The Ouzoud Waterfalls, roughly 150 kilometres northeast of Draa Valley — Wikipedia, are among the most spectacular natural features in Ouarzazate — Wikipedia — three tiers of falls dropping 110 metres into a gorge of red rock, surrounded by olive groves and accessible via a network of trails from the village above. They are the most popular day trip from Marrakech and, unlike many heavily visited natural sites, genuinely justify the reputation.
The Falls
The main falls are visible from the village viewpoint within minutes of arrival, but the full experience requires descending to the base, where the spray creates a permanently cool microclimate and rainbows are visible in the mist on sunny mornings. Trails run in both directions along the gorge and allow different angles of the falls at different times of day. The water volume is highest in spring when winter rainfall feeds the rivers upstream; summer reduces the flow but makes swimming in the pools at the base more appealing.
Barbary Macaques
Barbary macaques — the only wild primates on the African continent north of the Sahara — live in the olive groves and forested slopes around the falls and are habituated enough to approach visitors without prompting. Local guides maintain semi-formal relationships with specific troops, making it reliably easy to see them at close range. Feeding them is discouraged, though some local guides carry food for interaction purposes. The presence of the macaques alongside the waterfall makes this one of the few Morocco day trips that offers both remarkable scenery and wildlife in the same outing.
Swimming at the Base
The pools at the base of the falls are swimmable and genuinely refreshing in the summer heat, with the waterfall spray keeping the surrounding area noticeably cooler than the surrounding plateau. The water is clean and the depth sufficient for safe swimming in the main pool below the falls, though the current near the fall itself is strong and caution is warranted. A towel and swimwear packed with the day bag is worth the minimal extra effort.
What to Expect on the Day
The drive from Marrakech takes approximately two and a half hours in each direction, making an early start advisable to allow four to five hours at the falls. Several small restaurants in the village above the falls serve fresh trout and other local dishes — the trout farmed in the river above the falls is a regional speciality worth ordering. Our 6-Day Private Tour: Casablanca to Fes & the Sahara covers this full day, including stops en route for views over the Azilal plateau. For those wanting to combine this with other day trips, see our 4-Day Desert Tour: Marrakech to Fes and the full menu at our Sandboarding in the Sahara page. Browse our Ouarzazate & Ait Benhaddou Day Trip from Marrakech for all available activity add-ons.
