By Alaric 
One of the best day trips from Marrakech is to Ouzoud Waterfalls.
It’s a magical series of cascades tucked away in the Atlas Mountains that look like they’ve been plucked from the pages of a fairytale.
Although they are located some 150 kilometres (93 miles) from Marrakech it’s very easy to plan a day trip there either by yourself or with a tour.
Here is how to visit Ouzoud Waterfalls in Morocco with all the things you can do there and top tips.
These falls truly took my breath away and it’s a place I will never forget!
Why visit Ouzoud Waterfalls?
Ouzoud Waterfalls is the name for a series of cascades in the Azilal region of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.
Ouzoud means ‘the act of grinding grain’ in the Berber language.
It’s the second-highest waterfall in Africa and the tallest cascade is 110 metres or 330 feet.
The water crashes into the El-Abid River’s gorge which translates to ‘slaves’ river’.
It’s a very popular tourist destination and beauty spot in Morocco for good reason.
The falls are breathtaking, especially when the water is in full force. It’s well worth planning a day trip there as part of your Morocco itinerary.
How to visit Ouzoud Waterfalls from Marrakech
Whether you plan to drive or not, it’s very easy to organise a day trip to Ouzoud Waterfalls.
The cascades are 36 kilometres (22 miles) from Azilal town and 150 kilometres (93 miles) from Marrakech.
The drive from Marrakech will take around 2/3 hours but there are plenty of services along the way as it’s a popular tourist route.
If you don’t want to hire a car, you can pay for a private/shared return taxi which will cost around 1000 -1500 MAD (£80-£120).
Alternatively, you can join a group tour which will cost considerably less.
Why not book a tour?
Most tourists visit Ouzoud Waterfalls by booking an organised tour from Marrakech.
The trips usually last a whole day or 10-12 hours. So, it is tiring but totally worth it!
You can book this in the Medina but I think it’s best to use a platform like GetYourGuide as it’s cheaper and you are less likely to be ripped off.
The website has many tour options available at reasonable prices starting from £8.50 – £20.
Just make sure to check what is included while booking. Although some say they include a ‘hike & boat ride’ you may still have to pay a small charge.
Either way, it’s great value for money and the prices are a bargain for an incredible day trip like this.
How much does it cost to visit?
It doesn’t cost any money to visit Ouzoud Waterfalls, it’s completely free.
All you have to pay for is parking. There are also the optional costs of a boat ride, souvenirs and food.
However, many scammers will try to take your money for entry or show you the way to the cascades. Just be wary and say no.
As soon as you arrive, cars and tour buses are usually swamped with ‘tour guides’ who will want to show you around the waterfall.
If you’re on an organised tour, you will be shown around by a local guide and expected to pay a small fee (usually 30 MAD).
But, you don’t need a tour guide if you’re visiting alone. I visited solo and found the waterfall easily enough as there is a simple circuit loop.
The cascades are well-signposted, so you won’t easily get lost. I’m the worst navigator, and I managed to find it. So, I’m sure you won’t have an issue.
How long is the walk to Ouzoud Waterfalls?
Once you arrive at the Ouzoud Waterfall parking area, you can see the top of the falls after an easy five-minute walk.
But, to reach the El-Abid River and the bottom of the cascades you have to walk down the gorge.
The walk runs on a loop, so you have the choice of two directions to start;
- Start with the ‘natural route’ through the trees to the waterfall.
- Start with the ‘exit route’ via 600+ steps through the shops/restaurants.
There is no set way to visit the falls but most people start with the natural route and then the steps back up.
Whichever route you choose, they will both get you there in around the same time of approximately 20-30 minutes.
The time it takes will depend on your speed and ability but also your willpower not to be distracted by things, haha!
There are so many shops, juice stands, dogs, cats, monkeys and people that will approach you.
But it’s good fun and makes the walk more interesting. I wasn’t in any rush so I enjoyed things I encountered along the way.
I decided to take the ‘natural’ route first and I’m glad I wore trainers.
The path started well paved but then changed to mud slopes and dirt steps the entire way down.
