Day trips from Marrakech
Seven day trips leave Marrakech regularly, and the deciding factor is how much of the day you want to spend in a vehicle. Ourika and the Atlas valleys are the shortest at seven to nine hours from €19. Essaouira and Aït Benhaddou are the longest at eleven hours from €25. All include hotel pickup and an air-conditioned minibus.
Sorted by how long you are out
| Trip | Duration and price |
|---|---|
| Lalla Takerkoust & Agafay | 7 h · from €20 |
| Ourika valley | 8 h · from €19 |
| Atlas & 3 valleys | 9 h · from €19 |
| Imlil & Toubkal foothills | 9 h · from €25 |
| Ouzoud waterfalls | 10 h · from €25 |
| Essaouira | 11 h · from €25 |
| Aït Benhaddou & Ouarzazate | 11 h · from €30 |
How to choose
For mountains with the least driving, take the Ourika valley. For the most spectacular road, take Aït Benhaddou. For heat relief in July and August, take Essaouira. For water, take Ouzoud.
And one page per destination is all you will find here. We are not going to publish fifteen near-identical Essaouira pages to catch fifteen phrasings of the same search.
Book it
Aït Benhaddou & Ouarzazate Day Trip
Over the Tizi n’Tichka pass to the UNESCO ksar and the film studios of Ouarzazate.
from30 €/ personprivate available
Ourika Valley Day Trip
The closest mountain escape: a river valley, Berber villages and a walk to the waterfalls.
from19 €/ personprivate available
Atlas Mountains & 3 Valleys
Asni, Ourika and Oukaïmeden in one day, with a mule ride and tea in a Berber house.
from19 €/ personprivate available
Ouzoud Waterfalls Day Trip
The 110-metre falls, the boat under the spray, and the wild macaques in the olive groves.
from25 €/ personprivate available
Essaouira Day Trip
The Atlantic coast: ramparts, the fishing port, and 20 degrees when Marrakech is at 40.
from25 €/ personprivate available
Imlil & the Toubkal Foothills
The trailhead village under North Africa’s highest peak, and a guided walk through walnut terraces.
from25 €/ personprivate available
Lalla Takerkoust Lake & Agafay
A lake at the foot of the Atlas and the stone desert next door — swimming, lunch, no long drive.
from20 €/ personprivate available
Frequently asked questions
Which day trip from Marrakech is best?
Ourika if you want mountains without a long drive, Aït Benhaddou for the most dramatic scenery, Essaouira for the coast and cooler air, Ouzoud for waterfalls. There is no single best — it depends on how long you want to be in the vehicle.
Can I do a desert day trip from Marrakech?
Only to the Agafay, a stone desert 40 minutes away with no dunes. The real Sahara dunes need a minimum of two days.