Travel to Atlas Mountains is easy from Marrakesh, about one or one and a half hours by car. We hired a driver for the day who took us to Jardin Majorelle, the Atlas Mountains and Palmeraie. It was worth it, and he waited for us to hike around to see the waterfall in the Ourika Valley. The roads were a bit rough so I felt a bit carsick, but the views were very nice along the way. We enjoyed seeing the river and mountains. However, we were a bit disappointed at the waterfall because there was so much rubbish around. So, we tried to ignore that and enjoy the rest of the surrounding nature!
Highlights
- Ourika River and eating on the terraces along the riverside
- Ourika Valley Waterfall and small hike
- Views of the Atlas Mountains
- Argan Oil cooperative
Before you go
- If you tend to get car or motion sickness, then you may want to take medicine
- Dress warmly in the winter
- Bring good shoes for hiking over the rocks
Transport
- To travel to Atlas Mountains, you will need a car. We chose to hire a driver to take us there, and were glad because he knew the way. The signs on the roads are not great, and I also felt sick from the windy roads
Accommodation
- We didn’t stay in the mountains, because we did a day trip from Marrakesh
- As usual I recommend checking reviews on Google Reviews or using AirBnB
Food
We only had one stop for food during our day trip and it was at a restaurant along the Ourika River. They had tagines and couscous and it was tasty but nothing extraordinary. However, the view and sounds of rushing water were very nice next to the river.
FAQs
Q: Do I need a tour guide?
A: Yes, you might want to either have a tour guide and/or a driver to take you to the Atlas Mountains from the city
Q: Do people speak English?
A: Some people speak English, but it is useful to have a translation app available
Q: Is it a walkable place?
A: There are places to walk and hike around the mountains. However, to get there and between places you need to have a car
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