Oukaimeden by Car from Marrakech

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Oukaimeden is the highest place you can easily drive to from Marrakech: a wide grassy plateau surrounded by peaks, used by shepherds in summer and by skiers in winter. It also holds one of the most important collections of prehistoric rock engravings in the High Atlas. We are Choumacars, a car rental agency in Marrakech open 24/7. This guide explains the drive to Oukaimeden step by step, with estimated times, the road conditions by season, the right car, parking, what to do on the plateau, and the mistakes to avoid.

What is Oukaimeden and where is it?

Oukaimeden is a mountain resort and plateau in the High Atlas, about 80 km south-south-east of Marrakech, according to Wikipedia. Its ski area lies between about 2,600 and 3,200 metres and has six ski lifts.

Outside the ski season, the plateau is a summer pasture where Amazigh shepherds bring their flocks, as they have done for thousands of years. It lies within the Toubkal National Park. The air is cool even in summer, which makes it a popular escape from the heat of Marrakech.

Oukaimeden is also known for its rock art. Researchers have documented hundreds of engraved panels on the plateau since the 1940s; one study published by the Complutense University of Madrid examined 249 rock art stations with 1,068 figures, including weapons, animals and discs. Many engravings are linked to the seasonal use of the pastures by shepherds.

How far is Oukaimeden from Marrakech by car?

Oukaimeden is about 80 km from Marrakech, a drive of 1 hour 30 to 2 hours each way depending on the season and traffic in the Ourika Valley. The last part, from Aghbalou to the plateau, is a steep mountain road with many bends, where speed is low.

Times are estimates for dry weather. On snowy weekends, traffic from Marrakech can make the last section much slower.

What is the route from Marrakech to Oukaimeden, step by step?

The route from Marrakech to Oukaimeden follows the Ourika Valley road south-east to Aghbalou, then turns onto the branch road that climbs to the plateau. Here it is in order, with estimated times from the Medina.

1. Leave Marrakech to the south-east (0 to 15 min). Follow the signs for the Route de l’Ourika.
2. Cross the Haouz plain (15 to 40 min). A straight road between olive groves and villages.
3. Drive through Tnine Ourika (about 40 min). The market town at the entrance of the valley; busy on its Monday market.
4. Reach Aghbalou (about 1 h). Leave the main valley road and take the branch road signed for Oukaimeden.
5. Climb to the plateau (1 h to 1 h 45). Hairpins, steep gradients and wide views over the valley. Use low gears and stay in your lane.
6. Arrive at Oukaimeden (1 h 30 to 2 h). Park near the resort buildings or the lifts.

Our guide to the Ourika Valley by car describes the first part of this route and the stops along the river.

The climb itself is the most demanding part of the day. The road gains a lot of height in a short distance, with hairpins, exposed sections and few places to pull over. In summer, the main hazards are minibuses coming down fast and goats on the road; in winter, compacted snow and black ice in the shaded bends, especially early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

What can you do at Oukaimeden?

At Oukaimeden, you can ski or sledge in winter when there is enough snow, walk on the plateau and the surrounding slopes in summer, look for the prehistoric rock engravings, and enjoy the views of the High Atlas peaks. Many visitors simply come for lunch in the cool air.

• Skiing (winter): six lifts, according to Wikipedia. Snow cover varies a lot from year to year.
• Walking (spring to autumn): easy walks on the grassy plateau, longer hikes on the slopes with a local guide.
• Rock engravings: panels spread across the plateau. Ask a local guide to show you the main ones and never touch or mark the stones.
• Views: the peaks around the plateau and, on the way up, the Ourika Valley below.
• Lunch: a few restaurants and stalls near the resort buildings, more limited outside the ski season.

Which car is right for Oukaimeden?

The right car for Oukaimeden depends on the season. From spring to autumn, a compact car or SUV is enough on the dry tarmac. In winter, choose all-wheel drive with good ground clearance, because snow and ice are common on the climb from Aghbalou.

• Volkswagen Touareg: all-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox, our first choice for winter trips. See the Volkswagen Touareg page.
• Range Rover Sport: all-wheel drive and comfort for a family. See our 4×4 rental in Marrakech.
• Hyundai Tucson: a two-wheel-drive SUV, comfortable on dry roads from spring to autumn.

On a steep climb with many hairpins, an automatic gearbox makes the drive more relaxed. Compare models on our page on automatic car rental in Marrakech.

Where do you park at Oukaimeden?

At Oukaimeden, you park in the open areas near the resort buildings and the lower lifts. Attendants manage the busiest spaces in the ski season. Park on firm ground, never on snow banks or at the edge of the road, where snow ploughs need room.

In winter, park facing downhill if possible, so that you can leave easily if the snow gets heavier. Lock the car, leave nothing visible and keep the keys in a zipped pocket while skiing or walking.

How do you drive safely on the Oukaimeden road?

You drive safely on the Oukaimeden road by going slowly in the hairpins, using low gears on the descent, overtaking only with long clear visibility and leaving the plateau well before dark. The GOV.UK travel advice for Morocco notes that mountain roads become especially hazardous in bad weather.

