Setti Fatma Waterfalls
The walk to the Setti Fatma waterfalls in the Ourika Valley: how long the tours give it, how hard the rocky trail is, what to wear, and what to do if you would rather not climb.
The Setti Fatma waterfalls are a chain of falls on a mountain stream above Setti Fatma, the village at the end of the Ourika Valley road, 63 km by road from Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakech. The Moroccan National Tourist Office puts the village a short distance from seven waterfalls that cascade from the rocks above. There is no road to them: you walk from the road end, on a rocky path that climbs beside the stream. The day tours from Marrakech are built around the walk, and on Marrakech City Life SARL’s Marrakesh: Ourika Waterfalls, Atlas Mountains, Guide + Lunch, from $16 in current promotion (usually $21) a person, checked November 2026, it is guided and optional.
The calendar above is Marrakech City Life SARL’s day from Marrakech, with 26,978 reviews (checked November 2026).
The short answer
If you can manage uneven steps and some climbing over slippery rock, do the walk: the day is built around it. Wear shoes with grip and take water. If you cannot, or would rather not, wait at a riverside restaurant in Setti Fatma: on Marrakech City Life SARL’s day and several others the walk is optional, and the river is the next stop anyway.
Where the walk goes
The road up the Ourika Valley ends at Setti Fatma, where the vans park. From there the walk follows the river, crosses it on small bridges and climbs a side valley to the first falls, among rocks, trees and small pools. We found no published length or grade for the walk from a tourism office or park, so this page gives the times the tours set aside for it rather than a distance.
How long the tours give the walk
| Tour | Time for Setti Fatma and the walk | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| Marrakech City Life SARL, Ourika Waterfalls, Atlas Mountains, Guide + Lunch | About 80 minutes at Setti Fatma, then about 80 minutes by the river | Guided, optional |
| Mountain soul trips, Riverside Lunch & Waterfalls Hike | About 2 hours 40 minutes at Setti Fatma | Guided |
| Vibrant Vistas Marrakech, Ourika Valley Trip with Waterfall Hike | About 80 minutes in Setti Fatma and about 1 hour 30 minutes for the hike | Guided, with a local mountain guide |
| Click Excursions, Ourika Valley Private Day Trip | The hike takes about 1 hour | Guided; free time by the river instead if you prefer |
Times from the listings’ own itineraries, November 2026. The walk’s pace is the group’s, so these are the time on the spot, not a walking time.
The minutes are the ones each tour sets aside, from about an hour to about 2 hours 40 minutes. If the waterfalls are the point of your day, take one that gives them more time; if the river and the lunch matter as much, 80 minutes is the usual share.
Check dates for the waterfall day
How hard it is
The tours agree on the ground and differ on the grade. On Marrakech City Life SARL’s day the trails are rocky, uneven and sometimes steep. On MOROCCOFIRSTGATE’s Ourika Valley, Atlas Mountains, Waterfalls the hike is rated moderate, with some climbing, slippery rocks and narrow paths, and you may have to step into water. On GMG - PDL Excursions’ Ourika Waterfalls and Anima Garden day the walk is suitable for beginners and slightly challenging in parts. Read together, it is a walk for steady feet and good shoes, not a hike that needs training.
Who should skip it: the tours rule out wheelchair users and people with limited mobility, and several are not offered to people over 70 or recommended for pregnant women. The age limits for children differ by tour, so read the one you book.
What to wear and bring
- Shoes with grip. Trainers with a good sole or walking shoes; one tour suggests water shoes for the wet stretches. Not sandals with a smooth sole.
- A hat, sunscreen and water. Several tours list all three; water matters most on the climb.
- A light jacket. The mountains can be cooler than Marrakech.
- Cash. For drinks, the cooperative shop, lunch if you did not book it, and tips, which several tours list as not included.
Who leads the walk
On several tours a local guide leads the walk in the valley. Marrakech desert activities’ Ourika Waterfalls, Atlas Mountains, Guide & River Lunch includes a local guide for the Setti Fatma walk, and on its private day an English or French-speaking guide meets you in the valley. Marrakesh Travel Services’ Ourika Valley & Atlas Mountains Waterfalls includes an English and French-speaking driver and lists a guide among its exclusions: ask before you book who leads the walk on that day.
Water in the falls
The waterfall is a natural mountain stream, and its flow varies with the season and the rainfall, so how much water you see depends on the weeks before your visit. The same rain that fills the falls can raise the river: in heavy rain the walk is the part of the day to give up. Ourika Valley weather has the flood-alert system and where to check before you go.
More Ourika Valley Tours
Ourika and Atlas Day Trips with Open Dates
Day trips from Marrakech with live availability. Pickup, what is included and cancellation terms are on each listing.
The Walk to the Falls, with a Guide
Marrakech City Life SARL's day gives about 80 minutes at Setti Fatma for the guided walk, with pickup in Marrakech and time by the river after. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates