Ouzoud Excursions
In short
The best time to visit the Ouzoud Waterfalls is spring, from March to May. Visitors and guides usually report the strongest flow then, and average highs at the falls are 20.2 °C in March, 22.3 °C in April and 26.2 °C in May. March and April are also the wettest months, with 68 mm and 61 mm of rain over about 8 to 9 rainy days. Autumn is the most comfortable season for walking: highs fall from 30.0 °C in September to 20.3 °C in November. Summer is hot and dry, with highs of 35.3 °C in July and 35.1 °C in August and only 7 to 13 mm of rain a month; it is the busiest season and the time for swimming. Winter, December to February, brings highs of 16 to 18 °C, cold mornings of 3 to 5 °C and quiet paths. The falls flow all year from a karst spring. These figures are 1995-2024 model averages (Open-Meteo, ERA5), not station readings.
- Spring (March to May): strongest flow reported by guides, highs 20 to 26 °C
- Summer (June to August): highs 30.7 to 35.3 °C, almost no rain, busiest season
- Autumn (September to November): highs from 30 down to 20 °C, rain returns in October
- Winter (December to February): highs 16 to 18 °C, mornings 3 to 5 °C, quiet paths
- The falls flow all year; heavy rain can turn the water red-brown
- Averages 1995-2024 at the falls, from Open-Meteo (ERA5 reanalysis)
The best time to visit the Ouzoud Waterfalls is spring, from March to May. Guides and regular visitors usually describe the strongest flow in these months, the valley is green, and average highs at the falls sit between 20.2 °C in March and 26.2 °C in May. Autumn, from late September to November, is the most comfortable season for walking down to the foot of the falls and back up. Summer is hot, with average highs of about 35 °C in July and August, and it is the busiest season, but it is also the time for swimming. Winter is cool and quiet, with highs of 16 to 18 °C and cold mornings, and the falls keep flowing.
There is no bad month to see Ouzoud. The water comes from a karst spring and runs all year. What changes is the heat on the climb back up, the amount of water in the falls, the rain on the road and the number of people on the paths. This page gives you the monthly figures first, then what they mean on the ground.
What is the weather at Ouzoud, month by month?
Here are the monthly averages at the falls over thirty years, from 1995 to 2024. Temperatures are the average daily high and low; rain is the monthly total in millimetres; rainy days are days with at least 1 mm.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days (1 mm or more) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16.4 °C | 3.3 °C | 54 mm | 6.2 |
| Feb | 17.9 °C | 4.4 °C | 52 mm | 6.7 |
| Mar | 20.2 °C | 6.4 °C | 68 mm | 8.4 |
| Apr | 22.3 °C | 8.9 °C | 61 mm | 8.6 |
| May | 26.2 °C | 12.1 °C | 43 mm | 6.7 |
| Jun | 30.7 °C | 15.7 °C | 13 mm | 3.9 |
| Jul | 35.3 °C | 19.1 °C | 7 mm | 2.7 |
| Aug | 35.1 °C | 19.4 °C | 10 mm | 4.3 |
| Sep | 30.0 °C | 16.0 °C | 25 mm | 4.7 |
| Oct | 26.0 °C | 12.7 °C | 43 mm | 5.7 |
| Nov | 20.3 °C | 7.6 °C | 58 mm | 6.0 |
| Dec | 17.5 °C | 4.8 °C | 46 mm | 6.0 |
Averages 1995-2024 at the falls (32.0152 N, 6.7189 W), Open-Meteo historical weather data (ERA5 reanalysis), calculated on 23 October 2026. A model average for the site, not a weather station: real days vary.
Read the table in two halves. From June to September, the falls are hot and dry: highs of 30 to 35 °C, little rain, few rainy days. From October to May, the weather is mild to cool and rain comes back, peaking in March and April. In between, May and late September give the gentlest days of the year.
How should you read these figures?
