With stunning views, refreshing nature trails, and the chance to see wild monkeys in their natural habitat, it’s a great way to experience a different side of the country.

I visited the Ouzoud waterfalls in January, and the views from the first viewpoint were absolutely breathtaking… a dramatic cascade of water made it a truly memorable experience.

That said, if you’re hoping to take a dip in the refreshing pools at the base of the falls, summer might be a better option. While the flow of water may be less intense, the warmer temperatures make it ideal for swimming. In contrast, the water in winter is far too cold for most people to enjoy a swim.

If you choose to visit the Ouzoud waterfalls by car, you have the option to park in one of the many car parks available around the waterfalls (most of these car parks are paid for!).

A quick search on Google Maps and you will find these parking options.

On the other hand, if you decide to visit the waterfalls by public transport, be prepared for a more complicated journey.

In my opinion, it’s not the most worthwhile option, mainly due to the extra time and effort involved. Considering how affordable the organized tours are, they tend to offer far better value and convenience.

The third and final option to visit the Ouzoud waterfalls is a guided tour from Marrakech. This is the option I ended up choosing and is undoubtedly the most practical and convenient.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Besides the guaranteed safety, by booking directly on Get Your Guide, you also have the option of free cancellation 24 hours before the activity and can check the opinions of other people who have already done the tour.

In my case, I chose to book this guided tour to the Ouzoud waterfalls. Tours typically range from 17€ to 30€ per person, which is quite reasonable given the length of the excursion and the distance between Marrakech and the waterfalls.

Want the same experience? Click here to book the exact tour I took and enjoy the convenience of a well-organized day trip.

However, there are other options available:

Many of the tours already include a local guide who joins you during the whole trip, giving some indications about the waterfalls and also the surrounding area.

In my opinion, the tour group was a bit larger than I expected, and at times it was a little hard to catch everything the guide was saying. That said, the main highlight was, of course, the waterfalls themselves, and for that, the experience was absolutely worth it.

The trail our guide showed us started near some viewpoints of the waterfalls and then descended along a dirt track.

Although the trail was uneven, I didn’t find it too difficult. However, it requires proper footwear!

After a short walk along the dirt path, we arrived at another viewpoint. This was, hands down. my favorite of the entire visit.

We spent a bit of time at this viewpoint before boarding a small boat that took us closer to the base of the waterfall—a really unique perspective!

When I booked the tour, I specifically chose the option that included the boat ride, so be sure to check what’s included in your booking to avoid any surprises.

Although the tour is quite short (no more than 10 minutes), I found it quite pretty.

I had read online that on this ride we could get quite wet during this ride. However, that didn’t happen, and we only had a few splashes of water.

However, I visited in January on a rather cold day, and perhaps for that reason, the boat drivers didn’t get as close to the waterfall.

It was then time for lunch (the guide told us we had about 1 hour to do so) and we opted to have lunch in one of the several restaurants available by the waterfalls.

Most restaurants have a fixed menu that includes drinks, starters, main dish, bread and tea.

In January 2023, the price was 110 MAD per person (~9.9€) – a bit higher than Marrakech standards, but still quite affordable.

As soon as lunch was over, we climbed the stairway back to the starting point.

Along the stairs, in addition to restaurants and cafés, there are also several handicraft shops. If you haven’t bought your souvenir from Morocco yet, this could be a good opportunity to do so 😉.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you’re visiting the Ouzoud waterfalls independently and would rather avoid the dirt trail, you can take the staircase route instead. Just keep in mind that this path isn’t circular. You’ll be going up and down the same side, which means missing out on some of the scenic variety.

Almost at the end of the trail, we can see another of the things that brings many people to visit the Ouzoud waterfalls – the Gibraltar monkeys.

Although you’ll see many locals selling food to feed the monkeys, it’s not recommended to do so, as it can disrupt their natural behavior. It’s also best to avoid touching them (no matter how friendly they may seem!) for your safety and theirs.

As I already had the opportunity to visit these monkeys in Gibraltar, this experience didn’t feel quite as thrilling.

In Gibraltar, there were far more monkeys—and they were much bolder, which definitely added an adrenaline rush to the visit 😂. That said, I still really enjoyed watching these little guys play and interact with each other. They’re always entertaining!

It was about 3 pm when we returned to the minibus that took us there. We made our way back to Marrakech, with another 10-minute stop along the way, and by 6 pm, we were back in Marrakech.

Considering I only had three days in Marrakech, I might have chosen to skip the waterfalls to explore the city at a more relaxed pace.

That said, if you have more time or are craving a nature escape, the Ouzoud waterfalls are definitely a worthwhile experience.

💡 EXTRA TIP: When visiting the Ouzoud falls on a day trip from Marrakech, we will arrive at the falls almost simultaneously with the other tours. So if you’d like to avoid the crowds, try to visit the Ouzoud falls independently so you can be at the falls early in the morning.

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