• Use engine braking on the long descent to Aghbalou.
• Give way to buses and minibuses on narrow sections.
• Watch for falling stones after rain and for ice in shaded bends.
• Stop only in lay-bys, never on a bend for a photo.
• Leave the plateau by 3 p.m. in winter to drive down in daylight.

Is the plateau a good day trip with children?

The plateau is a good day trip with children if you plan for the altitude and the cold. Children usually love the open space, the snow in winter and the flocks in summer, but the winding climb can cause car sickness, and the temperature drop surprises many families.

• Stop halfway on the climb from Aghbalou, in a lay-by with a view, to give children a break.
• Dress in layers: hats, gloves and a warm jacket in winter, a fleece even in summer.
• Bring snacks and water, since choices are limited on the plateau outside the ski season.
• Keep sledging to gentle slopes away from the lifts and the road.
• Use sun cream: the sun reflects strongly on the snow at altitude.

Should you drive yourself or join an excursion?

Driving yourself is the right choice if you are comfortable on mountain roads and want to choose your timing, for example arriving early on a snowy day or stopping in the Ourika Valley on the way back. An excursion with a local driver suits travellers who have never driven on snow or prefer not to tackle the hairpins.

If you drive yourself in winter, the most important decisions are the car and the timing: an all-wheel-drive model, a departure before 8 a.m., and a return before the light fades. Outside winter, the road is an ordinary mountain road that most confident drivers enjoy. Two drivers sharing the wheel make the day easier, and a second driver can be added on the same conditions as the main driver.

What should you pack for a day on the plateau?

For a day on the plateau, pack warm layers, water, snacks, sun protection and a charged phone with offline maps. Keep your driving licence, passport or national ID and the vehicle documents in the car for police checks on the way.

In winter, add gloves, waterproof shoes and a change of socks; in summer, a rain jacket for afternoon storms. A small first-aid kit and a torch are useful in any season. Leave valuables at your hotel in Marrakech rather than in the parked car.

What are the local tips for Oukaimeden?

Our main local tip for Oukaimeden is to leave Marrakech before 8 a.m. on snowy weekends, when families from the city head to the plateau and the road becomes slow. A few more points from our team:

• Fill up before leaving Marrakech. There is no station on the climb.
• Bring warm clothes in every season; the plateau is much colder than the city.
• Carry water, snacks and sun protection. The sun is strong at altitude.
• Hire a local guide for long walks and for the rock engravings.
• Combine with the Ourika Valley on the way back, for lunch by the river.
• See the other routes. Our guide to the Atlas Mountains by car from Marrakech compares the mountain drives.

Which mistakes should you avoid at Oukaimeden?

The most common mistake at Oukaimeden is driving up in winter with a city car without checking the snow. The others are just as easy to avoid.

• Leaving the plateau late and driving the hairpins in the dark.
• Ignoring the forecast on stormy summer afternoons.
• Parking on snow banks or at the edge of the road.
• Touching or marking the rock engravings.
• Underestimating the cold and the sun at altitude.
• Overtaking on blind bends on the climb from Aghbalou.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Oukaimeden from Marrakech?

About 80 km south-south-east of Marrakech, according to Wikipedia, a drive of 1 hour 30 to 2 hours via the Ourika Valley and the branch road from Aghbalou. On snowy weekends, allow more time for traffic on the climb.

Do I need a 4×4 to drive to Oukaimeden?

From spring to autumn, a normal car is enough on the dry tarmac road. In winter, all-wheel drive is strongly recommended because of snow and ice on the climb. Choumacars offers the Volkswagen Touareg and the Range Rover Sport with all-wheel drive.

Can you ski at Oukaimeden?

Yes, when there is enough snow. The ski area lies between about 2,600 and 3,200 metres and has six lifts, according to Wikipedia. Snow cover varies a lot from one winter to the next, so check conditions before driving up.

What are the rock engravings of Oukaimeden?

They are prehistoric carvings on rocks across the plateau, showing weapons, animals and discs. A study by the Complutense University of Madrid examined 249 rock art stations with 1,068 figures, linked to the seasonal use of the mountain pastures.

Is Oukaimeden worth visiting in summer?

Yes. In summer the plateau is green, cool and quiet, with shepherds and their flocks on the pastures. It makes a good escape from the heat of Marrakech. Return by mid-afternoon, when storms can form over the mountains.

Can I combine Oukaimeden and the Ourika Valley in one day?

Yes, because the road to Oukaimeden branches off the Ourika Valley at Aghbalou. Visit the plateau in the morning and stop for lunch by the river on the way back. Setti Fatma, at the end of the valley, is better left for another day.

What do I need to rent a car for Oukaimeden?

With Choumacars, you must be at least 22, have held your driving licence for at least 2 years and show a passport or national ID. Insurance is included, mileage is unlimited and there is no young driver supplement.

Ready to drive to Oukaimeden?

Choose your dates and a car from our fleet, and tell us if you plan a winter trip so that we can suggest an all-wheel-drive model. For more about renting in the city, see our page on car rental in Marrakech.