Best Time to Visit the Ouzoud Waterfalls
When to visit the Ouzoud falls: the tourist office's best months, summer heat and crowds, what heavy rain does to the falls and to the boat ride, and winter day trips from Marrakech.
The Moroccan National Tourist Office names March to May and September to November as the best periods for the Ouzoud region, and calls the summer very hot and the winter mild by day and cool in the evening. The day trips from Marrakech were on sale on every date we read, from November to March. The one thing the season changes on the day is the boat: in heavy rain or high water it can be suspended. In the wetter months, Click Excursions’ Option 2 on Marrakech: Ouzoud Waterfalls with Boat Trip & Optional Lunch, with a local guide and the boat ride, gives the boat’s time to the guided walk or free time when the boat cannot run: US$21.02 a person on 27 November 2026 and US$23.36 on 20 January and 10 March 2027 (checked November 2026).
The calendar’s from-price, US$14 on promotion, usually US$16, checked November 2026, is Option 1, self-guided; pick Option 2 for the guide and the boat. Free cancellation until 24 hours before.
Month by month
| Months | What the tourist office says | What it means on a day trip |
|---|---|---|
| March to May | One of the two best periods | A comfortable walk down and back up |
| June to August | Very hot | The climb back up in the heat, and crowds at the basin |
| September to November | The other best period | Heavy rain can come in autumn, as it did in October 2026; the boat may stop after it |
| December to February | Mild by day, cool in the evening | Shorter days; departures were on sale on the January date we read |
Seasons from the Moroccan National Tourist Office’s Azilal page, checked November 2026.
Summer brings the biggest crowds to the falls. Aujourd’hui le Maroc described the summer influx of young people looking for somewhere cool in its article of 26 June 2026, which was about drownings in the basin; swimming and the macaques has what the commune said. Among the notes on Marrakech City Life SARL's day: Ouzoud can be busy at weekends and in the peak seasons.
After heavy rain
Rain changes the falls more than the calendar does. Le360 reported on 20 October 2026 that after more than four hours of heavy rain over the High Atlas, from the Sunday night, the falls had an exceptional flow on the Monday morning and drew many visitors.
High water has a cost. In heavy rain, or when the water flow is too strong, the boat ride can be suspended by the local authorities or the boat operators. A reviewer of RED CITY TRANS's day wrote on 4 October 2026 that the boats were not running because of rain a couple of days earlier, and a reviewer of Ando Travel Ltd's day lost the boat to a storm on 23 October 2026. On Ando Travel Ltd’s day a boat ride that did not happen is refunded at EUR 2 a person; on Click Excursions’ day the time goes to the guided walk or free time instead.
The paths and steps are also slipperier when wet. Wear shoes that grip; the walk, the steps and the boat has more.
Winter day trips
The day trips do not stop in winter. Ando Travel Ltd’s options all started at 7:30 AM on 27 November 2026, 20 January and 10 March 2027, and Click Excursions’ shared options at 8:00 AM on 27 November. With about three hours on the road each way, a winter day leaves Marrakech early and returns after dark for part of the year. Bring a warm layer for the evening.
More from Marrakech
Marrakech Day Trips with Open Dates
Ouzoud days and other trips out of Marrakech with live availability. Pickup, inclusions and cancellation terms show on each day before you pay.
A Guide Even When the Boat Stops
Click Excursions' day from Marrakech: Option 2 has a local guide and the boat ride, and when weather stops the boat the time goes to the guided walk or free time at the falls.
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