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Marrakech to Ouzoud waterfalls tour 5 days – overview:
A five-day trip with an unusual twist: Marrakech to the Ouzoud waterfalls. It combines soft, red sand dunes in Merzouga’s Erg Chebbi desert, fascinating gorges, sparkling waterfalls and beautiful lakes.
A more opulent Berber life in South Morocco is first apparent at the two most famous Kasbahs: Telouet and Aït ben Haddou in the High Atlas Mountains.
More humble life-styles are evident elsewhere in villages of adobe housing in the valleys, in the mountain villages of adobe and stone houses, and from the different crops being cultivated according to soil and climatic conditions.
The Ouzoud falls themselves are a distinctive feature in this otherwise barren country. Equally barren are the dunes which you experience on camel back. This highlight is followed by dinner under a starlit sky followed by music and drumming around a campfire in a luxury camp set among the dunes.
Marrakech to Ouzoud waterfalls via the Sahara desert – highlights:
- Visiting the ancient historical Kasbahs set in the High and Anti-Atlas Mountains with a guide
- Wondering at the diverse landscapes of rocks, fields, oases and housing in a Berber setting
- Riding gentle camels to your luxury camp set among the Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga
- Enjoying the sunset and sunrise, enthusiastic nomadic drumming, and a private luxury tent
- Participating in slow walks, or even a hike, around beautiful lakes and picturesque waterfalls
What is included in the Ouzoud Waterfalls and Merzouga Dunes tour:
- Transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle; 4×4 Toyota Prado TX and fuel
- Pick-up from and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Marrakech
- Experienced local English/French/Spanish/Italian-speaking Berber and nomad driver/guide
- Accommodation in air-conditioned rooms/suites with private bathroom
- A night in a luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi with a private toilet and shower
- All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner – with vegetarian and vegan options available
- A camel ride with a guide. And if you wish to do some sandboarding, just speak to the camp staff!
- The option to go to and return from the camp by 4×4
- Luggage service to the camp and all accommodation
- Berber drumming and music
- Free time to explore the sites such as Ait Ben Haddou, the Ounila Valley, for walks, photos, and tea/coffee breaks
- The opportunity to ask the driver to stop when and where you wish
- Entrance fees and local guide
- Tea, coffee and mineral water in the desert
What is not included:
- Drinks
- Tips
- Extras
Good to know about Ouzoud Waterfalls tour from Marrakech:
- This Marrakech tour can be customised according to your personal interests and requirements
- Activities such as a full day’s trekking in the Erg Chebbi dunes can be added to this tour
- You can always consult your driver about skipping some spots to spend more time elsewhere
- Here is a downloadable packing list to help plan for your Moroccan desert tour
- We require a 30% deposit of the total price to book the car, while the balance is payable to us in the office in Ouarzazate
- We accept payment through PayPal, bank transfers in Europe, by credit card, or cash (USD, Euro, GBP or MAD)
- We offer a 25% discount for children under 12, and one child under 3 per family travels free of charge
- These prices are liable to fluctuation according to the current exchange rate
- Our prices can be subject to an increase over the busy season, and, in particular, the Christmas and New Year’s Eve period
Prices per person
| No Days | Meals |
|---|---|
| All-inclusive | |
| Total price | |
| 2 Persons |
|---|
| 645 € * |
| 1290 € * |
| 3 Persons |
|---|
| 615 € * |
| 1845 € * |
| 4 Persons |
|---|
| 585 € * |
| 2340 € * |
| 5 Persons |
|---|
| 545 € * |
| 2725 € * |
| 6 Persons |
|---|
| 545 € * |
| 3270 € * |
Marrakech to Ouzoud Waterfalls tour 5 days – itinerary:
1st day: Marrakech – Ouarzazate
It’s an 8.30 departure from your hotel/riad in Marrakech at 8.30 to drive south, crossing the High Atlas. The panoramic views demand several stops for photos.
Kasbah Telouet in the High Atlas is the first sightseeing stop. It was the grandiose main residence of the formidable Glaoui tribe, whose riches were partly gained from the local salt mines. The two of the three main buildings are slowly crumbling after they were abandoned in 1956, and then plundered by local people. Nevertheless one small area of traditional interior decoration is still more or less intact at the far end of the least damaged building.
Regrettably, the entire Kasbah is now closed because of the damage caused by the earthquake in Morocco in September 2023. However, it’s well worthwhile looking at the outside with a local guide to learn about its interesting history.
