Ouzoud Waterfalls

The Ouzoud waterfalls are in Azilal Province, about 150 kilometers northeast of Marrakesh. The water drops 110 meters in three tiers into the gorge of the El Abid River. Moroccans like to spend a day here themselves, which you notice on a summer Sunday. On weekdays and outside summer it is a calm, green day out that feels very different from the city.

What you do there

You start at the top, at the rim of the falls. There are old water mills for grain, which is also where the name comes from: Ouzoud refers to grinding grain in Tamazight. On one side, a path leads to a viewpoint close to where the water goes over the edge. On the other side, a path with steps winds down through olive trees, past small cafés and terraces.

At the bottom you stand in the spray. Rafts and small boats cross the pool and take you close to the falling water. You will get a little wet, which is no hardship in summer. If you would rather stay dry, sit on a terrace and watch.

Barbary macaques live along the path and in the trees. They are wild animals, and the Barbary macaque is listed as endangered. They are used to people and come close. Don't feed them, even if others do. Human food makes them sick and restless. A photo from a few meters away is plenty.

Lunch is on one of the terraces by the water: a tagine, salads and mint tea. Afterward you walk back up at your own pace. Take your time, because it is a real climb.

Ouzoud as a woman

Ouzoud is a place for day-trippers: Moroccan families and tourists. It feels like an outing. Cafés and terraces line the path, and the people who run them will invite you in. You don't have to sit anywhere you don't want to.

The villages in this area are rural. Cover your shoulders and knees, even when it is warm. Loose pants or a long skirt with a light shirt with sleeves work well, and a scarf keeps the sun off. What to pack and why is in our guide on what to wear.

The path is steep in places and wet near the falls. Shoes with grip matter more than pretty sandals.

Travel time and the best months

From Marrakesh it is a two and a half to three hour drive to Ouzoud. You leave early, reach the falls around midday and are back in the early evening. If you want it quieter, stay a night nearby and see the falls in the morning, before the day-trippers arrive.

Spring is the best time. From March through May there is the most water and everything is green. September and October are pleasant too. In summer it gets above 30 °C (86 °F), and weekends and school holidays are busy. Winter is quiet but wet, and the paths get slippery. The weather in the rest of the country is in our guide on the best time to visit.

Go on a weekday if you can, and leave early. Then you have the path and the terraces mostly to yourself.

To Ouzoud with Soukayna

Ouzoud is one version of the day tour to the Atlas Mountains and Berber villages. Soukayna picks you up at your riad and drives you to the falls and back. It is a different day from the walk near Imlil, with more driving and more water. If you want both, plan two days. More about the mountains near Marrakesh is on the Atlas Mountains page.

Ouzoud also fits into a longer trip. If your tailor-made trip goes from Marrakesh to Fes via Beni Mellal and the Middle Atlas, the falls can be a stop on the first day.