Ultimate Guide: Ouzoud Waterfalls from Marrakech
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Going to Morocco? Don't miss out on the Ouzoud Waterfalls: Here's how to get there from Marrakech!
Considered the most beautiful and highest waterfalls in Morocco, the Ouzoud
Waterfalls - which means "olive tree waterfall" in Berber - are 110-meter
high waterfalls on the Ouzoud river - "oued" in Berber - breaking over three
levels in a red sandstone valley, in the middle of lush vegetation.
Ouzoud waterfalls are a preserved natural site registered on the UNESCO World Heritage
list, both very touristy and wild, where you can swim, camp, stroll, hike,
and be amazed by the wonders of nature in the middle of donkeys, olive
trees, almond trees, fig-trees, and a flagship animation of the site: a
community of Berber macaques living in freedom.
Would you like to visit the Ouzoud Waterfalls from Marrakech? Located
between the Middle and High Atlas mountains at an altitude of 1060 meters,
the Ouzoud Waterfalls is a must-see tourist site in Morocco, near the town
of Azilal, 120 kilometers from Beni Mellal, and 150 kilometers northeast of
Marrakech. Here is our mini-guide to everything you need to know before
visiting the Ouzoud Waterfalls from Marrakech!
Presentation of the Ouzoud Waterfalls
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Large waterfalls from the top of which the waters of Ouzoud flow, bouncing
on three levels and projecting in the air droplets, the Ouzoud
Waterfalls are regularly haloed by The refraction of the sun's rays in the
water drops create a rainbow. The waterfalls are revealed to the
public in a quiet, natural, and protected environment, coiled in a green
valley, whose red sandstone rocks contrast with the green of the abundant
vegetation, and the deep blue of the Moroccan sky.
Visiting the Ouzoud Waterfalls allows you to see one of the most remarkable
natural attractions of the Moroccan Atlas. The flow of the river, of course,
varies with the seasons. But what is certain is that visiting the Ouzoud
Waterfalls guarantees you, in every season, a festival of colors.
A day trip to the Ouzoud Waterfalls also allows you to escape the scorching
heat of Marrakech in summer. It is cooler, but it is also a very busy site,
so we recommend going there early in the morning.
What to see and do at the Ouzoud Waterfalls?
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We are not at the Iguazu Falls in Argentina/Brazil, but rather in Morocco, where water gushes from the top of a cliff and crashes 110 meters down. The Ouzoud Falls allow us to admire a succession of panoramas on the waterfall in the middle of olive trees, and while crossing some monkeys and Berber macaques. From Marrakech, it takes about 3 or 4 hours to travel through many byways. The trip is rather long, but it allows you to see the Moroccan countryside with its ochre soils, olive trees, and almond trees. For a few dirhams, a guide may take care of the visit when you arrive.
The visitor can eat when arriving at one of the many establishments
surrounding the site, the opportunity for example to taste Moroccan cuisine. The descent to the foot of the Ouzoud Falls is done by a path that
may seem steep in places - if you are not used to walking -, dotted with
olive trees.
Below, the river allows for swimming and picnicking. But of course, the closer you get to the bottom of the falls, the more deafening the noise promises to be. A boat trip will surely be proposed to you to pass on the other bank of the wadi, the locals taking advantage of the tourist places to earn some money! A wooden bridge allows you to cross the river in the dry, to leave to hike, and to rush into nature. The springs of Ouzoud for example, 6 kilometers away, where you will see olive trees as far as the eye can see, an oil press, and generous nature. Some wheat mills are still in use today.
Near the Ouzoud waterfalls, there are several cafés and restaurants, as well as hotels for accommodation. In the late afternoon, a minibus departs for Marrakech.
How to go to the Ouzoud Waterfalls?
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You may take a bus to the city of Azilal from the Bab Doukkala bus station
in Marrakech to explore the Ouzoud Waterfalls. The journey takes about
4 hours. A collective cab can reach the waterfalls in about 35
minutes.
It is also possible to rent a car from Marrakech to go there independently,
but it must be said that driving in Morocco, especially in large cities, is
not easy. The traffic in Morocco would make drivers in Sicily look relaxed
and civic-minded!
Remember to bring good walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, a camera, and a
bathing suit.
Schedules and rates of the Cascades of Ouzoud
SCHEDULES
You can visit the Ouzoud waterfalls every day from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. To make the most of the visit, it is advisable to come early in the morning or late in the afternoon!
RATES
The entrance to the Ouzoud waterfalls is free and the visit can be made every day of the week, from 9 am to 7 pm. But as it is easier to get a ride, it is better to go through a tour operator to be taken care of at the hotel for the whole trip. Some packages offer a combined package with the trip, a private English-speaking guide, for about 35 €.
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