Private Atlas Mountains Day Trip

Why is Marrakech called the “Red City” and why is it so popular among tourists?

Marrakech, also known as the “Red City,” is a vibrant and enchanting city located in Morocco. Its bustling souks, stunning architecture, warm hospitality, and rich history make it one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations (voted as the eighth-best city for tourists in 2023, according to TripAdvisor).

What makes the medina of Marrakech special?

The heart of Marrakech lies withing its captivating medina, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a maze-like network of narrow streets and alleyways filled with vibrant colors, exotic scents, and lively markets. It is home to numerous historical landmarks, such as the iconic Koutoubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace, with its intricate tilework and lush gardens, and the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square, a real-life vibrant open-air theater.

What natural landscapes can be explored near Marrakech?

Beyond the city limits lie breathtaking natural landscapes waiting to be explored as well. The High Atlas Mountains offer outdoor enthusiasts opportunities for hiking, trekking, and the opportunity to explore unspoilt Berber villages, like the ones in the Ourika Valley, a picturesque destination known for its lush greenery and cascading waterfalls.

When is the best time to visit Marrakech?

In terms of climate, Marrakech experiences hot summers and mild winters. The best time to visit is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) when temperatures are pleasant for exploring the city and venturing into the surrounding natural landscapes.

What is the historical significance of Marrakech?

Marrakech’s history dates back to the 11th century when it was founded by the Almoravids. Over the centuries, it has been influenced by various dynasties, and it became and remained a political, trade and cultural centre for a long period.

Which gardens in Marrakech are worth visiting?

Marrakech is also known for its beautiful gardens: Jardin Majorelle, Jardin Secret, the Menara Gardens, etc.

Verified Guest Reviews

Awesome day trip!

“Everything was amazing! Our guide Abdul was nice and friendly the whole time. He was super helpful and we got to chat the entire trip. The guy who walked us up to the waterfalls was also super nice and made the walk much easier for us.
We got to see locals markets, the waterfalls and we had an amazing and authentic lunch with the locals.
I would 100% recommend.“

Eleonora V

(United Kingdom 🇬🇧)

☆☆☆☆☆

Awesome day with our private guide

“The day started early, but for a good reason. Everywhere we went, large groups of tourists came 30 min after us. So we got to see all the stops in peace. Prepare to have cash with you, all the stops had amazing goods and we bought from everyone 🙂
But, keep in mind that the trip up to the waterfall, is indeed upwards. So if you have bad knees or something that is not good for walking up or down, prepare yourself. But it was truly a great trip!”

Glenn K

(Norway 🇳🇴)

☆☆☆☆☆

Fantastic day trip

“We had a fantastic day out today with our guide, Abdo, to the Ourika Valley. We stopped at a number of Berber places to see how they make pottery, how they live, and of course how they eat. We had a late lunch in a typical Berber house with some delicious vegetable and chicken tagines. We also hiked 500 meters up to a waterfall with a local Berber guide who was terrific. The best part though was befriending a camel called BIs Bisou, who loved to be scratched behind the ears like a dog, fluttered her lashes at us and nuzzled our cheeks and necks. Got some great photos and memories of our day with Abdo.“

Grace S

(United Kingdom 🇬🇧)

☆☆☆☆☆

Beautiful trip to Ourika Valley

“Very interesting trip to the Berber villages and waterfalls in Ourika Valley. Everything was well organized and on time. The lunch in the Berber house was delicious. Abdul is a fantastic guide – very nice polite and a good and safe driver. Thank you for this beautiful experience.“

Michael F

(United States 🇺🇸)

☆☆☆☆☆

A lovely day out to the mountains!

“Taha was very prompt at collecting us from our hotel and we travelled in comfort from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains, stopping en-route to visit a pottery and an argan oil cooperative. Once at our destination we were met by a local guide, Fetah, who took us to visit the waterfalls. He was absolutely charming and was happy to adjust the pace of the walk for my mother who is not so agile. The valley area is stunning and there are lots of tempting shops selling local crafts as you ascend the path. We only visited the first waterfall as we didn’t have the correct footwear for proceeding further and the path doesn’t really suit those who don’t like a bit of a scramble. We enjoyed the shops instead and then re-joined Taha who drove us to a local Berber house for a delicious tagine lunch. We then headed back to Marrakech. Many thanks to Taha for being an excellent driver and to Fetah for his patience and cheery nature. A super day o“

Heather B

(United States 🇺🇸)

☆☆☆☆☆

Lovely day trip

“Lovely day out of the chaos of Marrakech into the peaceful green mountains. Our guide was great – perfect English, good sense of humour, very knowledgeable, on time. The lunch was the best we had in our whole time in Morocco and camel ride was good fun too. Beware the “walk” to the waterfall is more of a climb and some rock scrambling in places – wear sensible shoes!.”

Alison D

(United Kingdom 🇬🇧)

☆☆☆☆☆

Private trip to the mountains

“My daughter and I did the private Atlas Mountain day trip. Our guide Taha picked us up at the hotel on time, a friendly, polite and nice young man. All the activities were well organised, very friendly people everywhere. Another local guide Abdul took us in the mountains to the waterfalls, wonderful! Also he was extremely friendly. The local lunch was very good. We can also recommend the camel ride option. Next time we surely book again with One Life Trips! A big thank you to Taha for this wonderful day! “

Annick C

(Belgium 🇧🇪)

☆☆☆☆☆

Atlas Fun Day

“Great day trip to the Atlas Mountains. Our driver Abdullah was great, on time and spoke decent English. Our camel ride was perfect- short but in a pretty place. The hiking guide who took us up the hike to the falls, a different Abdullah, was terrific and paid attention to our abilities on the rocky path. Anyone who does not know, becoming a mountain guide in Morocco is a big deal. I felt very safe with Abdullah. It is not a strenuous hike but it was good to be with a knowledgeable guide.nice to be able Best tagine of our trip for lunch!“

Ruth D

(United States 🇺🇸)

☆☆☆☆☆

Excellent Scenic Tour with Fantabulous Guide

“We recently took this fabulous tour with a small group. Our guide was Achraf, a very knowledgeable and talented young man who shared interesting facts and trivia about Morooco and this tour in particular. We took lots of photos and enjoyed a small lunch by the beautiful ourika waterfalls. It was an extremely pleasant day and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. We can not recommend this tour and guide enough. We were promised a great scenic day out and this was truly the case!“

Sophie P

(Netherlands 🇳🇱)

☆☆☆☆☆

Beautiful

“Beautiful experience! We had a professional and gentle driver called Abdoul. He helped us also with the local langues (berber and arabic) as mediator with local tour guides. The trip was comfortable and flexible. A very nice experience!“