MinnBeef

I've been researching many different companies that seem to offer pretty much the same day trips from Marrakech and at similar prices. My question--which of these two destinations would you recommend if you only had time for one of them? Both appeal to my interest in getting out of the city and spending a day in nature. I enjoy hiking and it looks like I'd be able to do that at either destination. The Atlas Mountains around Imlil look beautiful, while the Cascades d'Ouzod look stunning. The only reason right now I lean towards Imlil is that all the tour companies show it as a 1 1/2 hour drive from Marrakech, while the Cascades are a 3 hour drive. So this translates into 3 extra hours in the car that day to vist the Cascades. But are they much more spectacular than the Imlil scenery? Your recommendations please. (PS-I'll be there in April)

lily3

We spent 2 nights in Imlil this past April during a 3 week trip to Morocco - loved it and would highly recommend it. You asked about a day trip, but if you could spend a night (or 2 if you wanted to hike a lot) I think that would be even better. April is a great time to visit, though by end of April when we were there, the almond blossoms had already flowered. We stayed in this place http://www.douar-samra.net/homepage.html, in a tiny village just above Imlil, and it was one of our favorite experiences in Morocco. But we didn't go to Cascades d'Ouzod, so can't compare them.

lamiab

Hi! 3 hours it's really worth it to go and spend a day in the stunning Ouzoud falls u can wake up early and leave your hotel at 7 or so without stop, it can be less than 3 hours, I visited this place it is amazing

MinnBeef

Thank you both. So one vote for each, so far. Would appreciate any and all additional comments.

MinnBeef

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DarrenHumphrys

Sallam 'lekum Minn Beef,
Well done on continuing your planning for your Moroccan adventure. I wholly recommend heading up to Imlil for at least a day, if not overnight as wisely mentioned by lily3. Mountain Voyage (www.mountain-voyage.com), local manager of the Kasbah du Toubkal, offers “A Day with the Berbers” that departs Marrakech daily at 9am, returning at around 5pm. The itinerary includes a visit to a local souk (market), lunch at Kasbah du Toubkal, followed by a relaxing hammam session or alternatively a mule ride/short trek to an outlying Berber village for mint tea with the locals. My apologies to lamiab for not recommending the Cascades d'Ouzoud. A picturesque sight it is but I (or my clients) have previously encountered a bit of hassle there by the local informal guides as well as the resident Barbary macaques, plus I lean towards Imlil for an April visit when the surrounding peaks may hopefully still be snow-topped...an awe-inspiring sight not usually accredited with travel in Africa.
Happy New Year by the way, MinnBeef.
Darren

MinnBeef

Darren, thank you for weighing in and breaking the tie. I'm leaning towards Imlil. I know the Cascades would be beautiful but from everthing I've read, visting them from Marrakech will require 6 hours of round trip car time. Imlil, I believe, is just 90 minutes from Marrakech and will provide plenty of hiking opportunity, as well as visting a Berber village or two. And I love the idea of the snow capped mountains that you mentioned. Perhaps with wild flowers in bloom at the same time???

DarrenHumphrys

MinnBeef,
Yes, Imlil is about 90 minutes from Marrakech and offers as much/little hiking as you desire. The previously mentioned Marrakech-based Mountain Voyage can organise guides/mules should you wish. April might be a bit soon for wild flowers, although in our current state of environmental turmoil, who knows? It sounds like your itinerary is coming together nicely.
Regards,
Darren

TimCullis

The wild flowers are in bloom late Jan/early Feb, so April is just fine given the altitude of Imlil.

This is a video of what at a time was a track from Imlil to Tizi n'Tamatert taken in January... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAPIjbEAVX0

A couple of years later and the track is now a tarmac road... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z48E7mNPsDg

lily3

We were there end of April last year, there were wild irises flowering which were lovely, and the higher mountains were still snow capped. If you are there earlier in April, you might catch the almond trees blossoming, we were told we missed that by a few weeks.

MinnBeef

Very cool, lily3. I will be there around April 10, so that sounds like an incredible sight to see!

TimCullis

My almond trees in southern Spain are in flower mid February to end March. Morocco is a couple of weeks earlier, the video below at Tafraoute was taken 20 Feb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4un_3pAOxQ

elaineontheroad

Can I make things even more difficult for you?? Sure, go to Imlil if you want to hike -- don't go for the village, that's for sure! Consider extending your day to Setti Fatma where you can still hike, the village is more interesting, and you can visit a saffron farm along the way. (www.paradis-du-safran.com) (This is NOT the one where all the tour buses go!) On the other hand, if you go up to Cascade d'Ouzoud, go just a little further to Demnate and Imi n'Ifri, and see the amazing natural bridge there. It's not anywhere near as commercialized or busy as the cascade, but is quite spectacular. It makes the longer drive much more worthwhile.

MinnBeef

Thank you for your feedback everyone. I have decided to go with a day trip to Imlil to hike through the Atlas Mountains. I will not have a car during my trip, so will be relying on the itinerary of the tour company I select. In the process of researching those now.