If you’re visiting Marrakech and want to see another side of Morocco, a day trip to the Atlas Mountains is a beautiful experience to plan for. Just outside the city, the landscape changes dramatically from the busy medina to quieter mountain roads, small villages, rivers, and wide open views.

The drive from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains is about 1.5 hours without traffic and can take closer to 2 hours with traffic, depending on the time of day and how many stops you make along the way. The further you get from Marrakech, the more the scenery changes, and there are multiple scenic overlooks along the way which you can have your driver stop at for photos. These stops ended up being some of my favorite moments of the day because I got stunning photos like the one you see below. The views stretch for miles, and the Atlas Mountains create the most beautiful backdrop for photos.

I booked this entire day-trip experience through Viator for $23, and for the price, I do think it was worth it. This particular tour was also a Viator Experience Award Winner for 2025, which makes sense because you really do get a lot for what you pay.

The Camel Ride Experience

One of the first stops on this trip was a camel ride. The ride itself is about 20 minutes, and while it’s a short experience, I still think it’s worth doing at least once.

Riding a camel is very different from riding a horse, especially when it comes to getting on and off. When the camel stands up and sits down, it does it in stages, and you really have to hold on because it feels like you’re being tipped forward and backward at the same time. It’s a little intimidating at first, but the camels are very gentle and calm, and the guide is next to you the entire time.

While the mountain setting was beautiful, I do think I would have preferred doing a camel ride in the Agafay Desert for a more dramatic and scenic backdrop. That’s something I would save for next time.

Visiting Berber Villages & the Argan Oil Collective

Another major part of this experience was visiting three Berber villages in the Atlas Mountains. These villages give you a glimpse into daily life in the mountains and how different it is from Marrakech.

One of the stops was at a women’s argan oil collective, where we were shown how argan oil is made by hand. Argan oil is used for so many things in Morocco, including cooking, skincare, and haircare, so seeing the process in person made me have a greater appreciation for it, because it is labor-intensive and requires patience.

While we were there, we were also served Moroccan pancakes (msemen) with honey, olive oil, and a traditional spread called amlou, which is made from argan oil, almonds, and honey. We also had fresh mint tea, which you’ll be offered basically everywhere Morocco.

Hiking in Imlil to the Waterfall

The last village we visited was Imlil, which is a small mountain village that serves as a starting point for many hikes in the Atlas Mountains, including treks up Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa.

From Imlil, we did a hike to a nearby waterfall that is about 1.5 to 2 miles round trip, and although that’s a relatively short distance for a hike, it is not an easy trek.

The trail is rocky, uneven, and uphill for much of the way. There are steep inclines, extremely narrow pathways, and loose rocks in certain areas. It’s doable, but it can be challenging, especially if you’re not used to hiking or if you have certain health conditions. That said, this hike may not be suitable for small children, older adults, or anyone with mobile impairments.

When you’ve finally made it to the waterfall, you have to cross a very rickety wooden bridge that’s more like an old ladder between two rocks to actually reach the falls. For some people in my group, that was a deal breaker, and they never crossed over, and it definitely made a few people nervous, so that’s something to be aware of before you go.

If you can make it across, though, the waterfall is quite beautiful and worth the effort for a photo op.

Lunch Overlooking the Mountains

At the end of the experience, there is an optional lunch on a terrace overlooking the Atlas Mountains, which is a lovely experience, but it costs extra for a meal. Since the entire experience is only $23, the lunch is not totally unreasonable and is actually 100% worth it in my opinion after a long hike.

Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?

I love when I get to experience more than one location within a country because it gives you a full picture of where you are. This day trip allows you to see a completely different side of Morocco—not just the cities, but the mountains, the villages, the people, and the landscapes.

For $23, I do think this tour is worth it and gives you a lot of value for the price. If you’re the kind of traveler who likes nature, cultural experiences, and seeing more than just the main city when you visit a country, this is a day trip I would recommend.

And if you’re deciding between doing this or staying in Marrakech the whole time, I would absolutely tell you to do this. Morocco is beautiful in the cities, but equally breathtaking in the mountains and worth the effort to see.

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