Agafay, Ourika, Ouzoud, Essaouira, Ait Benhaddou and the Atlas villages: how long each one keeps you in the van, how much you walk, and which option includes what.
Agafay Desert
Ourika Valley
Ouzoud Waterfalls
Essaouira
Ait Benhaddou
Atlas & Imlil
Pick a day, or the first and last day you are in Marrakech. We check the booking calendar of every day trip on this page and show which ones still have places.
Duration: 7 h
Van each way: 40 min
Duration: 6 h
Van each way: 61 min
Duration: 19 h
Van each way: 75–100 min
Van each way: 75–100 min
Van each way: 75–105 min
Van each way: 50–110 min
Van each way: 3 h
Van each way: 2.5–3 h
Van each way: 2.5 h
Van each way: up to 3 h
Van each way: 3–3.5 h
Van each way: 2.5–3 h
Van each way: 3 h
Van each way: 3 h
Van each way: up to 3 h
Van each way: 3.5–4 h
Van each way: 3–3.5 h
Van each way: 80 min
Van each way: 60–120 min
Van each way: 75 min
Van each way: 80 min
Duration: 24 h
Van each way: 60 min
Van each way: 45–60 min
Duration: 7 h
Marrakech sits between the High Atlas, the Agafay plateau and a three-hour road to the Atlantic, so a single free day can mean a desert sunset forty minutes out or a kasbah on the far side of a mountain pass. The trips are good value and most come in several options. The price you see first is often the one without lunch, the boat or the local guide, so it helps to know which option fits your day.
Each trip here fits one kind of day best, judged on its itinerary and what the price covers. The full table with lunch rules and extras follows below.
Two to three hours of walking from Imlil through Berber villages to lunch at a family house in Ait Souka, about 80 minutes from Marrakech. Lunch is included, tips are not, and the walk can be shortened.
A quad ride of about 40 minutes on a shared double quad, a 15-minute camel ride, then dinner, live music and a fire show at Sun Sky Camp. The meeting points in town are free; hotel pickup costs extra.
About four hours at the falls. The entry option is self-guided, with transport and free time; the local guide and the boat ride come with options 1 and 3, lunch with option 3 or the private trip.
Ourika with a Berber house and mint tea, an argan cooperative and a certified local guide at Setti Fatma. Lunch only in the lunch option, and the paths are rocky and uneven.
Pick what you want to see and what matters most to you. The drive time on each card comes from the operator’s route.
Question 1 of 2
Question 2 of 2
No tour fits every answer, so here is the closest one.
Camel ride of fifteen to twenty minutes. Tea at a Berber camp, sunset and campfire.
Stop at Lalla Takerkoust lake on the way. Camel ride of twenty minutes at sunset.
Quad ride of about forty minutes on a shared double quad. Short camel ride and sunset at the camp.
One hour on a quad for two people. Briefing and practice before the ride.
Village walk with tea stops. Waterfall with a view of Toubkal.
Walk through Berber villages above Imlil. Lunch at a family house in Ait Souka.
Summit of Adrar Talamrout with views of Toubkal. Tizi n’Tamatert pass.
Guided walk in the Sidi Fares valley. Lunch at a Berber family home.
Ourika, Oukaimeden, Sidi Fares, Asni and Tahnaout in one day. Lunch in a Berber house.
Guided walk of about three hours in the Imlil valley. Views of Jbel Toubkal.
Imlil valley and the Agafay Desert on the same day. Lunch at a Berber house in Ait Souka.
Walk to the Setti Fatma waterfalls with a local Berber guide. Mint tea in a Berber house.
Guided walk to the Setti Fatma waterfalls. Berber house with mint tea.
Long stop at the Setti Fatma waterfalls. Small breakfast at an argan cooperative.
Local guide at the falls in every option. About four hours at Ouzoud.
About four hours at the Ouzoud waterfalls. Boat ride and local guide in option 1, 3 and private.
About four hours at the Ouzoud waterfalls. Boat trip and local guide in options 2, 3 and private.
Guided walk at Setti Fatma. Stops at Tnin Ourika and a village.
Free time for the beach, the medina and the ramparts. Argan cooperative on the way.
Surf lesson with a professional instructor. Surf equipment included.
About five hours in Essaouira. Medina, harbour and ramparts at your own pace.
Free time in Essaouira. Argan oil cooperative.
Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 m. Guided visit of the kasbah of Ait Benhaddou.
