Day Trips from Marrakech 2027: Best Excursions by Car

Close to the city, under an hour by car: the Agafay desert (28 km, about 45 min) and the Lalla Takerkoust lake (36 km, about 40 min). Both work as a half day or an afternoon and evening.

In the High Atlas foothills, about an hour and a half away: Imlil (65 km, about 1 h 25), the Ourika valley to Setti Fatma (65 km, about 1 h 35) and Ouirgane (63 km, about 1 h 20). These are the classic mountain days, with walking, river lunches and Berber villages.

Long full days, about three to four hours each way: the Ouzoud waterfalls (160 km, about 3 h 10), Essaouira (183 km, about 2 h 45) and Aït Benhaddou (188 km, about 3 h 55). They are possible in a day, but you spend half of it in the car.

Multi-day only: Zagora (349 km) and Merzouga (556 km, about 10 h 20 without stops). If you want sand dunes and a night at a desert camp, this is the trip, and it does not fit in one day.

The Ourika valley follows a river into the Atlas to Setti Fatma, where a footpath climbs past a series of waterfalls. The walk to the first fall is short but rocky, so wear shoes with grip. Restaurants along the river put tables at the water's edge, and lunch there is part of the day. Our Ourika day with a private driver starts at 900 MAD per car.

Imlil sits at the foot of Jebel Toubkal (4,167 m), the highest peak in North Africa. You do not need to climb it: a few hours' walk with a local mountain guide through walnut groves and Berber villages gives you the views. The road climbs through the Moulay Brahim gorge. Our Imlil day starts at 1,000 MAD per car.

Ouirgane is a quieter valley on the road to the Tizi n'Test, with a few country hotels and a dam lake. On the way back, the Lalla Takerkoust lake has views of the Atlas across the water and restaurants on the shore. A van for a group to the lake costs 700 MAD.

Agafay is a stony desert of bare, rolling hills southwest of the city, not a sand desert. Its pull is the open space and the view of the High Atlas behind it, close enough to Marrakech for an afternoon. Most guests ride a camel or a quad in the late afternoon, watch the sunset and stay for dinner at a camp.

Our Agafay trip costs 1,200 MAD per car and includes the driver's wait while you are there. The camp, dinner and activities are booked with the camp. In winter, evenings in Agafay are cold: bring a warm layer even if the day was sunny.

The Ouzoud falls drop about 110 m in three tiers into the El-Abid gorge, northeast of Marrakech. Paths lead down past olive trees to the pools at the bottom, where small boats take you close to the spray. Barbary macaques live in the trees around the falls.

The drive is about 3 h 10 each way, so leave early. You get three to four hours at the falls, enough to walk down, eat at one of the terraces and climb back. The falls are fullest in spring after the winter rain. Our Ouzoud day starts at 1,100 MAD per car.

Aït Benhaddou is a fortified village of earth buildings on a hill above the Ounila river, on the UNESCO list since 1987 and used as a set by many films. To reach it you cross the High Atlas on the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 m, a winding road with long views.

It is about 3 h 55 each way, which makes it the longest of the classic day trips. Our day goes on to Ouarzazate and starts at 1,400 MAD per car. If you want time inside the ksar and not only a photo stop, consider staying a night in Ouarzazate or adding it to a desert trip.

After heavy snow in winter the Tichka pass can close for some hours. Your driver checks the road the evening before and in the morning.

Essaouira is a walled port town whose medina has been on the UNESCO list since 2001. You walk the ramparts, the fishing harbour with its blue boats, and the lanes of woodworkers. It is often windy and cooler than Marrakech, which makes it a good escape in summer.

The drive is about 2 h 45 each way across the argan country, with cooperatives along the road where you can see argan oil being made. A day trip gives you four to five hours in town and costs 1,850 MAD per car. If you want to stay, a one-way transfer to Essaouira is 1,700 MAD.

Zagora is the nearest desert camp area with small dunes, two days with a stop at Aït Benhaddou and the Draa valley palm groves. Our 2-day trip starts at 3,000 MAD.

Merzouga, at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes, is the classic Sahara trip. The 3-day version, from 4,500 MAD, breaks the drive in the Dades valley and passes the Todra gorge. The 4-day version, from 6,000 MAD, adds a full day around the dunes, so you are not in the car every day. Both can finish in Fes instead of Marrakech.

Shared minibus tours sell the same destinations per seat, with fixed departure times, set stops and up to a full bus of other travellers. They cost less per person, especially if you are travelling alone.

With a private driver, the price is per vehicle, not per person: a sedan takes up to 3 guests and a van up to 7. You choose the departure time and the stops, and the driver collects you from your hotel, or from the nearest car access point for a medina riad. For a family or a small group, a private car often costs about the same as several group seats.

If you want a driver without a fixed route, hire one by the time: a half day costs 900 MAD and a full day 1,600 MAD.