Visit Ourika Valley: tickets, prices, schedules

Are you leaving for a trip to Morocco? Here is our mini-guide to visit the Ourika Valley, near Marrakech: ticket, prices and schedules!

Located 30 kilometres south of Marrakech, the Urika Valley is a valley of the Moroccan Haut-Atlas, one of the most frequented sites in the Haut-Atlas. The Ourika valley is the most accessible since Marrakech, and it has a few hotel complexes. The tourists flock here for its very preserved nature and mountain lifestyle, as well as for the many small Berber and Chleuh villages that are scattered in the valley.

Do you want to go to the Urika valley for a one or two day trip to a desert landscape? We explain everything in this article: history, things to see and do, schedules, access and rates!

History of the Urika Valley

The origin of the name of Urika comes from Urika, which is the name of one of the Masmouda tribes, belonging to an amazigh group, itself descending from the dynasty of the Almohades . The valley is historically populated with Berbers, and the local population speaks there a dialect called chleuh.

In the vicinity of Marrakech, there is a natural rocky barrier called “the roof of Morocco” or “the roof of North Africa”: the Western High Atlas. The highest mass of the country, the Haut-Atlas stretches from south-west to north-east over 750 kilometres. It delimits the Saharian Morocco of Atlantic and Mediterranean Morocco, and peaks at 4,167 metres above sea level. On the foothills of this imposing massif, there is a major tourist attraction for the surroundings of Marrakech: the Urika valley. Along the foothills of the Haut-Atlas, the valley extends over 68 kilometres from Marrakech to the village of Setti Fatma at 1500 meters above sea level. The Urika is the name given to the river that flows from the slopes of the Upper Atlas Mountains, and is a tributary of the Oued Tensift.

The Ourika valley is, by its milder climate than in Marrakech, a vast area of agricultural crops, and is surrounded by lush vegetation of agricultural fields and olive trees, orchards, almond trees, cherry trees and other green plants. Nature is especially abundant when the rainy season leaves room in the summer: the red-vif lands illuminate the landscape and the villages while the air becomes more breathable as you take altitude (15° C to 20° C less than in Marrakech).

What to see and do in the Ourika Valley?

What to do by visiting the Ourika valley? Well, walks, walks and walks! But not that.

The Ourika valley is a source of attractions to visit, including:

• The Berber Ecomusée
• Ourika’s safranière
• The garden of Timalizene
• Ourika’s bio-aromatic garden
• The village of Setti Fatmam
• The 7 cascades

The villages

By making a road trip in the winding roads to visit the Urika valley, you will enter almost deserted villages, up to 2,100 meters above sea level (in Tizi-n-Test) by discovering the authenticity of Berber rural life.

Unfortunately, it is less a mirror of traditional social life than a tourist representation of this picturesque Berber life. In any case, you will surely enjoy a good mint tea in the people!

Tafza

To Tafza , the Berber Ecomusée allows you to discover the Berber lifestyle and culture, with a vast collection of photographs and objects once used (tapis, clothing, jewelry, pottery). It is actually the world of Amazigh woman who is represented. It is also a starting point for many hiking , for the tour of the salines , cascades and oueds. It should be noted that the funds collected are used for the construction of a boarding school to allow children to go to college.

Tnine and Timalizene

In the village Tnine , do not miss the safran farm, the red gold of Morocco (open from late October to mid-November). 4 kilometers away, the village Timalizene is to be seen, especially for homonym gardens. It has several terraces paying tribute to the typical Moroccan trees. Continue to visit the Urika valley with the Bio-aromatic Garden at Douar El Haddad, to visit March to June to enjoy exquisite effluves of medicinal plants.

Setti Fatma

In the village Setti Fatma , perched at 1,500 meters above sea level, you can choose to spend a night — cool and quiet, and without air conditioning or fan — before going to the stunts early morning or going to hike in the mountains to enjoy great views of the Berber houses.

The waterfalls of Ourika

At the start of Setti Fatma, you reach the first waterfall after half an hour walk in the rocks. A first basin allows to cool down while higher, the small trail leads to the 6 other waterfalls.

In nature, you may be able, if you are lucky, to see Berber macaques! The trail begins after a small bridge over the oued. The more you walk, the less world there will be and the waterfalls are less and less frequented. But train to the heat if you come to visit the Ourika Valley! Even at altitude, it can be very hot in summer.

Most

For the end of the day, restaurants along the Urika make it possible to eat couscous in the water or almost. And yes, it is a tourist place!

Finally, coming to visit the Ourika valley is also an opportunity to see the cooperatives of Argan oil , produced in the vicinity by local women.

How to get to the Urika valley?

From Marrakech

To visit the Ourika valley, you must count 2 hours from Marrakech to Setti Fatma, the last stage of a trip to the area. The transport time logically varies depending on traffic and traffic. Access is easy from the south of Marrakech: take the P2017 south, a road that stretches to Setti Fatma.

• By car

It is possible to opt for it car rental private with driver.

• By taxi

Private taxis carry out the trip but be careful, make sure to negotiate the fare before boarding the vehicle.

• By public transport

You can also take public transport to Tnine/Ourika, then finish by taxi to Setti Fatma.

Note : it is rather difficult to find public transport to go.

Prices and times in the Urika Valley

HORARI

• Have a whole day for the tour
• The Ourika valley is open daily 24/7
• You are recommended to leave early in the morning to avoid heat and faintness

RATES

Depending on whether you choose to visit the Ourika valley alone or with a guide, whether by a travel agency or not, whether by bus, taxi or private car with a driver, the price of the trip varies logically.

It is therefore difficult to indicate a single rate for all, but here are two examples to see more clearly:

• Excursion with "maroc.net excursions" : from 15 € for a person (start at 9 hours, available daily).
• On Ceetiz: from 40€*

*Includes: a support from the hotel, tourist guide, reception by a Berber family in the mountain, mint tea tasting and return to Marrakech.