We calculated these averages ourselves from the Open-Meteo historical weather API, which serves the ERA5 reanalysis, a global climate model fed with past observations. We took daily data for the exact point of the falls, 32.0152 N and 6.7189 W, from 1995 to 2024, and averaged it month by month. There is no official weather station at Ouzoud, and the nearest towns sit at different altitudes, so their published averages do not describe the falls well.
Three things to keep in mind:
- It is a model average for the site, not a station reading. It describes the typical weather of the area around the falls. The bottom of the gorge, in the spray, often feels cooler than the figure; the open path on the way back up, in full sun, often feels hotter.
- Real days vary. An average high of 22.3 °C in April includes cool, rainy days at 15 °C and warm days near 30 °C. A summer heatwave can push the afternoon well above the July average.
- Rainy days count small showers. A day with 1 mm of rain may be a short shower in an otherwise dry day. It does not mean a day of rain from morning to night.
Use the table to choose a season and pack the right clothes. For the day itself, check a local forecast two or three days before you leave.
What is each season like at the falls?
Spring, March to May: the strongest flow
Spring is the season most guides recommend, and the one we suggest to most of our guests. Visitors usually describe the falls at their fullest in these months, after the winter rains. We should be clear that nobody publishes measured flow data for Ouzoud, so this is a pattern seen by visitors and guides, not a figure.
The weather is mild: average highs of 20.2 °C in March, 22.3 °C in April and 26.2 °C in May, with lows from 6.4 °C to 12.1 °C. It is also the wettest part of the year. March gets 68 mm of rain on average over 8.4 rainy days, April 61 mm over 8.6 days. May dries out to 43 mm. A spring day at Ouzoud can start grey and end in sunshine, so a light rain layer belongs in your bag. The fields and olive groves around the falls are green, and the walk is pleasant in both directions.
Summer, June to August: hot, dry and busy
Summer at Ouzoud is hot. Average highs reach 30.7 °C in June, 35.3 °C in July and 35.1 °C in August, and even the nights stay warm, with lows around 19 °C in July and August. Rain almost disappears: 13 mm in June, 7 mm in July and 10 mm in August, over three or four days a month, often as short storms.
It is also the busiest season. Lonely Planet notes that the falls are especially busy on summer weekends, when many people come to cool off by the water. Summer is the swimming season: people bathe in the pools at the foot of the falls and downstream. We found no official rule on swimming, so if you swim, you do so at your own risk, away from the strong water under the falls, and with children within reach. The water is usually lower in late summer than in spring, partly because water is taken upstream for irrigation, but the falls do not dry up.
Autumn, September to November: the comfortable season
Autumn is the season we like best for the walk itself. Average highs fall steadily: 30.0 °C in September, 26.0 °C in October and 20.3 °C in November, with lows from 16.0 °C down to 7.6 °C. September is still dry, with 25 mm of rain. Rain returns from October, with 43 mm over about 6 days, then 58 mm in November.
Early autumn often has the lowest water of the year, at the end of the dry season. Once the autumn rains come back, the flow usually picks up again. The summer crowds thin out after the school holidays, and the climb back up from the foot of the falls is far easier at 26 °C than at 35 °C.
Winter, December to February: cool and quiet
Winter is the quiet season at Ouzoud. Average highs are 17.5 °C in December, 16.4 °C in January and 17.9 °C in February, which is pleasant for walking in the sun. Mornings are cold: average lows of 4.8 °C, 3.3 °C and 4.4 °C, so you leave Marrakech in a jacket. Rain is moderate, 46 to 54 mm a month over about six rainy days.
The falls flow all winter, and the paths and terrace cafés are calm, especially on weekdays. The light is lower and softer for photographs. Wet steps near the water need care, and the spray feels cold, so swimming is out of the question for most people.
What can you expect in each month?
Here is a short guide to each month: weather, water, crowds and clothes. Flow and crowds are described from visitor and guide accounts, not measured.
January
The coldest month: average high 16.4 °C, low 3.3 °C, 54 mm of rain over 6.2 days. The falls flow well after rain, and the paths are among the quietest of the year. Wear a warm layer, a jacket for the morning and shoes with grip.
