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Just two weeks ago, I returned home from an amazing trip to Morocco with my friend, Amanda. Upon our arrival in Morocco, we checked into our charming riad. Then, the very next morning, we took a fun excursion to Ouzoud Falls which made the perfect Marrakech day trip! A great day trip plus a gorgeous riad made the perfect start to our Moroccan adventure!Marrakech Resources & Recommendations
- Dar Anika– A beautiful riad (where we stayed) in Marrakech
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- Lonely Planet Pocket Marrakesh– The best (and my personal favorite) guidebooks out there
Ouzoud Falls
We took our day trip to Ouzoud Falls with IGoMorocco and the tour cost approximately €21 per person. Considering the 3-hour drive each way and the 2-hour guided tour itself, this was a decent price.
Roundtrip Transportation from Marrakech
We were picked up in the main square which was a 10-minute walk straight through the medina from our riad. As I previously mentioned, it was 3 hours each way in a comfortable, air-conditioned mini-bus. On the way there and on the way back, we stopped for 15-20 minutes at convenience stores to get drinks, snacks and use the restroom.
However, we were not dropped off at the same place. The driver dropped everyone else off at the front door to their hotels. Since our riad is right on the edge of the medina this made it a little harder for a front door drop-off. But, he dropped us off even further away than where he picked us up. So we returned at 6pm and then had a 15-minute walk back to our riad.
Falls From Above
We started at the top looking down on the Falls. I remember thinking they looked just like they did in photos that I had seen.
I was excited to see the rainbow as this is one of the reasons I wanted to see the Falls. Do you see it? 🙂
We walked around behind the falls…
and got a great view of them from this overlook!
Monkeying Around
In addition to the rainbows, I was looking forward to seeing the monkeys that live around the Falls.
Isn’t this hilarious? I had seen a random monkey jump straight onto people’s heads as they walked past so I thought I would be on the lookout. However, one caught me off guard while I was taking a photo and the next thing I knew he was on my head and shoulders and then gone again!
A similar thing happened to me in Perú so I guess monkeys like me?
Don’t we all have days where we feel like this? One monkey in this photo has the other one trained well!
Falls From Below
After leaving the monkeys, we made our way to the bottom of the Falls where they came into our view completely. To me, it was a very unique backdrop as it is different from any other waterfall backdrop I have seen in the past.
At the end of our tour, before lunch, we had the option to take a boat ride out to see the Falls up close…
or go swimming. I wasn’t interested in doing either, but for those who are, on this tour, we only had 15 minutes to do either activity. It wound up being more like 20-25 minutes, but even if I had been interested, that wasn’t enough time for me to bother (especially for swimming).
Instead, I enjoyed my time wandering around getting photos of my favorite summer flower and watching and listening to the Falls!
The Logistics
We arrived at noon which was the hottest and probably busiest time of day, but because of the amount of time it takes to get there and back, it’s not exactly avoidable.
On arrival, we were met by a guide which, in my opinion, you don’t need and I don’t recommend if you are able to get there independently. It was cheaper for us to do this organized tour with the guide because we needed the transportation.
However, the guide was extra. So, if you are renting a car, then I would definitely recommend exploring on your own. Basically, the only reason I don’t recommend the guide is personal preference as I tend to like to explore places on my own timeframe.
Time for lunch was included on the tour, but the cost of lunch was not. We were taken to a restaurant on the property and given a choice of two entrees. The cost of lunch was around 10 USD per person which is a moderately priced lunch in Morocco.
You might also like: STEIN AM RHEIN AND RHINE FALLS: THE ULTIMATE DAY TRIP FROM ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND
Where To Stay
After our day trip, we relaxed in our beautiful riad, the Riad Dar Anika! For those who aren’t familiar with the term “riad”, it’s a traditional Moroccan house that has a central courtyard open to the sky. They typically are multi-story and have fountains in the courtyard. I absolutely love the concept and I loved our first riad…
Riad Dar Anika
Welcome to the Riad Dar Anika! Marrakech was our first stop in Morocco and after clearing customs, we were picked up and taken to this beautiful, luxury boutique riad located at the entrance to the old souk in the medina.