Your route leads along the narrow Ounila Valley with the green fields and gardens running parallel to the road. Thos whole valley is splendid wiht its varying rocks and soil, Berber villages and gardens, as well as smaller Kasbahs. Ollives, almonds and fruit trees grow abundantly here in the shelter from extreme weather.
Towards the end of the road lies Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, the oldest and the most talked about Kasbah in Morocco. It is one of the earliest of Morocco’s nine UNESCO World Heritage sites to be recognised as such. The earth constructions are a perfect adaptation to the climatic conditions of the area and are in complete harmony with the natural surrounding environment. Probably dating back to the 17th century, it is also famous as the backdrop to many Hollywood films set in the Middle East, and with a Biblical theme.
2nd day: Ouarzazate – Merzouga
South of Ouarzazate lies the Tizi-n-Tinfifte pass which you cross to search Agdez. Close to this starting point of the Dra’a Valley you will visit the oldest Kasbah in the valley, Kasbah Tamnougalte. This Kasbah also belonged to the Glaoui tribe of Telouet fame. Some of it is still inhabited but other buildings were left open to the skies as their Jewish owners left to help populate the State of Israel. A little further south at Tansikht, you turn east and follow the long line of the bizarre Bani Mountains towards Merzouga.
We stop for lunch at a riad in N’Qob, which overlooks these mountains. Later we pass through Tazzarine, mentioned in the film of “Babel”. On arriving at the edge of the desert at Erg Chebbi in Merzouga, you will take the camels to the camp, where you will be greeted with a glass of tea. If you do not wish to ride the camels, you can request the driver to take you there in the 4×4.
Your very comfortable luxury tent at the camp has a private bathroom, king-sized beds, and tasteful Moroccan furnishings.
3rd day: Merzouga – Toudgha Gorges
It really is recommended to rise from your bed to climb the nearest dunes to watch the sunrise. The shadows are breath-taking as they shift and change with the increasing glow of the sun. The colours are only seen at this time of the day.
After breakfast, you leave the desert – perhaps on the camels again – for Tinghir and the Toudgha gorges. You drive through the busy little town of Rissani which is the original seat of the present King’s family. Further north you arrive in Erfoud, a centre of date production. It is also well-known for the myriads of fossils carved from local rock, polished and made into amazing artefacts.
In Toudgha, there are opportunities to walk along the river, through the gardens or up the road on the other side of the gorges. The night is spent in a guest house in the Toudgha Gorges or in the valley leading to them.
4th day: Toudgha Gorges – Ouzoud waterfalls
After breakfast, we set off departure north to Tamtattouchte and into the mountains south of Imilchil, the famous town where there is the marriage festival in September. The road here is especially beautiful but slow and windy. In the winter, however, the snow may make it impassable. We reach Kasba Tadla on the main road from Marrakech to Fes (Tadla means a stack of wheat in Amazigh) and lies on the left bank of the Oum Er Rabia River.
Shortly after Kasba Tadla lies Beni Mellal, where you visit the Ain Asserdoun waterfalls which provide drinking water for the town and are a source of irrigation for the surrounding villages of Ouled Ayad, Ouled Drid, Mghi among others. Asserdoun means “mule” in Amazigh! The falls are set in a well-kept and prettily designed park and from the “castle” just above, there is a wonderful view of the town and the fertile plain below full of olive and orange trees.
Back in the High Atlas you visit the lovely lake of Ben El Ouidane where the mountains come right down to the water! Here you can take a walk to enjoy the peace and the green of the area and watch any fisherman trying his luck! Later you continue to the Ouzoud Waterfalls for the night.
5th day: Ouzoud Waterfalls – Marrakech
After breakfast, you can visit the falls, which constitute one of the most spectacular natural beauty spots in Morocco. The surrounding countryside offers red cliffs, oleander and doves. If you are lucky you will catch a glimpse of some Barbary apes. A short walk will bring you to the top of the falls from where you can see the river stretching away from the magnificent falls.
On the road back to Marrakech at Demnate, we drive the six kilometres to Imi-n-Ifri, which in the local dialect means “door to the cave”. It is a natural rock bridge formed by the underground cave system collapsing. The views from here are spectacular as the Méhasseur River flows between the sheer, vertical rock walls. Another three hours drive will bring you back to your riad in Marrakech. Your driver will escort you to your hotel bringing your 5-day Marrakech to Ouzoud Waterfalls tour to an end!
Map of Merzouga and Waterfalls 5-day tour:
