The famous Ouzoud Falls, known locally as “les Cascades d’Ouzoud," are a popular tourist attraction because the cascades are very tall and the river gorge is very scenic. To visit Ouzoud Falls you’ll need to take a long trip along the winding road from Marrakech to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, but the journey is worth your while.
Ouzoud is Berber for "grinding grain” and the hydro-powered mills on the top of the falls are still in use.
To see the falls from up close, follow a looping trail that takes in various viewing platforms. You’ll be crossing rickety wooden bridges and climbing a steep, rocky slope up countless stairs. There is little shade, so bring good walking shoes with anti-slip soles and also a backpack filled with sunscreen and bottled water. Along the way you will likely encounter wild macaque monkeys, so remember to secure your bag.If you don’t mind getting wet, you can journey right up to the bottom of the powerful falls in rafts, accompanied by a guide. You may want to bring a raincoat and protective bag for your phone or camera. Bring your swimmers too, because you might get tempted to dive in to swim under the falls.
Most tour operators have made meal deals with the on-site restaurant for shared traditional tagine dishes, offered at a set price per group member. You can also just take a picnic to have by the river or near the top of the falls. Or, bring some dirhams to purchase drinks and snacks from the little shops and vendors along the way. Don’t feed the monkeys your lunch though. Locals sell peanuts which you can feed to the monkeys while you get your photo taken.
Ouzoud Falls is about a 2.5-hour drive from Marrakech. The nearest village is Tanaghmeilt, situated high in the Moyen Atlas Mountains in Morocco’s fertile Azilal Province. Most foreign visitors come here as part of a tour, which takes a full day and includes meal and refreshment breaks. If you drive yourself, you can park in the designated car park, enter the site for free and explore on your own. It’s best to come in spring, when the melting snow from the mountain peaks drastically increases the flow of the falls.
