Keep reading for our recommendations for the best day trips from Marrakech!

With cheap flights, year-round good weather and thrilling culture, Marrakech is fast becoming a top tourist attraction, especially for those looking for a long-weekend away from the UK.

And whilst time constraints may mean that travelling around a lot of Morocco is not a possibility, that doesn't mean that you have to be confined to the pink city for the duration of your stay. In fact, there are several excellent day trips you can make from Marrakech that will show you a completely different side of Morocco - and give you the chance to get out and about in its spectacular countryside and mountains!

Here are our pick of the best day trips from Marrakech.

Essaouira

If the hectic nature of Marrakech is getting to you, consider a day trip to Essaouira, Morocco's windy city. Not only is it stunningly beautiful and culturally quite different, it offers the chance to hit the beach, cool down in the summer months, and indulge your inner Game of Thrones fan!

Find out much more about our favourite things to do in Essaouira in this post.

Do it independently

There are multiple bus departures every day (with CTM and Supratours) between Marrakech and Essaouira, with a journey time of around 3 hours. Buses are quite modern and comfortable and leave from the main bus station.

Alternatively, the drive with your own vehicle is approximately 2 and a half hours.

This post has more information on how to get from Marrakech to Essaouira with public transport.

Take a tour

If you're short on time, then this highly-rated Day Trip to Essaouira from Marrakech tour, which includes a visit to an Argan oil co-operative and a stop to see the 'goats in the trees', is your best option.

Marrakech Palmeraie

At just over 10 minutes away, this is by far the easiest day trip to from Marrakech, and remains a popular activity for many who visit - especially for those that are keen to see a little beyond the city limits, but don’t have the time to devote an entire day to an excursion.

Marrakech Palmeraie is a lush green space filled with beautiful palm groves that dates back to the 12th century. Now edged by large resorts and golf course, it can feel a tad touristy, but continues to draw in visitors with its sunset camel rides and adrenaline-busting quad biking.

Do It Independently

Whilst Palmeraie’s proximity to the centre of Marrakech means that it’s super easy to reach by yourself, as you’ll only make your way here if taking part in an activity, it makes sense to visit as part of a tour.

Take A Tour

There are many tours out to the palms, and many with hundreds of excellent reviews. These are a handful of the most highly rated:

Quad Bike Experience | A two hour tour that allows you explore the Palmeraie and Jbilets Desert on your quad bike. Includes a traditional mint tea in a Berber village.

Camel Ride In Groves | This two hour tour includes an hour-long camel ride through the groves and tea in a traditional Berber village.

Camel Ride and Quad Experience | If you’d like to combine the two options above, consider this four hour tour with excellent reviews.

Imlil

Located in the Toubkal National Park, Imlil is the starting point for those off to climb Mount Toukbal , the highest peak in North Africa. That said, this isn't a spot only for adventurous types and even if you're not up for a challenging trek, this small village provides a wonderful insight into Berber culture.

This is a place that was on our Moroccan itinerary for so long, but needed ditching at the last minute when we fell head over heels for Essaouira - but we really hope to make it there one day!

Do it independently

There is no direct bus to Imlil. Instead you will need to take a bus from the Gare Routiere de Marrakech to Asni. From Asni, you can take a minibus or a taxi the rest of the way. Alternatively, you can take a shared or private taxi all the way.

This post has some excellent information for those wanting to hike Toukbal.

Take a tour

This Atlas Mountains Day Trip tour, where the guides are noted as excellent, takes you on an easy hike through the local countryside, finishing at a traditional Berber village.

How Far Is too far for a day trip?

If you read other ‘Best Day Trips from Marrakech’ articles, you’ll notice that many contain a greater number of suggestions. Read a little deeper however, and you’ll soon discover that many options on the list are more than a three hour drive each way.

We could have included these options within this blog post, but decided that we would limit our suggestions to one, places that can be accessed within a couple of hours with your own wheels, or two, locations that although some distance away, are a common day trip from Marrakech, and for which there are a number of reputable tours.

As much as you may wish to explore Morocco beyond Marrakech, we don’t believe that many of you would enjoy spending most of the day cooped up in a vehicle!

OUZOUD WATERFALLS

The impressive Ouzoud falls (with a total drop of 110 metres), located high in the Atlas Mountains, are probably one of the most popular destinations for day-trippers from Marrakech, and whilst we wouldn't personally recommend visiting on the weekend (it gets crazy busy), they're a spectacular site in the week.

This impressive waterfall in the Middle Atlas Mountains is one of the most common day tours from Marrakech, and with good reason. Fed by the El-Abid River, the Ouzoud Falls drop a total of 110 meters (360 feet) across several tiers. Besides appreciating the views of this striking waterfalls set within the El-Abid Canyon, you can take a boat ride to the bottom of the falls or go swimming in the cool river.

Begin your walk overlooking the falls then follow the path down toward the base for an easy hike with spectacular views. It's also possible to take a boat ride for some up-close action.

If visiting in the summer, it would be incredible to cool off in the icy-cold river so be sure to bring your swimming costume!

Do it independently

We visited Ouzoud Falls on our 10-day Morocco road trip itinerary; if you have your own vehicle, you can make the journey in around two and half to three hours.

Alternatively, for the determined and those on a budget, we have been advised by a reader that it is possible to take public transport to the Falls, although it is very time consuming:

First you’ll need to head to the main bus station (Bab Doukkala) and grab a shared taxi to a small town called Azilal where you’ll transfer into another shared taxi which will take you to Ouzoud.

An approximate price per person round trip for this journey is 300 dh.

