Morocco’s waterfalls for your bucket list

Before we skip gaily to the crashing falls, there’s a couple of cheeky scamps to point out. Ouzoud Falls are free to visit, but lurking locals may insist a guide is mandatory. Ignore them or sling a few dirhams their way – a little Arabic will help you here. Keep those wits about you – the Barbary monkeys are a smidge more machiavellian. They look innocent enough, but will be off with your specs, quick as a flash. Still in possession of your trinkets? Good – there’s over 100m of plummeting water to gaze upon and ultimately swim in. When the conditions are just right, the lucky few get to see rainbows over the falls. Restaurants, a hiking trail and ample facilities make this a crowd pleaser, year round. Craggy, plunging and unmissable – even with the masses.

Hiking boots and swimwear. An unlikely but essential combo to negotiate Morocco’s waterfall treks. And when we say trek, we really mean it here. Though at Akchour, the fun starts near the carpark. The manmade dam and small falls are pleasant enough, but they’re just a hint of what’s to follow. Plough on for an hour to reach your Morocco waterfalls amuse bouche. A petite set of cascades to inspire you to carry on. Another hour of climbing puts you at the Akchour Falls. This does mean negotiating narrow paths and clinging to some tree branches on spray-misted slippery sections. Questionable health and safety aside, your bravery will be well rewarded. A tower of water flows past orange rocks and lush green moss into an inevitably showstopping pool. It’s not unusual to find nimble types who’ve made the climb with an instrument or two. To be fair, the acoustics aren’t bad.

With enough rainfall, Paradise Valley is a lush oasis in an otherwise arid spot. A 30-minute schlep puts you at the heart of the action, passing palms, pink hibiscus flowers and dogs lazing in the sun. Surrounded by tree-lined cliffs, the mountains step down in climb-tempting ledges, with streams finding their way to the river below. Plunge pools – complete with agile daredevils plunging into impossibly blue waters, and hastily set up snack stalls very much set the scene. The falls themselves? Immouzer des Ida Outanane Cascades are impressive – when they’re not running dry. There are more spectacular Morocco waterfalls, but the valley itself is leafy by Moroccan standards – rainy season or not.

So far, we’ve covered Morocco waterfalls with facilities, vendors, guides and plenty of footfall. Imi n’Ifri falls is blissfully free of those.

Yes, the waterfalls are a little less obvious – but therein lies the thrill. This definitely isn’t a ‘park up the hire car, point your camera and leave’ gig. You’ll be hiking for a couple of hours through rocky trails – where the eventual goal is a collapsed grotto, rather than the falls. But on route you’ll tip toe along dusty, orange ledges and catch glimpses of tumbling falls splashing into unreachable rock pools. A place for explorers.

Well-travelled types will tell you to tick Chefchaouen – Morocco’s Blue City, off your travel list. And we count ourselves among them. It’s a cobalt maze of ultramarine streets that will wow your eyes – and perhaps make you wonder who their paint supplier is.

But few will point you in the direction of the nearby waterfall. Ok, so it’s never going to compete with Ouzoud Falls. But just sometimes, a secluded spot by a waterfall, a locally sourced snack and a reasonably comfy rock – preferably in the shade, are the stuff travel-weary feet dream of.

If you find yourself surfing Morocco’s coastline in Essaouira, you’ll want to swing by the nearby falls. Goats climbing trees in the nearby argan forest prime you for falls that aren’t quite like the others. For starters, your walking route is a mule track.

A respectable 40-minute stroll leads you past more herds of goats and sheep to an impressive dune. Wade and slide your way over the sands and you’ll find the falls. Giant rocky steps make their way to the River Aghbalou below – follow that and you’ll reach a glorious beach in no time. But you’re here for the falls. The greenest spot in Essaouira makes picnicking essential.