The Ourika Valley day trip was a much-needed escape from the chaos of Marrakech. As soon as we left the city, the air fe - Marrakech was buzzing. The kind of buzz that hums in your bones—motorbikes darting through alleys, market calls echoing through ochre walls, the heat hanging thick like a curtain. I didn’t realize how much I needed silence until we drove out of the city and the horizon cracked open into mountains. Lahcen picked me up just after breakfast, a soft smile and easy presence. The car moved steadily, and soon the pinks and reds of the city gave way to a rhythm of olive groves, sleepy villages, and terraced hillsides. With the window cracked open, a gentle breeze curled through, carrying the faint scent of eucalyptus. The radio played something old and Arabic—melodic, melancholic. I didn't understand the words, but I felt them. Somewhere near the foothills, we stopped briefly at an argan oil cooperative. Women sat in a quiet circle, cracking nuts with practiced grace. There was something sacred in their rhythm. The air smelled of roasted almonds, warm oils, and something softly floral—perhaps rose soap curing in the sun. I left with a tiny bottle I didn’t need, but somehow couldn’t not take. In Setti Fatma, Younes met us with a wide grin and a walking stick. The hike began gently enough, stone steps winding through fig trees and shallow streams. Monkeys chattered in the canopy above, flitting like mischievous ghosts. At one point, I slipped slightly on a wet rock, heart skipping, only to have Younes steady me and laugh, telling a story about how even the locals fall sometimes—“the valley chooses when you go slow.” The waterfalls weren’t enormous, but they had a quiet force to them. Rushing, alive. I stood near the edge of one, mist brushing my face, and felt the noise in my mind quiet down. Just the sound of water, breath, and birds. Lunch was served at a riverside table, feet nearly dangling over the stream. A clay tajine still bubbling, salad crisp with lemon, and bread torn by hand. Mint tea came last, poured high and steaming. I ate slowly, not just because of the heat, but because I didn’t want it to end. A nearby couple shared a laugh with me when I tried (and failed) to copy the way the locals pour tea with such flourish. Later, I sat on a stone, tea in hand, feet in the river, watching a small bird dart and dip above the water’s surface. Everything felt unhurried. I barely spoke on the drive back. Lahcen let the music play low, and the golden light stretched across the valley as we returned to Marrakech. I felt soft. Clean. Like someone had wrung out the noise. The ourika valley day trip from marrakech is about more than views—it’s about slowing down. For a single day, everything felt simple and still.

- Thank you to Yasser our driver for your kindness, your welcome your punctuality and responsiveness. Our stay was very pleasant. Many thanks also to HAMID who organized our stay with professionalism. I highly recommend these services

Day trip to Atlas Mountains & waterfalls - This was a brilliant day out. We came to play golf and met Abdo who co-ordinated our transfer from hotel to courses. His driving is safe & his car comfortable. He took us up to the mountains, visiting a Berber house, & had a guided walk around the waterfalls. We then had a delicious lunch & rest by the river with a beautiful backdrop of the mountains. The air was so clean & although there were lots of tourists, there was an air of tranquility. This was our best day out, thanks to Abdo.