Day Trip 3 Valleys to Atlas Mountains

Day Trip 3 Valleys  to Atlas Mountains

The first Valley of the trip is that of the Lalla Takerkoust reservoir, which supplies Marrakesh and the surrounding area with water from the snow melt of the High Atlas. Here there are stops to take photos of the wonderful scenery over the lake.

We then pass the mausoleum of Moulay Brahim, a well-known Moroccan Sufi saint who died in 1661. Here you can have tea with a local Berber family, who will show you the traditional hammam and bread ovens.

Passing the Toubkal National Park we reach Asni, a small Berber village, which is famous for its permanent as well as for its weekly soukhs.

The road to the Ourika valley is bordered by gardens, fruit trees, small villages, summer houses, as well as cafés and restaurants. Lunch will be here at one of the many river-side cafés and restaurants where the tajines have been slowly cooking over a charcaol fire awaiting your arrival! You can sit under the trees by the river, or even, at tables in the river itself.

The Ourika river descends from the High Atlas, passing by Asguine, Aghbalou, Oulmes and finally the village of Setti Fatma. From here it is possible to follow the river up-stream with a local guide showing you the way.
It takes about two hours to the last of seven waterfalls and to descend again. The wild life includes painted frogs, the Moorish gecko, falcons, the crimson winged finch, poplar trees and weeping willows. Alternatively you can spend more time trekking in the hills before returning to Marrakesh in the late afternoon.