Guided tour of the Atlas Film Studios. Ait Benhaddou with an optional live guide in the kasbah.
About two and a half hours at Ait Benhaddou with a guide. Taourirt kasbah and cinema museum in Ouarzazate.
Also a good fit
Agafay sunset quad and camel ride with dinner, via Lalla Takerkoust lake
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High Atlas and five valleys day trip with guided walk and family lunch
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Atlas Mountains and five valleys by minibus, lunch and entrance fees included
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Imlil valley walk in the High Atlas with camel ride, lunch at extra cost
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Atlas villages and Agafay Desert in one day, with lunch, camel ride and a longer walk
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Ourika Valley and the Setti Fatma waterfalls with a hike, lunch as an option
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Ourika waterfalls and Atlas villages with guide, lunch only as an option
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Ourika Valley waterfalls hike with long time at Setti Fatma, lunch as an option
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Essaouira day trip with free time for beach, medina and ramparts, lunch as an option
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Essaouira coastal day trip with five hours in town, lunch in one option
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Ouarzazate, Ait Benhaddou and Atlas Studios day trip, studio entry paid on site
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Sorted by number of reviews. Tap the Reviews or Price header to re-sort.
| Photo | Trip | Destination | Duration | Lunch | Costs extra | Reviews ↕ | Price ↕ | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Agafay quad, camel & dinner Moroccoguidesmile | Agafay Desert | About 7 h | Dinner included | Hotel pickup | ★ 4.8 (46,493) | €21per person | Book now |
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Ouzoud Falls, options from self-guided Ando Travel Ltd | Ouzoud Waterfalls | 11 to 12 h | Option 3 or private | Guide, boat, lunch | ★ 4.6 (40,769) | €16per person | Book now |
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Agafay camel ride & dinner Mouslih tour | Agafay Desert | About 4 h | Dinner included | Pool, drinks | ★ 4.6 (40,091) | €15per person | Book now |
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Ourika waterfalls & Berber house Marrakech City Life SARL | Ourika Valley | About 7 h | Separate option | Lunch | ★ 4.9 (26,708) | €15per person | Book now |
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Agafay quad hour & dinner TRIGADOS | Agafay Desert | About 6 h | Dinner included | Pool | ★ 4.7 (26,458) | €18per person | Book now |
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Agafay quad, camel & lake Marrakech Day Trips - Tours | Agafay Desert | About 6 h | Dinner included | Solo quad | ★ 4.8 (15,430) | €18per person | Book now |
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Essaouira, five hours in town marrakech best trips | Essaouira | About 11.5 h | Separate option | Town guide, lunch | ★ 4.9 (13,803) | €13per person | Book now |
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Three valleys & waterfalls Art de Cuivre Travel | Atlas & Imlil | About 7 h | Extra | Lunch | ★ 4.8 (12,213) | €20per person | Book now |
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Ait Benhaddou & Ouarzazate Click Excursions | Ait Benhaddou | Full day | Not included | Studio entry, lunch | ★ 4.7 (11,312) | €22per person | Book now |
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Essaouira on your own Click Excursions | Essaouira | About 12 h | Separate option | Lunch, stop surcharges | ★ 4.7 (10,718) | €9per person | Book now |
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Ourika hike, more time at the falls Mountain soul trips | Ourika Valley | About 7 h | Separate option | Lunch, drinks | ★ 4.9 (10,300) | €9per person | Book now |
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Ourika Valley & waterfalls Click Excursions | Ourika Valley | About 7 h | Separate option | Lunch | ★ 4.6 (8,309) | €11per person | Book now |
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Imlil hike with lunch Tours From Marrakech | Atlas & Imlil | About 9 h | Included | Tips | ★ 4.8 (8,246) | €21per person | Book now |
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Atlas & Agafay combination Tours From Marrakech | Atlas & Imlil | Full day | Included | Tips | ★ 4.8 (7,727) | €22per person | Book now |
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Agafay camp overnight Marrakechdesertcamp | Agafay Desert | Overnight | Dinner and breakfast | Quad, drinks | ★ 4.8 (6,966) | €51per person | Book now |
