Ouzoud Waterfalls Day Trip from Marrakech: Morocco’s Tallest Falls and the Monkeys Who Live Beside Them

You hear Ouzoud before you see it. The trail winds down through olive groves, past small stalls selling dried fruit and mint tea, and then the sound builds, a low roar that gets louder with every step until the trees open up and there it is, water falling almost 110 meters down a cliff of red rock into a green pool below.

The drive from Marrakech

It takes about three hours to reach Ouzoud from Marrakech, through the Middle Atlas foothills and small farming towns along the way. It is a full day out rather than a quick stop, which is exactly why most visitors treat it as a proper day trip rather than something to rush.

Reaching the falls

Several viewpoints let you see the falls from a distance before the trail brings you right up alongside the water. On sunny mornings, the spray from the falls catches the light and throws small rainbows across the gorge, which is the moment almost everyone stops to take a photo.

The monkeys of Ouzoud

Ouzoud is one of the few places in Morocco where wild Barbary macaques live right alongside the walking trails. They move through the olive trees close to the path, mostly ignoring visitors unless food is involved, and watching a family of them groom each other in the branches above the falls is one of those small moments that ends up in everyone’s photos more than the waterfall itself.

Getting close to the water

A footpath leads down to the base of the falls, where small boats ferry visitors across the pool for a closer look, right into the spray if you are willing to get a little wet. Swimming is possible in the calmer parts of the pool during warmer months, and it is one of the few spots on a Marrakech day trip where jumping in the water is actually part of the experience.

Lunch above the gorge

Most day trips include lunch at a terrace restaurant overlooking the falls, tagine and fresh bread eaten with a view most restaurants cannot compete with. It is simple food, but the setting does the work.

Why Ouzoud is worth the distance

Ouzoud is worth the distance, Ouzoud takes longer to reach than the Ourika Valley, but the payoff is different, this is not a gentle mountain drive, it is one of the most dramatic natural sights within reach of Marrakech in a single day. Between the height of the falls, the wildlife, and the boat ride through the spray, it feels like a bigger adventure than the drive time suggests.

À emporter

Wear shoes with good grip, the paths near the falls get slippery from the spray. Bring a change of clothes or a light waterproof layer if you plan to take the boat ride close to the water. A swimsuit is worth packing in warmer months in case you want to swim.