Is It Worth Going to Ourika Valley
Is It Worth Going to Ourika Valley?
Let’s face it: you’re in Marrakech, the souks have spun your brain like a tagine on a carousel, and you’ve sweated through three layers of linen trying to find your riad. You need air. Space. Maybe even a tree that’s not growing out of a rooftop bar. Enter: Ourika Valley, the green escape that everyone and their couscous-loving cousin says you must visit.
But is it actually worth the hype—or is it just the place influencers go to pose with donkeys? Let’s dive in, flip-flops and all.
The Journey: Buckle Up, Buttercup
It’s about an hour’s drive from Marrakech—depending on traffic, your driver’s playlist, and whether or not you stop for every roadside argan oil vendor. Spoiler alert: you will. Especially when a Berber woman starts cracking nuts with a rock and grinning like she’s got your future in that mortar and pestle.
The road winds through red earth, olive groves, and—wait for it—actual greenery. Like, the kind that’s not just a succulent in a clay pot. By the time you reach the valley, you’ll wonder if you’ve somehow crossed into a parallel universe where everything is cooler, quieter, and smells slightly of mint.
Waterfalls, Baby! (Sort of)
The crown jewel here is Setti Fatma, a village where everyone will tell you to “do the seven waterfalls hike.” Which sounds majestic… until you realize the first “waterfall” is more of a trickle over some rocks, and the hike involves scrambling up wet boulders behind a guy in flip-flops named Hamid who may or may not be your guide.
Still, once you make it to the higher cascades (some real water action here, promise!), the view is stunning, the air is crisp, and you might even forget about the donkey that tried to eat your sleeve an hour ago. Worth it? If you’re even slightly outdoorsy, yes. If not, there are cafés with chairs in the river where you can sit and let your feet soak while pretending you planned it that way.
Lunch by the River: Couscous with a View
Picture this: you’re sitting on a plastic chair in a stream, the sound of rushing water mixing with the sizzle of grilled brochettes, and someone’s grandma just served you the fluffiest couscous of your life. This isn’t five-star dining—it’s barefoot-and-delicious magic. And if your feet go numb from the cold water? That’s just part of the rustic spa package.
So… Should You Go?
If you’re looking for serenity, nature, and the chance to feel like you’ve left the noise of Marrakech 4,000 donkeys behind, Ourika Valley is 100% worth it.
Just don’t expect Swiss-level infrastructure or organized signage. This is Morocco with a splash of mountain spontaneity and a whole lot of heart. Also, goats. There will be goats. Possibly in trees.
So pack some snacks, brace yourself for an accidental quad workout, and go see what all the minty fuss is about. Ourika might not change your life—but it will make your Instagram look like you bathe in waterfalls on weekends.
Verdict? Worth it. Especially if you like your couscous with a side of cold feet.