Take a tour

Consider the Ouzoud Waterfalls full-day tour from Marrakech, which gives you a decent amount of time at the falls.

You can also choose to upgrade your tour to include a boat trip beneath the falls.

Agafay Desert

Many people visit Morocco with dreams of spending a night in a Sahara Desert Camp. However, with even the most whistle-stop tour requiring at least three days out of your itinerary, it's not always a possibility.

Thankfully however, there is a more realistic alternative: the Agafay Desert, a rugged, almost luna-like expanse, just 40 kilometres south of Marrakech.

A popular weekend escape for wealthy residents of the pink city, in addition to the standard Sahara Desert camp experience it offers horse riding, dune-exploring and quad bike excursions.

Do it independently

As much as we love a good independent trip, for this particular destination we think you're best off taking a tour.

Take a tour

You have a couple of options here - either an all-day desert trip which includes time on the dunes as well as village visits or, for the more intrepid, a there's highly-rated quad adventure through the desert.

Half-day quad tours also available.

Lalla Takerkoust

Technically at the edge of the Agafay Desert, Lalla Takerkoust is a man-made reservoir built by the French nearly a century ago. Designed to provide irrigation and electricity to Marrakech, over years it has also come to be quite the popular tourist attraction - especially in the summer months when the heat in Marrakech can become stifling.

The lake offers a number of water-based activities such as paddle boarding, canoeing and swimming (naturally), and it’s possible to combine a trip here with some land-based activities in the Agafay Desert.

Do It Independently

There is no public transport to Lalla Takerkoust, but it is easy enough to get there with either your own rental car or a taxi.

Journey time by car is around 30 minutes.

Take A Tour

This five hour tour to Lalla Takerkoust includes transport to and from Marrakech and a fresh picnic lunch - you are then free to arrange any additional activities yourself.

Another popular activity is this two hour jet-ski experience. Transport to and from the reservoir and then 15 minutes on the a jet-ski before heading back to the city. Personally we feel that this is a tad rushed, but may suit someone on a tight schedule who wants to experience a little outside of Marrakech.

Planning for Marrakech?

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Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate

Quite possibly the most popular day trip from Marrakech (and one that surely delights every person that makes the effort), is a journey across the Tizi n' Tichka mountain pass to the city of Ouarzazate and spectacular Ait Benhaddou.

Famed for their involvement within the movie industry, Ouarzazate is known as the Holywood of Africa (with most visitors focussing spending their time amongst the movie sets of the Atlas Studios), whilst the one thousand year old, UNESCO listed Aït Benhaddou is instantly recognisable as having provided the backdrop to such famous shows as Game of Thrones.

Both are well worth escaping Marrakech for the day - especially if you can be at Aït Benhaddou for sunset for a view that is nothing short of magical.

Do it independently

As a day trip, your only option to do this independently is with private taxi hire or car rental (buses take too long and are too infrequent); the journey time is around three hours providing you don’t stop for too many photos!

If you do go on your own, then make sure you read our guide to Ouarzazate.

Take a tour

This tour ticks all the boxes for a day trip including scenic drive, stop-off for photos, Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou. It comes highly recommended.

Ouirgane Valley

Lying approximately 60 kilometres south of Marrakech, in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, lies the dusty-red Ouirgane Valley.

A little more off-the-beaten-track than the day-tripping destination of the Ourika Valley, this is a place where despite some moves towards modernisation, much of the traditional Berber way of life continues, where you can hike between villages and enjoy an incredible backdrop that has existed for millennia.

Do It Independently

Travelling within the Ouirgane Valley is best done with your own vehicle - just be sure to take the paved R203 for an easy 1 hour and 20 minute drive.

Alternatively, jump on a bus from Marrakech to Asni (around one hour) and then transfer into a taxi - shared or otherwise - for the final 15 kilometres to Ouirgane.

If speed is more important than budget, hire your own taxi to reach Ouirgane directly.

Take A Tour

Tours to the Ouirgane Valley are less abundant than its Ourika counterpart, however there are a handful of options, like this full day tour which includes a camel ride, a stop at an organ oil cooperative, a 1.5 hour guided hike between villages in the Ouirgane Valley and a traditional lunch in a local Berber house.

Alternatively, if you’d prefer a day trip which focuses on hiking, this 9 hour private tour may be more appropriate.

Ourika Valley

Wonder where the locals go to cool off in the height of summer? That would be the Ourika Valley. Home to Siti Fatma, a bustling village with riverside restaurants and spectacular views, it has become increasingly popular over the last few years with tourists keen for some respite from the sweltering summer heat of Morocco.

And at just under an hour from Marrakech, it's the perfect day trip, especially if you take the time to hike to Setti Fatma (the seven waterfalls) which is an easy hike from the centre of the village.

Do it independently

Either hire a car from Marrakech (we only book and rent via AutoEurope) and drive to Siti Fatima, or take one of the collectivos from Jemaa el-Fnaa square. Young boys may insist that you require a guide, but you can hike to the waterfalls independently - just ask where the path starts.

If you are considering renting a car in Morocco, read this guide first with tips and advice.

Take a tour

There are a huge number of tours which offer day trips here, but one of the most popular, and highly rated is this Ourika Valley & Atlas Mountain Full-Day Tour. This includes a visit to see traditional Berber homes, a women’s argan oil co-operative, time at the waterfalls, and a stop at roadside souks.

Alternatively, you could join this super popular day tour which takes in the Atlas Mountains and its five different valleys: Ourika, Oukaimeden, Sidi Fares, Asni, and Tahnoaut. There’s an option to do this in a group or privately.

To see all the available tours, click here.