Visiting Morocco

Ourika Valley Day Trip

There are some great day trips from Marrakech that are worth doing if you have time while you are visiting Morocco.

Just outside of Marrakech is the Ourika Valley. The area’s greenery provides a stark contrast to the dry land around the city. Its water source is from the Atlas Mountains, which tower above the valley and provide stunning backdrops to the landscapes and waterfalls in the area.

The Ourika Valley is an easy day trip from Marrakech. You can get there by hiring a car or taking a tour. There are large bus tours, private tours, and van tours of the Ourika Valley, so you have plenty of options.

Another good day trip is to the Palmeraie. The area surrounds the city, and is home to some of the top resorts and hotels in Marrakech. You can go for lunch at the famous Amanjena hotel and walk around the pretty grounds, or just take a drive and explore.

For trips further afield, consider taking a day trip to Essaouira. At just 2.5 hours from Marrakech by bus, Essaouira is a great way to escape the heat of the city and get some fresh coastal air by the ocean.

Closer in to Marrakech are the stunning Atlas Mountains. No trip to the city is complete without a visit to the peaks. It is difficult to do a day trip from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains, but if you can go on an overnight trip or multi-day excursion, it is highly recommended.

Atlas Mountains

Many visitors to Morocco take trips from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains.

Given the proximity of the mountains to the city, it is an easy trip and makes for a great escape from the bustle of the souks and the medina.

There are several ways to take trips from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains. These include hiring a car in Marrakech and driving to the Atlas Mountains, taking an organized tour to the mountains, or going on a small group excursion.

Whatever method you choose to get to the mountains, it is best to stay overnight for at least one night.

The distance from the city center is far enough that doing a day trip from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains is very ambitious, but doing an overnight or several night trip is well worth it.

Ouarzazate

The best buses from Ouarzazate to Marrakech are run by CTM and Supratours.

CTM buses leave Ouarzazate for Marrakech 5 times a day, from 8:30 until 23:00. They run via Agouim, but do not require a change there.

Supratours buses depart Ouarzazate 3 times a day, from 8:30 to 16:00.

Return buses from Marrakech to Ouarzazate run on similar timetables.

The travel time on buses from Ouarzazate to Marrakech is between 4h0m and 4h45m.

Buses that depart during the day pull over at the midpoint of the journey for a 15 minute food and bathroom stop.

The fare of a single ticket for buses from Ouarzazate to Marrakech is 90 Dh on CTM buses and 80 Dh on Supratours buses.