Ouzoud Cascades Excursion with Boat Ride

This full-day excursion (about 10 hours) takes you from Marrakech to the Ouzoud cascades in the Middle Atlas foothills, about 2.5–3 hours each way. A local guide walks you down the gorge to the foot of the 110-metre falls, where you take a short ride on a traditional raft and look out for Barbary macaques.

The highest waterfalls in North Africa

Ouzoud means "olive" in Tamazight, and the path down to the falls winds through olive groves and old water mills that still grind grain. The El Abid river drops about 110 metres in several tiers into a green gorge, and from March to May, after the winter rains, the flow is at its strongest. Even in late summer, when the river is lower, the basin stays green and cool, and it is a very different landscape from the dry Haouz plain around Marrakech.

What you do there

• Guided walk down the gorge with a licensed local guide, about 45 minutes down on steps and dirt paths, with viewpoints over the falls.
• Boat ride on a small flat raft at the foot of the falls, close enough to feel the spray (about 10 minutes, included).
• Barbary macaques, an endangered species that lives in the surrounding woods. Please do not feed them; your guide explains why.
• Lunch on a terrace facing the cascades (tagine about 80–120 MAD).
• Swimming in the lower pools is possible in summer where it is safe; bring swimwear if you want.

After lunch you walk back up by a different path on the other side of the river, which takes about 45 minutes to an hour at a relaxed pace.

How fit do you need to be?

The walk is not technical, but the climb back up is steady and there are many steps. Most people aged 8 to 70 manage it fine with breaks. If you have knee or heart issues, tell us: you can stay at the top viewpoints, which already give a good view.

Practical tips from our team

• Best months: March to June for the strongest flow; October and November for fewer visitors.
• Wear trainers or walking sandals with grip. The paths near the falls are wet.
• Weekends and Moroccan holidays are busy with local families, so a weekday is calmer.
• The drive is on a good road through Beni Mellal province; we make a coffee stop each way.
• Keep bags zipped near the monkeys; they are curious and quick.

Read our advice on seeing the Barbary macaques at Ouzoud responsibly before you go. If you are short on time, our guide to half-day trips from Marrakech suggests shorter options. WhatsApp us at +212 606-957514 to book your date.