Lobby
When we walked in, were guided through a beautiful courtyard and into a welcoming room where we sat on a plush couch.
As they checked us in, they served us mint tea with milk and snacks such as dates and cookies. Our first Moroccan mint tea! In case you are wondering, yes, it was absolutely fantastic.
Mint tea is one of my favorite things to drink so I was definitely looking forward to having it all around Morocco!
Isn’t the pool beautiful? The room in the back, middle of the photo is the hospitality or “check-in” room.
Gorgeous flowers were found throughout, but I particularly loved these. Their colors were beautiful and they smelled heavenly!
Our Room
When we walked into our room, we were met with the most charming surprise. The room had so much personality!
There was Moroccan decor with flowers carefully placed in a pattern on the bed…
Arabic danced around the walls, an inviting fruit basket was on the table and the light fixture captured my attention immediately!
In the corner was the cutest sitting area. It was my favorite part of the room!
Not only was our bottle of water in a hot pink (my favorite color) holder, but there were more snacks arranged on different plates and all the mirrors made it look like they multiplied for miles. Really cool visual!
The Bathroom
And then we walked into this bathroom. The vanity and sink were just beautiful. I loved, once again, all the fresh roses and rose petals everywhere!
It just had an elegant feel and there were even towel sculptures-see the swan in the background?
The shower was quite roomy and had a stained-glass window.
Even the toiletries came in the cutest containers. I love different, unique and creative ideas like this!
Breakfast
Breakfast was included and it was AMAZING. It was our first Moroccan breakfast experience and I remember thinking, if this is a typical breakfast in Morocco, then I will be looking forward to breakfast every, single morning!
Once again, gorgeous flowers were on the table. I couldn’t help but think these orange flowers highlighted another awesome staple in Morocco. Freshly squeezed orange juice. It is delicious!! There is nothing else in it but juice straight from the orange. OJ will never be the same now!
And then there are these. Moroccan Crepes. With honey. And sometimes we made honey butter. Yes, please!!! Homemade, light, fluffy and completely amazing!
Can you see why we loved breakfast in Morocco?
Rest of the Riad
On one side there’s a rooftop terrace to relax on
and on the other side, grab a drink with a friend while you look out over Marrakech.
Everywhere I looked, there were the cutest sitting areas tucked away on every floor of the riad…
and areas like this where you could overlook the pretty courtyard!
Even the stairs were gorgeous!
After you get in from a day of exploring, head up to the roof where the restaurant comes alive for dinner.
Riad Dar Anika definitely lived up to its description of “luxury boutique” and it truly was a fun place to stay!
PIN IT!
I highly recommend a day trip to Ouzoud Falls if you have the time. Most people do an organized tour like we did mainly for the transportation. If you decide to go this route, IGoMorocco is a good tour company although there were the couple of things I mentioned I would have preferred to have gone differently.
If you are looking for a place to stay, Riad Dar Anika is very charming with friendly staff and beautiful rooms. It’s also very convenient to the medina!
I’m just getting started with Morocco and I have so much more to share with you so stay tuned! Have you been to Morocco? Where was your favorite place? 🙂
‘Til next time…
Trimm Travels,
I see so many posts on Marrakech and the markets so it was refreshing to see waterfalls! I love waterfalls and that boat ride looks like fun too. I didn’t realize it was a boat at first because the seats were decorated so nicely 🙂
Hi Candy, haha! Yes, the boat’s seats were decorated very nicely! And yes there are so many medinas in Marrakech (well everywhere in Morocco) that I agree the waterfalls were refreshing! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Yes! Like Candy said, I always see pictures of the market and little else. Thanks for showing us the bigger picture!
Hi Juliann-there is literally SO much more to Morocco than the medinas! It’s actually quite diverse in terrain and not just deserts and beaches! Thanks for reading! 🙂
wow that must have been amazing to see the waterfall from the top and yes i did spot the rainbow 😀 It did look very busy at the bottom but it did not look too busy at the top? Were there railings?