As it had been raining a few days prior, the path was slick in places. So, take your time and watch your step!
Important: I encourage you not to take the donkeys or ‘Berber taxis’ to/from the waterfall unless you have no other choice for accessibility. Their suffering is awful, and they are not treated well.
A note on Ouzoud monkeys
This area of the Atlas Mountains is famous for the native troop of Barbary macaque monkeys.
These are wild animals and are not in captivity or chained like the monkeys you may encounter in Marrakech.
They are free to roam around the waterfall and you’ll see them sitting on the fences and in the trees.
After living in India, I was a little terrified of this as they can be very vicious.
But, I was pleased to see that the Ouzoud monkeys were tame and used to people being around.
That being said, it was sad to see peanut sellers around them, wanting money for you to feed them nuts or to give you a ‘show’.
They are not circus animals and this is their home. They should be given space to roam and admired from a distance.
I would avoid any monkey exploitation. Don’t irritate them, touch them, let them climb on your head, take selfies too close etc.
Arriving at the waterfalls
I was so happy when I emerged from the trees and reached the El-Abid River’s gorge. I could finally see the bottom of the cascade!
Amazingly, I was (almost) the only person there. It was a nice surprise as there were plenty of tour groups on the route.
It was so peaceful to look around without streams of tourists. I then made my way down the steps towards the cascade and it was like a dream.
It was the first day of Ramadan in Morocco, so there were barely any locals travelling. I think this was why it was abnormally quiet compared to usual.
The water levels were also lower than average but the cascades still looked incredible. To me, anyway.
Just be aware that if it has been raining, the water looks like chocolate milk from the clay!
It was a bit of a surprise as the water is usually turquoise blue but it was no less beautiful.
Things to do in Ouzoud Waterfalls
So, once you arrive, there are plenty of things to do before you head back up to your means of transport.
Here are a few things to do around Ouzoud Falls to make the most of your visit;
Take a boat ride
One of the most popular things to do at Ouzoud Waterfalls is to take a boat ride to get closer to the cascade.
You’ll see the boat station (more of a river bank) as soon as you reach the bottom of the gorge by the river on the ‘natural’ route.
Boat rides have a fixed fee of 20 MAD per person, and they are a round trip that lasts for around 15 minutes.
There are approximately eight people in the boat and it’s decorated in cute colourful fabric and flowers.
I was so shocked that these boats are hand-pulled by one strong person rowing, but I guess it’s great as it keeps the waterfall free from pollution.
The raft will start rowing over the water to the base of the waterfall and will take you really close.
Even when the water levels are low the force is SO strong. So, prepare to get wet from the spray.
I was at the front, and I got drenched. I just tried not to think of the colour of that water haha.
It doesn’t matter where you sit though as they turn the boat around to give everyone a bit of a splash.
You then have some opportunities to take photos with the waterfall on the boat at the back of the lagoon and then you head back to the loading bay.
Snap a photo of the falls
There are plenty of opportunities when you’re down at the falls to take the picture-perfect postcard.
But, the most popular place is from the rocks on the banks by the river.
Not only is this the perfect composition for capturing you with the waterfall but also a great way to block out the crowds/boats.
Depending on when you arrive, there is usually a queue to get this photo. However, I think it’s worth the wait!
Luckily, I was here alone so there was no time pressure. I took all of mine with a phone tripod using an app called Lens Buddy. It’s my favourite tool.
Buy freshly squeezed orange juice
One of my favourite things about visiting Morocco is all the freshly squeezed fruit juice you can buy and Ouzoud Falls is no different.
There are a few juice stalls at the bottom where you can get fresh orange juice for only 15 MAD (£1.20)! Also, they have fresh sugar cane juice.
It made the perfect tonic after my long walk to the waterfall in the heat.
Go shopping
Ouzoud Waterfalls has one of the biggest ‘exits through the gift shop’ I’ve ever seen. It’s completely commercialised.
The entire path that leads you from the river gorge to the parking area is filled with cafés and stalls selling colourful souvenirs.
