Marrakech Atlas Mountains tour: waterfalls, argan oil, lunch

Argan oil is still made by hand, the way it has been for centuries, and you watch it happen before breakfast.

A guided day tour from Marrakech to the Ourika Valley and Setti Fatma, with hiking to mountain waterfalls, a traditional Berber breakfast at an argan oil cooperative, and lunch served riverside. The route climbs into the Atlas Mountains, passes through working villages, and includes a seven-hour itinerary with an English, French or Arabic-speaking guide and hotel pickup from Marrakech.

Step-by-step itinerary

Atlas Mountains and Ourika Valley tour

• Depart early from Marrakech
• Visit women's argan oil cooperative
• Enjoy traditional Berber breakfast
• Travel to Setti Fatma village
• Hike to Setti Fatma waterfalls
• Have lunch by the river
• Return to Marrakech

The Experience

Seven hours, one vehicle, one guide. You leave Marrakech early and climb into the Atlas Mountains as the day opens, watching the terrain shift from city edge to steep valleys and stone villages built into the slopes. The drive takes you to a women's argan oil cooperative where you stop for breakfast—fresh bread with argan oil, honey, peanut butter and mint tea—and the women there show you how they extract the oil by hand, a process that has not changed in centuries. This is not a performance; it is how they work.

From there the route continues to Setti Fatma, a village known for its waterfalls. You hike with your guide through the Ourika Valley, following streams and passing through green terraced land, until you reach the cascading water. Lunch waits for you there—tagine, salads, couscous made with local ingredients—served at a riverside café where you can sit and listen to the water while you eat. The hike itself is the day's main activity; the guide sets the pace and knows the paths.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, which matters on the climb back down. Pickup is included from your Marrakech hotel, and the guide speaks English, French or Arabic depending on the group. Children from age one are welcome, and the itinerary suits most fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or serious heart conditions.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle throughout the day.
• local guide in English, French or Arabic.
• traditional Berber breakfast at an argan oil cooperative with mint tea, bread, argan oil, honey and peanut butter.
• guided hike to the Setti Fatma waterfalls.
• lunch beside the river with tagine, salads and couscous.
• hotel pickup from Marrakech.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Extra Smile Tours

Is this one for you?Escape the medina for a full day in the Atlas Mountains, where a local guide leads you through villages and valleys to hidden waterfalls, with argan oil breakfast and riverside lunch woven into the walk so you're never managing logistics.

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Top questions

What is the hike to the waterfalls actually like?

The hike to Setti Fatma's waterfalls follows streams through the Ourika Valley alongside your guide, who knows the paths and sets the pace. It is the main activity of the day, and the terrain is verdant valleys and rushing water rather than steep rock.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from my hotel?

No. Hotel pickup from Marrakech is included, and the same vehicle takes you through the Atlas Mountains and back at the end of the day.

What exactly happens at the argan oil stop?

You stop at a women's cooperative where Berber women make argan oil by hand using the traditional method. They demonstrate the process while you have breakfast—bread with argan oil, honey, peanut butter and mint tea—and you can watch and ask questions.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is it?

Yes, lunch is included and served at a riverside café near the waterfalls. The meal features traditional Moroccan cuisine—tagines, fresh salads and couscous—all made with locally sourced ingredients.

What languages does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English, French or Arabic, depending on the group composition.