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Ouzoud Falls with local guide Trip Spirit SARL AU | Ouzoud Waterfalls | Full day | Separate option | Boat, lunch | ★ 4.8 (6,868) | €13per person | Book now |
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Ait Benhaddou, longer visit marrakech best trips | Ait Benhaddou | About 12 h | Not included | Studio entry, lunch | ★ 4.8 (6,093) | €21per person | Book now |
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Ouzoud Falls, choice of options Click Excursions | Ouzoud Waterfalls | Full day | Option 3 only | Depends on option | ★ 4.7 (5,132) | €14per person | Book now |
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Imlil walk & camel ride Marrakech Day Trips - Tours | Atlas & Imlil | About 7 h | Extra | Lunch | ★ 4.8 (4,754) | €10per person | Book now |
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Essaouira, small group Sahara Desert Trip | Essaouira | About 10 h | Not included | Food, town guide | ★ 4.7 (3,455) | €9per person | Book now |
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Ouzoud Falls, small group marrakech city travel | Ouzoud Waterfalls | 8 to 9 h | Not included | Boat, fee at the falls | ★ 4.9 (2,551) | €12per person | Book now |
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Ourika hike with villages KENZA Morocco Travel | Ourika Valley | 6 to 7 h | Separate option | Lunch, drinks, tips | ★ 4.9 (2,318) | €7per person | Book now |
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Five valleys by minibus Attractive Tours | Atlas & Imlil | About 8 h | Included | Tips | ★ 4.9 (2,314) | €62per person | Book now |
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Ait Benhaddou & Atlas Studios Marrakech desert activities | Ait Benhaddou | 11 to 11.5 h | Not included | Studio entry, lunch | ★ 4.7 (1,630) | €24per person | Book now |
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Talamrout summit hike Toubkal Hiking | Atlas & Imlil | About 10 h | Included | Gear rental, tips | ★ 4.9 (1,159) | €38per person | Book now |
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Five valleys with guided walk Morocco Inspiring Tours | Atlas & Imlil | About 8 h | Included | Driver tip | ★ 4.9 (532) | €79per person | Book now |
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Imlil & family lunch Trekking Morocco | Atlas & Imlil | Full day | Included | None listed | ★ 4.8 (509) | €24per person | Book now |
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Essaouira surf day Click Excursions | Essaouira | About 12 h | ★ 4.8 (154) | €58per person | Book now |
The price shown is the cheapest option of each trip as listed on GetYourGuide or Viator right now, and on day trips from Marrakech that option often leaves out lunch, the boat or the local guide, so check the option list before you pay.
Time in the van each way, the length of the whole day, the meal the price covers and how much you walk. Stops on the way, such as a coffee break or an argan cooperative, count as part of the drive.
| Trip | Van each way | Whole day | Meal in the price | Walking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agafay Desert evening with shared quad, camel ride and dinner show | Not stated | 7 h | Dinner included | Very little |
| Agafay Desert sunset with camel ride and dinner show, no quad | 40 min | 4 h | Dinner included | Very little |
| Agafay Desert quad bike hour with dinner show, no camel ride | Not stated | 6 h | Dinner included | Very little |
| Agafay sunset quad and camel ride with dinner, via Lalla Takerkoust lake | 61 min | 6 h | Dinner included | Very little |
| Overnight in an Agafay desert camp with dinner, show and pool | Not stated | 19–48 h | Dinner and breakfast | Very little |
| Ourika Valley and the Setti Fatma waterfalls with a hike, lunch as an option | 75–100 min | 6–7 h | Lunch option only | Rocky valley paths |
| Ourika waterfalls and Atlas villages with guide, lunch only as an option | 75–100 min | 7 h | Lunch option only | Rocky valley paths |
| Ourika Valley waterfalls hike with long time at Setti Fatma, lunch as an option | 75–105 min | 7 h | Lunch option only | Rocky valley paths |
| Atlas Mountains, Ourika Valley and waterfalls walk, lunch at extra cost | 50–110 min | 7–24 h | Lunch option only | Rocky valley paths |
| Ouzoud Falls day trip, from self-guided to guide, boat and lunch | 3 h | 11–12 h | Lunch option only | Paths and steps |
| Ouzoud Falls with local guide; boat and lunch depend on the option | 2.5–3 h | 10–24 h | Lunch option only | Paths and steps |
| Ouzoud waterfalls day trip in a small group, boat ride at extra cost | 2.5 h | 8–9 h | Not included | Paths and steps |
| Ouzoud waterfalls day trip; guide, boat and lunch depend on the option | up to 3 h | 1 day | Lunch option only | Paths and steps |
| Essaouira coastal day trip with five hours in town, lunch in one option | 3–3.5 h | 11.5 h | Lunch option only | Level town walk |