Also you riad looks insane! Was it quite expensive?
Hi Anna, it was much busier at the bottom than at the top for sure. But, there were some busy places at the top. They were just usually behind where I was pointing my camera! And no, there weren’t rails! 😱 So the guides were a little sensitive as to how close to the edge we got and I can’t blame them. Thanks for reading! 🙂
I loved Marrakech, but we never went to the waterfalls. It was in all the places that we went to, when we booked our desert trip. Did you go through your hotel or through a company, as we had hours of mint tea and negotiations on the prices for that with an excursion company! (I love Morocco’s barter system for that!) It looks so pretty, I am sad we didn’t take more trips while we were in Marrakech – although I spent more time in Essaouira which made my trip worth it!
Hi Amber, we went through a tour company and bought the tickets online so we went independently. They were really beautiful! Essaouira was also beautiful, we went there too! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Thank you for the tip about doing the tour on your own. I think often people pay for a guide thinking it’s easier that way, forgetting that sometimes exploring on your own is just as simple. Those Moroccan crepes look A.maz.ing.
Hi Leah, yes I agree. There are certain times where I think it’s best to have a guide, but most of the time I prefer being on my own and this is definitely one (if you are willing to rent a car or get your own independent transportation) where I think it would be better on your own! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Oh noooo! I missed this wonderful place while I had been to Morocco…next time I definitely have to go there – all your pics are awesome and I really feel a bit sorry now 😉 anyway – thanks for this great inspiration!
Hi Martina, oh well that just means you have to make another trip back, right? 😉 Thanks for reading! 🙂
Wow, I’ve been reading so much about Marrakesh recently and really want to visit, it’s the culture, the markets and the history I’ve been captivated by so far. But I had no idea this place existed either, just add that to the reasons we need to visit!
Hi Nicola, that’s what I’m hearing from a lot of people and honestly, I didn’t know they existed before we started planning our trip either. My friend with whom I went to Morocco found it and I’m so glad-definitely go see it! Thanks for reading! 🙂
I’ve never heard about these falls but they are truly amazing. So tall and wide! I can only imagine the sound. Fun seeing the people gathering near and the boat ride up close would’ve been fun. Then your riad is over-the-top luxury. I hadn’t given much consideration to Marrakech but won’t miss it when I finally get to that part of the world.
Hi Elaine, I had never heard of these falls either before we started planning our trip. It wasn’t something I was expecting in Morocco, but there’s so much to Morocco that I had no idea would be there. It’s very diverse. The Dar Anika was truly amazing! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Wow! For some reason this doesn’t look like anything I imagined Marrakech to be! I think desert not waterfalls – and it looks so beautiful. I am not too keen on monkeys but the rest looks absolutely lovely! I dream of being pampered in a riad!
Hi Andi, I definitely wasn’t expecting waterfalls in Morocco either. The Falls were about 3 hours outside of Marrakech which made for a great day trip. And yes, most people either are or aren’t monkey people so that’s understandable! Dar Anika will definitely pamper you, it’s awesome! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Wow, this is such a different side to Morocco than I’m used to seeing! I’ve been wanting to visit for a long time and I’m happy to see there are some outdoor adventures to be had! I love all the waterfalls as well – so beautiful and I love waterfall chasing 🙂
Hi Ashley, yes Morocco has a LOT of different sides that aren’t portrayed very often. There are waterfalls and mountains with snow caps and green places like oasis and gorges. It’s a lot more diverse than I ever imagined. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Those crepes do look super yummy and Ouzoud falls looks magical. For the record, monkeys always seem to be all about Ed. Where ever we go, they are always after him. One time we were at Dambulla temple in Sri Lanka and they came after his lotus flower offering. Another time in Thailand, one came into our treehouse and demanded the peanuts he was eating. Monkey do what they want.