It’s very similar to the soukhs in Marrakech and you can find all sorts of clothes, shoes, bags, shawls and handicrafts.
Some of the shops have fixed prices, and some are happy to haggle. Just make sure to check prices first in your currency before you pay.
As I had already bought far too much in Marrakech Madina, I left with a small Ouzoud magnet for my collection.
Have lunch overlooking the falls
On your way back up from Ouzoud Waterfalls, you’ll pass many cafés and restaurants.
Don’t worry about bargain hunting as all of these places have fixed fees of 130 MAD (£10.33) for a set food menu.
It’s usually served with bottled water, bread and salad. there’s a choice of tagine, couscous or skewers with meat and vegetarian options available.
After your main meal, you then finish with a dessert of an orange you can peel and hot mint tea.
I found a table in a lovely shaded spot overlooking the waterfall at Berber Café so I decided to have chicken tagine there.
It came with olives and fries which was quite interesting but it was ultimately delicious.
The service can be a little chaotic as they are catering to lots of tour groups but as the view was so good I didn’t complain. Plus, there were lots of cats to moon over.
They take cards to pay for meals but I would have some notes with you as cash is king in Morocco.
Chase a rainbow
On the way back up, there are plenty of viewpoints where you can admire the cascades.
My favourite spot was an upper viewing platform that is ideal for photos and videos.
I was so happy as the sunshine mixed with the spray from the waterfall caused a colourful rainbow!
It also provided a chance to take a much-needed breather on the way back. My legs and lungs were crying from the endless stairs.
Is Ouzoud Waterfalls safe to visit?
Yes, I visited Ouzoud Waterfall as a solo female traveller and had no issues with safety.
The paths are very well marked out, the waterfall has lots of space and it’s filled with shops and restaurants.
I also found the majority of locals here very friendly and welcoming.
Depending on the time of day, it’s packed with people of all ages including children.
However, it’s still important to be wary of pickpockets and scammers.
Always keep your bags zipped up and in view and be wary of people asking for cash.
Is Ouzoud Waterfalls worth visiting?
Definitely! Ouzoud Waterfalls is easily one of the best day trips from Marrakech and well worth your time in Morocco.
It’s more commercialised than I realised it would be, but there’s no denying that these cascades in the mountains are utterly breathtaking!
If you have more than two days in Marrakech, then this is a trip you should consider.
Don’t miss out on Ouzoud Waterfalls in Morocco, it’s a magical place where you’ll make memories for a lifetime.
My top tips for visiting
- Wear sensible shoes – the walk down to the waterfall can be quite muddy on the nature route. Wear sensible shoes like trainers or hiking sandals.
- Beware of scams and pickpockets – you don’t need a guide to show you the way down, so be wary of scammers and keep your belongings safe.
- Wear sun protection – it’s shaded on the walk but the waterfall is exposed and can get very hot. Wear suncream and protection like a hat, scarf etc.
- Bring waterproofs – you couldn’t pay me to get in that muddy water to swim. But many people do and love getting soaked by the cascade on the boat ride.
- Bring cash – you will need small notes for the boat ride, tips, snacks and souvenirs.
- Toilets – there are lots of toilets at Ouzoud Falls that are (quite) clean but most require you to squat. There is usually only one sit-down toilet in a set but it’s worth waiting for. You may need to tip for paper, so take some tissues/wipes.
Where to stay
Ouzoud Falls is an easy place to visit in just one day but there are many places to stay nearby if you want to extend your trip.
There are budget camping spots dotted around the gorge and the option of paying for campervan parking.
Or, you can splash out and stay in the 5-star Borj Des Cascades & Spa. It’s the large building you can see from the falls which looks like a pink castle!
Next time, I’d love to make my trip a luxury retreat and stay there.
Read more of my Morocco travel guides
The ultimate 2 weeks in Morocco itinerary
The most Instagrammable places in Fes
How to visit the Chouara Tannery in Fes
Things to know before travelling to Morocco
What to wear in Morocco as a woman
Solo female travel tips for Morocco
Top things to do in Essaouira
Taking a Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakesh
Top places to visit in Chefchaouen
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