Ida Outanane
Paradise Valley to Ait Chleuh
A 14 km walk through the gorges of Ida Outanane, from the famous pools of Paradise Valley to the quiet valley of Ait Chleuh.
The practical bits
- Length
- Full day
- Time out
- About 8 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate to hard
- From Agadir
- 35 km
- Drive time
- 1h15
- Best time
- Spring, summer and autumn
- Phone signal
- Patchy phone signal
Most people see Paradise Valley from the car park: a walk down to the pools, a swim, and back. This day goes the other way. From the pools we keep walking, up the gorge and over into the valley of Ait Chleuh, which the guidebooks do not reach.
It is 14 km on foot, four to five hours with plenty of stops, and about 500 metres of climbing over the day. The route follows the water most of the way: rock pools the colour of green glass, palms in the gorge, and Amazigh villages on the slopes above. When the water is high and the weather allows, we swim.
This is the one real hike we offer, and we say so plainly. It is moderate to hard, depending on how fit you are and what the weather is doing. If you would rather have the pools without the walk, the Ait Chleuh Valley day is the gentler version of the same country.
What makes it special
- A 14 km walk from Paradise Valley into the valley of Ait Chleuh
- Natural pools you can swim in when the water is high
- Gorges, rock and palms in the Ida Outanane mountains
- Amazigh villages and a look at village life along the way
- Mint tea and local food on the route
The story
Paradise Valley is named for what it looks like: a green gorge with palms and clear pools ringed by mountains, an hour from the coast. Ait Chleuh, further up in Ida Outanane, is mountain and village country, and it is still mostly the people who live there who know it.
What you can do here
- Hiking, four to five hours with stops
- Swimming in the natural pools when conditions allow
- Photography
- Visiting the villages and meeting the people who live there
- Mint tea and a local meal
Everything here is included in the day if you want it, and nothing is compulsory. Tell us in advance what you are hoping for and we will plan around it.
When to come
Spring is the best of it: everything is green and the pools are usually at their fullest. In summer we set off early and stay out of the midday heat. Autumn is quiet and good for walking. In winter it can be cold and the rock slippery, so we watch the forecast.
What to bring
- Plenty of water
- Proper walking shoes — there is rock and some steep ground
- Sun hat and sunscreen
- Clothes you can walk in comfortably
- Swimwear and a change of clothes if you want to swim
- A light snack
Good to know
- This is a 14 km walk with about 500 m of climbing. Tell us honestly how fit your group is and we will plan the pace.
- Keep back from the edges of rocks and drops.
- Do not go into the water when the current is strong or after rain.
- Phone coverage comes and goes along the route. Do not rely on it.
Other trips
Half day or full dayAit Lahcen Waterfalls
Waterfalls, pools and a palm oasis an hour from Agadir — with an optional climb to a 1 160 m summit looking back at the coast.
- Distance from Agadir
- 32 km
- Drive time
- 1h
- Difficulty
- Easy to moderate
Private tripAsk for a price
Half dayAit Chleuh Valley
A green valley in the Ida Outanane mountains with water running all year, reached on foot through an old Amazigh village.
- Distance from Agadir
- 43 km
- Drive time
- 1h15
- Difficulty
- Easy
Private tripAsk for a price