February
Slightly milder, with a high of 17.9 °C and a low of 4.4 °C; 52 mm of rain over 6.7 days. The valley starts turning green. Few visitors on weekdays. Layers and a rain jacket.
March
Spring begins: high 20.2 °C, low 6.4 °C. March is the wettest month, with 68 mm over 8.4 days, and the flow is usually strong. Crowds stay moderate. Bring a light waterproof and a fleece for the morning.
April
High 22.3 °C, low 8.9 °C, 61 mm of rain over 8.6 days, the most rainy days of the year. Often the fullest falls and the greenest valley. Busier around European spring holidays. Layers, a rain jacket and grippy shoes.
May
A favourite month: high 26.2 °C, low 12.1 °C, rain down to 43 mm over 6.7 days. The falls usually still run strongly after the spring rains. Weekends get busier. Light clothes, a hat and a thin layer for the evening drive.
June
Summer arrives: high 30.7 °C, low 15.7 °C, only 13 mm of rain over 3.9 days. Swimming starts, and so do the crowds at weekends. Light clothes covering the shoulders, a hat, sun cream and water.
July
The hottest month by its average high, 35.3 °C, with a low of 19.1 °C and only 7 mm of rain over 2.7 days. Busy, especially at weekends and during school holidays. Leave early, walk down in the morning, rest in the shade at midday.
August
Almost as hot: high 35.1 °C and the warmest nights of the year, 19.4 °C. Rain 10 mm over 4.3 days, sometimes as a short storm. Water usually lower than in spring. The busiest month. Same advice as July, plus a dry bag for phones if you take the boat.
September
Still warm: high 30.0 °C, low 16.0 °C, 25 mm of rain over 4.7 days. Water is often at its lowest of the year. Crowds drop after the summer holidays. Light clothes, sun protection, and swimming is still possible early in the month.
October
High 26.0 °C, low 12.7 °C. Rain comes back, 43 mm over 5.7 days, and the flow usually rises with it. Calm on weekdays. Layers: warm afternoons, cool mornings.
November
Cool and fresh: high 20.3 °C, low 7.6 °C, 58 mm of rain over 6.0 days. The falls fill up after rain, and the paths are quiet. A fleece, a rain jacket and shoes with grip.
December
High 17.5 °C, low 4.8 °C, 46 mm of rain over 6.0 days. Quiet except around end-of-year holidays. Dress warmly for the early start and the shaded paths.
How does the water flow change, and what happens after a storm?
The Oued Ouzoud, also called the Oued Tissakht, is fed by a karst spring a few kilometres upstream, so the falls never run dry. The amount of water does change. Visitors and guides describe the fullest falls in spring and lower water in late summer, when the dry season has lasted for months and part of the river is used for irrigation. Some visitors also report a lot of water in winter after rain. We do not have flow measurements, and we have not found any published, so we do not give you numbers for the water, only for the weather.
Heavy rain changes the picture quickly. After a storm, the river carries soil from the fields and hills, and the falls can turn red-brown for a while. It is a striking sight, loud and powerful, but the paths get muddy, steps become slippery, and the boat may not run. Stay well back from the edges and from the water at the foot of the falls when the river is high.
Our weather policy is simple. If a storm or a closed road makes the trip unsafe on your date, we offer you a new date or a full refund of your deposit, your choice. If the forecast looks doubtful, we talk it over with you before the day.
When are the falls busiest, and what time of day is best?
Crowds at Ouzoud follow the calendar more than the weather. The busiest times are summer weekends and Moroccan school holidays, when many Moroccan families come for the day. Weekdays outside summer are the calmest, and winter weekdays can feel almost empty.
The time of day matters as much as the month:
- Morning is the best time. With a pickup around 8:00 in Marrakech and about 3 hours of driving, you reach the falls in late morning, before the midday groups.
- Midday brings the most people to the paths and to the terrace cafés. It is a good time to sit down for lunch in the shade.
- Afternoon is the hottest part of a summer day, which is exactly when most people climb back up. Leave yourself time to do it slowly.
