Ouzoud Falls

The Ouzoud Falls are the highest waterfall in Morocco, where the river drops in a series of stages down ochre-red cliffs, more than a hundred metres in all, into a lush green gorge in the Middle Atlas, framed by olive trees and old water mills whose name, Ouzoud, gave the falls theirs. A path switchbacks down beside the cascades from the rim to the pools at the bottom, where small boats ferry visitors close to the falling water and rainbows hang in the spray. The wooded gorge is home to a troop of wild Barbary macaques, the tail-less monkeys native to the Atlas, which come down to the paths. It is the most popular day trip from Marrakech into the mountains, green and refreshing in contrast to the city and the desert, and busiest in the afternoons and at weekends.

What you actually see

• The falls - the tiered cascade down red cliffs, the tallest in Morocco.
• The Barbary macaques - the wild monkeys in the wooded gorge.
• The boat rides - small boats that carry you close to the base of the falls.
• The clifftop and gorge walks - the switchback path down and trails along the river.

When to go

Spring brings the strongest flow from snowmelt and the greenest gorge; early autumn is also good. Summer is hot but the pools and spray are refreshing. Mornings are quietest, as tour groups from Marrakech arrive in the afternoon. Weekends are busiest with local visitors.

Honest expectations

It is the classic Marrakech day trip, so it gets busy and the top of the falls is lined with cafés and stalls; the crowds thin as you descend the path. Do not feed the macaques, which are wild despite their tameness. The path down is steep and can be slippery in spray. Guides and boatmen expect payment, so agree prices first. The drive from Marrakech is long for a day return.

Nearby

The Bin el Ouidane lake and the Cathédrale des Rochers rock formations are in the wider Azilal region.