Day trip · private vehicle and driver
Day trip to the Atlas and the Three Valleys.
Berber villages, terraced fields and mountain passes, an hour and a half from the red walls. The day that shows you the other Morocco.
The itinerary
- Drive out through the Haouz plain towards the foothills.
- Stops in Berber villages, with tea in a family home when it can be arranged.
- The three valleys: Asni, Oukaïmeden and Ourika, or the variation that suits the season.
- Lunch by the river or on a terrace facing the mountains.
- Return to Marrakech in the late afternoon.
Practical details
The day is accompanied by your private tour guide in Marrakech, with a driver and vehicle kept for your group alone.
Cancellation terms depend on the bookings already made and appear on your quote, before any payment.
What you actually see
The road climbs fast. Within an hour you go from the Marrakech plain to villages clinging to the slope, with terraced fields following the contours of the land. The Three Valleys are Asni, Ourika and the Oukaimeden plateau, three different landscapes strung together in a day.
Asni holds its market on Saturdays, one of the liveliest in the region, where trade is mostly between villagers. Oukaimeden, at 2,600 metres, is a ski station in winter and high pasture in summer, with Bronze Age rock carvings on the flat stones. Ourika closes the loop with its green valley, the river and the tables set beside the water.
It is a day of driving as much as walking. The mountain roads wind, so allow an hour and a half each way with stops. If you would rather walk more and drive less, Imlil is a better choice than the Three Valleys loop.
Questions about this tour
Is there much walking?
Little, if you do not want it. The stops are reached by car and the walks are short, twenty minutes to an hour depending on how you feel. They can be extended if the group is up for it.
Is there snow?
At Oukaimeden, usually December to March, sometimes into April. The road stays open except after heavy falls. Bring a jacket: it is ten degrees colder than Marrakech.
Can we combine it with Ourika?
Ourika is already part of the Three Valleys loop. If you want more time there, it is better to give the whole day to Ourika alone.