- Evening is calm and beautiful in summer, when the heat drops and the light turns golden over the gorge. On a day trip from Marrakech you will usually be on the road home by then.
National and religious holidays also bring more visitors. During Ramadan, whose dates move each year, the rhythm of daily life changes, and the opening hours of cafés and restaurants can differ from the rest of the year. If your trip falls on a holiday, ask us when you book and we will tell you what to expect.
What should you wear and bring in each season?
One rule holds all year: wear shoes with a good grip. The path to the foot of the falls is paved but has many steps, and spray makes some stretches slippery. Beyond that, dress for the season.
| Season | Average highs / lows | Wear | Bring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar-May) | 20.2-26.2 °C / 6.4-12.1 °C | Layers, light trousers, grippy shoes | Light rain jacket, fleece for the morning, water |
| Summer (Jun-Aug) | 30.7-35.3 °C / 15.7-19.4 °C | Light, breathable clothes covering the shoulders | Hat, sun cream, sunglasses, plenty of water, swimwear and a small towel |
| Autumn (Sep-Nov) | 30.0-20.3 °C / 16.0-7.6 °C | Layers, grippy shoes | Light jacket, sun protection early in the season, rain layer from October |
| Winter (Dec-Feb) | 16.4-17.9 °C / 3.3-4.8 °C | Warm jumper or fleece, jacket, closed shoes | Rain jacket, dry socks, a warm layer for the drive back |
Also useful in every season: cash in small notes for drinks, lunch, the boat and tips, since entry to the falls is free; a small backpack to keep your hands free on the steps; and a plastic bag or dry bag for your phone near the spray. Our Ouzoud travel guide covers the walk, the boat and the macaques in more detail.
How does the weather affect the drive from Marrakech?
The falls are about 150 to 160 km from Marrakech, about 3 hours by road. The first part runs across the plain on the N8 towards Fès; the second part climbs into the hills of Azilal Province on regional roads with bends and some steep sections. Weather plays a part on both.
- Rain. On wet days, the mountain roads are slower, there can be mud or fallen stones after a storm, and visibility drops. Your driver adapts the speed and the stops. In rare cases, a heavy storm can close a section of road, which is when our weather policy applies.
- Heat. In summer, the plain is hot by late morning. Leaving early means you drive in the cooler hours and arrive before the strongest heat. Bring water for the car.
- Cold. In winter, the early morning is cold, and you will want a warm layer at the first stop. The falls sit at about 1,060 m, so the air there is fresher than in Marrakech.
For drive times from other cities, see our page on distances to Ouzoud.
How do we adapt the day to the weather?
All our trips are private: the vehicle and the driver are for your group only, a minivan for 1 to 7 people or a minibus for 8 to 17. That makes it easy to fit the day to the weather.
- Earlier pickup in summer, on request. The usual pickup is around 8:00, but in the hot months we can collect you earlier if you ask when booking, so you walk down to the falls in the cooler part of the morning.
- Flexible timing on site. You spend around 3 to 4 hours at the falls. With your own vehicle, you choose when to climb back up, when to eat and when to leave.
- A local guide who knows the paths. On our private Ouzoud tour, a local guide walks with you to the falls and the viewpoints and picks the safest paths when the steps are wet.
- A clear rule for bad weather. If a storm or a closed road makes the trip unsafe, you choose between a new date and a full refund of your deposit.
Our prices are per vehicle, for the whole group:
| Offer | 1 to 7 people | 8 to 17 people |
|---|---|---|
| Private Ouzoud tour, with a local guide at the falls | 220 € | 330 € |
| Private transport, return trip with free time | 180 € | 250 € |
| Premium private day, guide, boat and lunch included | 220 € + 35 € per person | 330 € + 35 € per person |
On the tour and transport offers, you can add a local guide (transport only: 40 € per group of 1 to 7, 80 € for 8 to 17), the boat ride (5 € per person) and lunch (30 € per person). You book online with a 50% deposit, by PayPal or bank card through PayPal, and pay the balance in cash to the driver on the day. Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before the trip.