| Essaouira day trip with free time for beach, medina and ramparts, lunch as an option | 2.5–3 h | 12–24 h | Lunch option only | Level town walk |
| Small-group transfer to Essaouira with free time in town | 3 h | 10 h | Not included | Level town walk |
| Essaouira day trip with surf lesson, equipment and instructor | 3 h | 12 h | Not stated | Very little |
| Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou day trip over the Tizi n’Tichka pass | up to 3 h | 11–24 h | Not included | Kasbah climb |
| Ait Benhaddou and Ouarzazate guided day trip, Atlas Studios optional | 3.5–4 h | 12 h | Not included | Kasbah climb |
| Ouarzazate, Ait Benhaddou and Atlas Studios day trip, studio entry paid on site | 3–3.5 h | 11–11.5 h | Not included | Kasbah climb |
| Atlas Mountains full-day hike from Imlil with lunch and camel ride | 80 min | 9 h | Lunch included | Mountain hike |
| Imlil valley walk in the High Atlas with camel ride, lunch at extra cost | 60–120 min | 7 h | Not included | Mountain hike |
| Imlil day trip with village walk and lunch at a local family home | 75 min | 1 day | Lunch included | Short or adjustable |
| Talamrout summit day hike from Imlil, about 14 km | 80 min | 1 day | Lunch included | Mountain hike |
| Atlas villages and Agafay Desert in one day, with lunch, camel ride and a longer walk | Not stated | 1 day | Lunch included | Mountain hike per reviews |
| Atlas Mountains and five valleys by minibus, lunch and entrance fees included | 60 min | 8 h | Lunch included | Short or adjustable |
| High Atlas and five valleys day trip with guided walk and family lunch | 45–60 min | 8 h | Lunch included | Short or adjustable |
| Atlas Mountains, three valleys and waterfalls with camel ride, lunch at extra cost | Not stated | 7 h | Not included | Short or adjustable |
Drive times add up the legs and stops in each operator’s itinerary on the booking page, read in October 2026. The length of the whole day is the operator’s own figure.
Drive time, time on site and walking come from the operators’ own itineraries. Under each destination you find its most-reviewed trips.
A stone desert with views of the Atlas, close enough for an afternoon. Quad, camel, sunset and dinner at a camp. It is not the sand dunes of the Sahara.
The quickest way into the Atlas: a river valley with the Setti Fatma waterfalls, a Berber house and an argan cooperative. Busy on weekends.
Falls of about 110 m, according to one listing, with a boat ride below them and a long walk down. Which of guide, boat and lunch you get depends on the option.
The walled port on the Atlantic, with the Skala ramparts, the fishing harbour and a beach. Expect five to six hours in the van for four to five hours in town.
The fortified village beyond the High Atlas, plus Ouarzazate and its film studios. The drive over the Tizi n’Tichka pass is half the experience and most of the day.
Imlil at the foot of Toubkal, the valleys around Asni and Oukaimeden, and family lunches in Berber villages. Walking ranges from a short stroll to a summit.
See all six in one decision table
Also on this site: which season suits which destination; when a private trip is worth it; the trips of Click Excursions, the operator with the widest range here.
Most trips come in several options, and the first one shown is usually the simplest. These points from the product pages help you pick the right one.
Every cost item with the trips that include it or charge for it: what the price covers.
Guides and drivers collect most of the praise, along with the waterfalls, the Berber lunch and the value of the trips. One reviewer of the Ait Benhaddou day would have liked more time at the kasbah.
“Incredible value for money Nothing was too much for them Dallas looked after us so well Animals well cared for and so friendly Quad biking was great and we could see amazing views Evening show was brilliant Everything was so well organised Only tip- Take your own headscarf if you don’t want to …”
“Had a great day in Essaouira. The value is excellent and the car was comfortable. Expect some stops and typical «tourist traps», but no one is pushing you to purchase anything which is good. We bought tickets with lunch, and felt we got our moneys worth, but the restaurant was dim lit and indoors. …”
“A wonderful excursion offering excellent value for money given the various experiences included; the scenery was stunning, and Ali, the guide, was incredibly kind and extremely helpful throughout.”
“Great day trip from Marrakech, the mountains and Ourika valley are beautiful and worth visiting. Meryam, our guide, was very good and gave clear info in English and French. The local guide who took us up to the waterfall was also great. Only slight downside …”
“Best day out with Abdullah who was great company and very informative. He made the trip a very pleasant experience and we learned a lot. Highly recommend this trip with Abdullah.”