Hi Jenn! I was literally laughing while reading your comment. I would be Ed in this situation. Monkeys love me (animals in general do, but monkeys are a different game)! I was just glad that this time in Morocco the monkey wasn’t actually trying to get anything of mine because he probably would have succeeded since he caught me off guard! The Falls were definitely magical and those crepes…I will never forget those crepes! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Holy cow! I never knew Ouzoud Falls existed, but now it’s definitely on my bucket list for sure! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Melissa, yes the falls were really beautiful and incredible. Thanks for reading! 🙂
I was in Marrakech years and years ago and had no idea about Ouzoud Falls. They look amazing! I’d love to see them from above and below. I’ve already had a monkey jump on my head and munch on my hair, so I’m good there. 🙂
Hi Lara, a monkey jumping on your head is a whole different experience, isn’t it? 😜 The falls are gorgeous, if you ever go back make sure you go see them! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Those falls are amazing! I’d want to picture them from every angle too. And so cool you saw the rainbow. Did you get scared with the monkey jumping on you? I would freak out. I used to like them, but after traveling Asia and having encounters with them, they’re kinda scary haha but still cute.
Hi Edith, the falls were absolutely gorgeous. As far as the monkey, I didn’t really want him jumping on me just because he was big. The one that climbed my entire body to sit on my head, wrap his tail around my neck and try to grab my phone and my bottle of water was small and I didn’t mind that. The only thing that scared me was just being taken by surprise. I was telling myself watch for the monkeys and then in a split, vulnerable second when I was taking a photo, bam! LOL! Thanks for reading! 🙂
I went to Marrakesh a few years ago and was so so so sad that I didn’t get to see Ouzoud Falls. I also do not think I could personally have handled 3 hours in a minibus, lol. Ummmmmmm, soooooo THAT RIAD IS BEAUTIFUL!!!! I saw the pool and was literally thinking, “hmmm, do I have enough time off I could go back?” lol
Hi Janiel-I’m sure you could find a private tour to do the Falls or rent a car. They are definitely worth it! And the Dar Anika is stunning and the staff is really friendly-try them out if you get back to Marrakech! Thanks for reading! 🙂
That hotel has my name written all over it! What a lovely getaway. I think the price for the tour to Ouzoud Falls is especially great. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Carmen, yes the riad is truly amazing-definitely check it out! The price for the falls was really good although there were a few things that I wish had been done differently or included. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Ouzoud Falls looks so pretty! It sounds like a great day trip attraction from Marrakech. I love how you can see the falls from the top and from below – giving you two unique viewpoints! I would consider visiting on our own so that we could avoid the mid-day heat.
Hi Cat, yes I think considering visiting on your own is a good idea-either by renting a car or finding a private tour! The falls are definitely worth it though, they’re so pretty! Thanks for reading! 🙂
How did I go to Morocco and not go to this waterfall?! I’m obsessed with waterfalls! What a bummer. I guess I just have to go back!
Hi Sarah-Exactly, just means you need to go back. The falls are gorgeous and the rainbows and monkeys make it that much better. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Beautiful Morocco! I´m still in love with this country! This road trip is still one of my top three travels and reading this post brings up so many memories!
Hi Pia-Yes, Morocco is really beautiful and much more diverse than people realize. I’m glad my post brought up so many good memories for you. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Wowza this place looks epic! I’d never heard if it before but your photos have definitely made me want to go!
Hi Mick-The falls are really beautiful. Definitely go if you get the chance. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Pics are stunning and nice photography
Hi Ram-Thank you and thanks for reading! 🙂
Just seeing your post..wow I would really live to visit the waterfall.. so lovely ….I will be going to Morroco next month please which tour company do the package of the waterfall for you, I wont mind if I can get their contact…taahnks
Hi BDiva-I’m SO sorry I’m just now seeing this comment. For some reason, it went to my spam folder and I happened to go into it for another reason and found your comment. I hope you found a great tour company to go with and you had a fantastic time in Morocco. In case, for some reason, you are still interested in the info, please let me know and I can email it to you. So sorry again and thanks for reading! 🙂