Still deciding whether the long day is right for you? Read our honest answer to whether Ouzoud is worth the trip.
Sources
- Open-Meteo, historical weather API (ERA5 reanalysis), daily data 1995-2024 for the point of the falls, our own calculation
- Wikipedia, Ouzoud Falls (location, height, distance from Marrakech)
- Wikipedia, Cascades d'Ouzoud (altitude, swimming places; in French)
- Showcaves.com, Ouzoud (karst spring feeding the falls)
- World of Waterfalls, Cascades d'Ouzoud (visit report, flow by season)
- Journal of Nomads, Ouzoud Waterfalls (practical guide, swimming, free entry)
- Lonely Planet, Cascades d'Ouzoud (paved path, crowds on summer weekends)
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit the Ouzoud Waterfalls?
Spring, from March to May, is the best time for most visitors. Guides usually describe the strongest flow in spring, and average highs at the falls are 20 to 26 °C. Bring a light rain layer in March and April, the wettest months. Late September to November is the most comfortable season for walking. Summer works too, but it is hot, up to about 35 °C, and crowded.
What is the weather like at the Ouzoud Waterfalls?
The falls sit at about 1,060 m in the central High Atlas, with hot, dry summers and cool, fairly wet winters. Over 1995-2024, average highs ranged from 16.4 °C in January to 35.3 °C in July, and average lows from 3.3 °C in January to 19.4 °C in August. Most of the rain falls from October to May, peaking at 68 mm in March. July gets only 7 mm.
Is it worth visiting the Ouzoud Waterfalls in winter?
Yes, if you dress for it. The falls keep flowing in winter, the paths are much quieter and the light is soft. Average highs are 16 to 18 °C from December to February, but mornings start around 3 to 5 °C, and there are about six rainy days a month. Bring a warm layer and shoes with grip, since wet steps near the water get slippery.
Is it too hot to visit Ouzoud in July or August?
It is hot but manageable if you plan for it. Average highs at the falls are 35.3 °C in July and 35.1 °C in August, and the climb back up from the foot of the falls is the hard part. Leave Marrakech early, walk down in the morning, rest at a shaded terrace café at midday and drink plenty of water. Avoid the climb in the early afternoon heat.
Are the Ouzoud Waterfalls dry in summer?
No. The falls are fed by a karst spring and flow all year. Visitors and guides usually describe lower water in late summer, partly because water is taken upstream for irrigation, so the falls can look thinner in August and September than in spring. There is no published flow data, so treat this as a pattern seen by visitors, not a measurement. The falls never stop.
Does it rain much at the Ouzoud Waterfalls?
Moderately, and mostly from October to May. The 1995-2024 averages give 68 mm in March and 61 mm in April, the wettest months, with about 8 to 9 days of at least 1 mm of rain. Summer is very dry: 13 mm in June, 7 mm in July and 10 mm in August. Rain often comes in short spells, and heavy storms can turn the water red-brown.
Can you swim at Ouzoud in October?
Some people do early in the month, but it is the end of the season. October highs at the falls average 26.0 °C, lows 12.7 °C, and rain returns, about 43 mm over 6 days. The water is cooler than in summer and can turn muddy after rain. We found no official swimming rule; if you swim, you do so at your own risk, away from the strong water under the falls.
When are the Ouzoud Waterfalls least crowded?
On weekdays outside summer, and early in the morning. Summer weekends and national holidays bring the most visitors, many of them Moroccan families. Winter and late autumn are the quietest months. On any day, arriving by about 11:00, as you do with an 8:00 departure from Marrakech, gives you the paths before the midday groups and the lunch rush at the terrace cafés.
What should I wear to the Ouzoud Waterfalls?
Shoes with a good grip in every season: the path is paved but has many steps, and spray makes some stretches slippery. In summer, light clothes covering the shoulders, a hat and sun cream. In spring and autumn, layers and a light rain jacket. In winter, a warm jumper or fleece for the cold morning, since lows average 3 to 5 °C. Our full table by season is on this page.