“Great tour! The waterfalls are so beautiful. The food was amazing and our guide Mohammed was so lovely. Would highly recommend!”
“I had been looking forward to going to Ait Benhaddou for a long time. The transportation was very comfortable. They picked us up near our riad, and despite the winding roads in the mountains, the trip was pleasant. The only downside was that we spent very little time in Aït-ben-Haddou. …”
“Abdul was extremely knowledge and friendly and helped make for an excellent trip. The Berber lunch was a great experience. Highly recommend.”
Reviews written after the day trip, from GetYourGuide.
“Three valleys” is a name, not a fixed route. The trip sold under that name by Art de Cuivre on Viator goes to Imlil, the village of Ait Souka and Moulay Brahim near Asni, with a short camel ride and a walk to a waterfall whose length you decide on the day. Lunch is extra, and a booking needs two people.
The five-valley trips on GetYourGuide by Attractive Tours and Morocco Inspiring Tours cover more ground by van: the Ourika Valley, the mountain road to Oukaimeden, Sidi Fares, Asni and Tahnaout. Both list lunch and all entrance fees as included. They run as a small group or private and cost more than the shared trips. If you want to walk rather than drive between viewpoints, the Imlil trips further up are the better match.
A hot-air balloon flight starts at sunrise in the countryside outside Marrakech; the flights and their breakfast options are compared on Marrakech Balloon. The sand dunes of Merzouga need a tour of two or three days, not an afternoon like Agafay; the multi-day desert tours, which also cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass and stop at Ait Benhaddou, are on Marrakech Sahara. For the evening after a day trip, the food tours through the medina and cooking classes, including one in an Atlas village, are on Marrakech Food Tour.
Each trip on this site was checked against its product page for the drive, the time at the destination, the walking, and what is included in its cheapest option. When you book through a link here, GetYourGuide or Viator pays us a small commission out of their margin; your price stays the same.
Start with how long you want to sit in the van. Agafay, the Ourika Valley and the Atlas villages around Imlil are between forty minutes and about an hour and a half away, so you spend most of the day at the destination. Ouzoud and Essaouira take two and a half to three hours each way, and Ait Benhaddou three to four hours over the Tizi n’Tichka pass. After that, pick by interest: water at Ouzoud, the sea at Essaouira, a kasbah at Ait Benhaddou, walking around Imlil, a desert evening at Agafay. If you are unsure, our pick for one free day is the Imlil hike with lunch by Tours From Marrakech.
Often not in the cheapest option, even when the title mentions lunch. Several Ourika, Ouzoud and Essaouira trips sell lunch as a separate, more expensive option, and the price you see first is the one without it. A few Atlas trips do include lunch at a family house. The Lunch column in our table shows the rule for each trip.
No. Agafay is a stony desert plateau less than an hour from Marrakech, good for a quad ride, a short camel ride and dinner at a camp. The sand dunes of the Sahara around Merzouga are a long drive away and need a tour of several days. Our sister site Marrakech Sahara compares those desert tours.
Enough for lunch if your option does not include it, drinks, tips for local guides and any entrance fee paid at the gate, such as the Atlas Film Studios on the Ait Benhaddou trips. At Ouzoud the boat ride is paid extra on several options.
Usually not at the door, because the vans cannot drive into the medina. Most operators send a nearby meeting point instead, often with the exact time by WhatsApp the evening before. One Agafay trip charges extra for hotel pickup and otherwise starts from central meeting points.
Yes, the trips keep running. Ramadan 2027 is expected from February to early March; the exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon. Some restaurants and shops change their hours during the day. Morocco usually turns its clocks back by an hour for Ramadan, so check the pickup time again if you booked before the change.
The short ones: Agafay, the Ourika Valley with the hike left out, and the Atlas trips where the walk can be shortened. Ouzoud, Essaouira and Ait Benhaddou mean a long day in a van, and the road to Ait Benhaddou winds over a high pass. Several listings name age or health limits, so check the card of each trip.
Every trip on this site can be cancelled free of charge up to a day before the start, according to the listings. One Ait Benhaddou operator also states that it postpones or refunds the trip when snow closes the Tizi n’Tichka pass.
Short drive or long one, lunch included or not: the table lists it for every trip.
Back to the table