The Ultimate Guide to an Atlas Mountains Day Trip

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Marrakech, Morocco, is known for its bustling markets, delicious food, and stunning historical architecture, but an Atlas Mountains day trip from Marrakech offers a chance to escape the chaotic city and experience the natural beauty of Morocco. In this article, I’ll guide you through a day trip to the Atlas Mountains, highlighting the best things to do and see. 

Should I book a day trip to the Atlas Mountains?

Yes! An Atlas Mountains day trip should be on your must-do list while visiting Marrakech. Gary and I booked a tour through TripAdvisor that we loved! Our Atlas Mountains guided tour included all the activities discussed below and a drive through the five valleys. 

You can do the trip yourself, but hiring a tour guide is so much easier. Our guide was Abdula. He is knowledgeable about the area, speaks several languages, and is very friendly. 

What does a day trip to the Atlas Mountains traditionally include?

An Atlas Mountain guided tour generally includes a stop in Berber Village at a Women’s Aragon Cooperative, a hike to a waterfall in Setti Fatma, a drive through the beautiful Atlas Mountains and three valleys, and traditional lunch at a home in a Berber Village.

How many people were on our Atlas Mountains day trip?

The tour company used a small van to drive seven of us on our Atlas Mountains and valley tour. 

How many hours is an Atlas Mountain day trip?

Generally, you should plan to spend 7-8 hours on your Atlas Mountains guided tour. We were picked up at 8:30 am in the Medina and returned to our Riad around 6:30 pm. Our tour ran a little longer as some of the guests in our tour group moved at a slower pace. However, you can book an Atlas Mountains private tour and be on your own schedule. If a day trip is too much for you, there are Atlas Mountains half-day tours.

First Stop on our Atlas Mountains Day Trip – Ourika Valley

After everyone was on board, we drove for about an hour outside Marrakech to our first stop to see the Ourika Valley and the Atlas Mountains. The Ourika Valley and river below were serene and peaceful. There was even a roadside shop where you could purchase pottery. 

Second Stop – Visiting a Women’s Aragn Cooperative

Next on our grand tour of the Atlas Mountains and Five Valleys was a stop at the women’s argan cooperative. At the collective, women use the argan nut in various ways to earn a living. During our Atlas Mountains day trip, visitors learned about different argan products and the importance of the products to the Berber economy and villages.

We learned that the argan tree is found exclusively in the southern part of Morocco, making it extremely popular with tourists. Traditionally, Berber women harvest the fruit by hand. Once picked, Berber women remove the nut, which is then manually crushed to develop a highly sought-after oil used for cooking, cosmetics, and medicinal purposes.

While at the collective, you will likely see a demonstration and even try to crush the argan nut yourself. I gave it a try. It’s hard work! 

After the demonstration, visitors are served a light snack and traditional tea while learning about the Berber culture and the many products available for sale. The prices are more reasonable than some of the shops in the Medina. If you need any souvenirs, this is a great place to pick them up.   

Third Stop on our Atlas Mountains Day Trip – Setti Fatma

Once you get to the top, there is an excellent spot for photos where you can see the crystal-clear water flowing down the rocks to the river below. The mountain view is also pretty.   

Ourika Valley is another of Morocco’s popular places to see stunning waterfalls. The village of Setti Fatma offers day-trippers a relatively short drive (1 hour and 50 minutes or 64 kilometers) to a hike with waterfalls and panoramic views of mountain peaks and rolling hills.

Once we arrived, we were greeted by another guide whose sole job was to help our group climb the waterfall safely. The hike takes you through a small shopping area at the base of the trail. So, if you need a few last-minute souvenirs or a rug, you are in luck. 

The Setti Fatma Hike

The trail to the top of the waterfall is not challenging, but it is a little technical. The hike includes several river crossings and climbing a few slippery rocks. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the terrain and helped everyone as needed. Hiking is extremely popular, so depending on the time of day, you might be hiking with many other people. The other hikers were very pleasant, taking turns at the crossings and the slippery areas where it was best to have three points of contact. 

I would have liked to continue hiking up the mountain if I had more time. It looks like there is a trail system above the waterfall. You can hire a guide and enjoy a picnic at a scenic overlook higher up the mountain. However, we did not have time for any additional hiking.

Ninety minutes are allotted for the hike. If you are in good shape and have hiking boots, it could take you a fraction of the time.

However, in our group, one of the individuals wore loafers for the hike. His lack of practical shoes made the hike unnecessarily hard for him. His wife realized quickly that the hike was not for her. Fortunately, there was a beverage stand with seating overlooking the valley where she could relax while we hiked to the waterfall. 

Pro Tip: If you enjoy hiking, you might want to check out the high Atlas Mountains trekking tours.

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What should I wear when hiking in the Atlas Mountains?

Bring sturdy hiking boots, a hat, and sunscreen when hiking the Atlas Mountains. If you like to gear up like me, I recommend hiking pants, a moisture-wicking shirt, and Smartwool socks. 

Our guide brought water for us. However, if you prefer another kind of non-alcoholic drink, there are several vendors to choose from on the hike. Some of the vendors even have ingenious ways to keep the beverages cool. 

Pro Tip:  If you are doing this hike without a tour guide, you might be able to follow another group. The path is a little confusing if no one is around. You can hire a local guide to help you navigate the terrain, so you don’t have to think about it. A guide can also provide you with local insight into the culture and history of the area.

There are several restaurants at the base of the hike. In the high season, this area is packed with tourists. You can sit outside on one of the many colorful blankets and pillows while you take in the river view. We didn’t have time to partake, but if you are designing your own tour, consider taking a break here to relax before heading to your next stop. 

Touring the Five Valleys in the Altas Mountains

On our two-hour drive to a Berber Village, we stopped to see several Atlas Mountain Valleys, including Oukaimden, Sidi Fares, Asni, Ourika, and Tahnaout. The lush valleys framed by rugged mountain peaks created a stunning view throughout the drive. We also had a chance to view Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa.

The twisty road through the Atlas Mountains is narrow. Sometimes you feel like you might be on the cliff’s edge. I found that the drive adds to the adventure, but if you don’t like heights, I suggest you sit in the back of the van. 

Stop at a Berber Village on Your Atlas Mountains Day Trip

The Atlas Mountains are home to many traditional Berber villages. A visit to these villages is a wonderful way to learn more about the Berber culture and support their way of life. The Berber people are indigenous people of North Africa with a deep history and culture. Their way of life has remained mostly unchanged throughout centuries. They often reside in clay houses and live off the land.

My favorite part of this tour was the authentic Berber lunch. We were invited to sit on the rooftop and enjoy the view of the Atlas Mountains while we enjoyed a delicious meal. Our lunch included soup, bread, tagine (a stew made with meat or vegetables), couscous, and fruit for dessert. After a long day of touring and some exercise, we were happy to relax and dine on the wonderful food prepared by our host family. They were extremely welcoming and could not have been any nicer. The kids were very cute and were excited to see us. They had big smiles as they greeted us.

As we were running a little late, our lunch was more like an early dinner, but it was a perfect end to a memorable day. 

As a side note, our host family had Western-style bathrooms, which I was happy to see. 

There are several other things to do in the Atlas Mountains that look like so much fun! For example, you might enjoy a hot-air balloon ride, a quad ride, a camel ride.

If you are thinking about taking other hiking vacations, you might like my 4-day Lake Louise itinerary or my 3-day Sedona itinerary. For other unique vacation ideas, you might enjoy a visit to Greenhorn Ranch, a dude ranch, or a trip to Punta Mita, Mexico!