River restaurants
Tagine over the water.
Elfarissi1993 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Jean-Marc Astesana from Voisins le Bretonneux, France — CC BY-SA 2.0 · This photo was taken by Anton Zelenov. Please credit this with : Photo : Anton Zelenov in the immediate vicinity of the image. If you use one of my photos, please email me (account needed) or leave me — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wimmiden — CC BY-SA 3.0 · David Broad — CC BY 3.0 · Abdali90 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Abbas9 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mzximvs VdB from Brussels, belgium — CC BY-SA 2.0
A green valley in the High Atlas that begins about thirty kilometres from Marrakech and follows the Ourika River past Amazigh villages of earth houses on the slopes, walnut and apple orchards and poplars. It is one of the closest escapes from the city's heat to mountain air. Along the road are riverside restaurants and cafés, some with tables right over the water, serving tagine and tea, women's argan-oil cooperatives, and a weekly Monday market at Tnine Ourika. The valley also holds the Anima botanical and art garden. At the end of the paved road is the village of Setti Fatma, about sixty kilometres from Marrakech, where visitors climb with a local guide among the rocks to a chain of seven waterfalls; the first is easy to reach, while the higher ones need scrambling and proper shoes. The valley has no entry fee, while guides and restaurants are paid by agreement. It is about an hour and a half by car. Keep away from the riverbed after storms and heavy rain, as the water rises quickly.
Tagine over the water.
A rocky climb.
Earth houses on slopes.
High Atlas, south-east of Marrakech
The first fall is fairly easy; the higher ones need scrambling over rocks and proper shoes, best with a local guide.