions last one day or part of a day.
They are shorter than Tours.
Day Trip 1
Marrakech to Ourika Valley.
Featuring:
Argan Oil.
Nature Walk.
Waterfalls.
We will meet you at your hotel or riad by 9 am and travel toward the Atlas Mountains. Along
the way, we will pass many Berber villages throughout the length of the valley. If the Monday
Souk is open, so we can stop and shop for a while. You can also opt to visit a women’s cooperative that produces argan oil to learn the process and purchase some fresh, high-quality products for yourself.
We will stop to visit a Berber family in their home where they will show you the proper way to
make Moroccan mint tea, aka Berber whisky, so you will know how to make it once you get
back home, You will, of course, partake with them since this is the traditional way to welcome
guests in Morocco!
From there we will drive to the city of Setti Fatma for a guided walk to explore the waterfalls
and other natural beauty in this area. We will have lunch while we are there, then return to
Marrakech by 16:00 (4:00 pm).
Day Trip 2
Marrakech to Essaouira.
Featuring:
Argan trees and Oil.
Ocean.
Shopping in the medina.
Walking.
We will leave your hotel or riad by early and drive toward Essaouira through the towns of Chichaoua and Ounagha. (Winery visit optional).
Argan is used to produce both culinary and cosmetic oils that are known and loved around the world. We will visit the Women’s Argan Cooperative so you can learn the processes for making both kinds of oils and understand how they are different. Argan nuts fresh from the tree make the best oil.
In addition to all that, once we actually get to the city of Essaouira, a local guide will give you a tour of the city and medina. Afterwards there will be time to walk along the beach of this beautiful city on the Atlantic coast. We will enjoy a nice lunch in the afternoon and return to Marrakech before dinner.
Day Trip 3
Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou.
Featuring:
Panoramic vistas on a scenic trip over the High Atlas Mountains.
Walking through history.
Many photo opportunities.
We will leave your hotel early - 7:30 or 8:00 am - to drive over the High
Atlas Mountains, past many beautiful Berber villages, on our way to Ait Ben Haddou. The ksar* Ait Ben Haddou was first fortified, or surrounded by a strong, defensive wall, during the 11th century. However, most of the buildings and streets you will see there now date to the 17th century. The earthen construction is typical of the Berber building techniques used
for many homes in this part of Morocco.
As you explore the town, you will get a sense of the way of Berber life. You will feel the history as you walk the same streets and explore the same buildings that those who came by camel caravans centuries ago on their way between the ancient Sudan and Marrakech saw. You will understand why UNESCO added this site to their World Heritage list.
If the site looks familiar to you, it may be that you saw it in Lawrence of Arabia or Gladiator or The Jewel of the Nile or Game of Thrones. The ksar has been the backdrop to many popular movies. We will enjoy lunch while we are here and return to Marrakech in time for dinner.
*By the way, sometimes you will see it as ksar, and other times you will see it as kasbah. There is a difference. A ksar is an entire fortified village, like Ait Ben Haddou. A kasbah is a fortified home, like those built for people in power.
Day Trip 4
Marrakech to Ouarzazate.
Featuring:
Movie studios.
*Walking tour of Ait Ben Haddou.
*Panoramic vistas & photo opportunities.
Are you a movie fan? This is the excursion for you!
We will meet you early between 8:00 and 9:00 - to drive over the High Atlas Mountains to the growing city of Ouarzazate. There will be panoramic vistas, lots of places to stop for pictures, and finally, a visit to the Hollywood of Morocco!
Ouarzazate is home to three film studios including Atlas Studios, the world’s
largest. You have the option of touring any or all of them for an extra charge.
You can also choose to tour the Museum of Cinema to see a huge
assortment of props from many of the movies produced by the studios.
We will also stop for a walking tour of nearby Ait Ben Haddou, a site that may look familiar to you if you saw films like Lawrence of Arabia, The Jewel of the Nile, or the Game of Thrones series. Ait Ben Haddou is an ancient fortified Berber ksar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will feel the history as you walk the paths and look into the earthen buildings that entertained camel caravans on their way to and from Marrakech for centuries.
We will enjoy lunch in Ouarzazate before returning to Marrakech. We should have you back to your hotel in time for dinner.
Day Trip 5
Marrakech to Ouzoud Falls.
Featuring:
Hiking and walking.
Waterfalls and rainbows.
Barbary Macaques, maybe.
The trip to Ouzoud Falls is one of the most popular activities among visitors.
We will meet you after breakfast, drive about 150 km (or 96 miles) to the Middle Atlas town of Tanaghmeilt, then hike to the top of the falls. You will want hiking shoes or sneakers for that part! Once at the top, you will be treated to gorgeous panoramic views of both the lake and the highest falls in North Africa. The water drops about 110 metres (360 feet) against three levels of rock. That is enough to create a fine spray that almost always reflects rainbows. If it is warm enough and you would like to, we can plan time to swim, too. You will need a swim suit for that part, if you want to do it.
If you are lucky, you may get to meet some of the rare but friendly Barbary Macaques that live near the river. They are adorable!
Finally, we will hike out and have you back in Marrakech in time for dinner.
Customised Day Trip
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