Riad Shaloma in Marrakech

**Title: A Breath of Green After the Red — My Peaceful Escape to the Ourika Valley**
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Marrakech had been exciting, yes — but noisy, fast, overwhelming. I loved the maze of the souks, the calls of vendors, the hum of scooters that never seemed to stop. But after three days, I realized I was craving quiet. I wanted to hear birds instead of horns, to see trees instead of terracotta walls. So I booked a **day trip to Ourika Valley**, and it turned out to be exactly the pause I didn’t know I needed.

Nourddin, our driver, picked me up from my riad just after 8 a.m. He greeted us with a calm smile and soft Moroccan music playing from the radio. As we left the city, the red buildings gave way to open plains, then to green fields and olive groves. Donkeys replaced motorbikes, and the chatter of traffic turned into the gentle bleating of sheep. I opened the window — the morning air felt crisp and alive, carrying hints of mint and dust.

Our first stop was a small argan oil cooperative run by local women. Inside, I watched them cracking the nuts by hand, their laughter blending with the rhythmic tap of stone against shell. The smell of toasted almonds filled the room. It struck me how something so simple — patience, tradition, steady hands — could produce something so precious.

In Setti Fatma, we met our mountain guide, Karima, who led us up the path toward the waterfalls. The trail crossed little streams, and more than once I had to step carefully on slippery stones. At one point I laughed out loud when my shoe dipped straight into the water — Karima just smiled and said, “Now you’re part of the mountain.” The sound of rushing water grew louder, and soon the spray of the falls cooled my face. Sunlight danced off the wet rocks. For a moment, everything else — the noise, the schedule, the city — disappeared.

Lunch was served by the river: a steaming chicken tajine with lemon and olives, fresh bread still warm, and mint tea poured high into small glasses. We sat with our feet in the shallow water as it ran over smooth stones. No one spoke much. It felt like time had decided to take a break with us.

Driving back, Marrakech looked different. The same chaos was there, but softer somehow. My shoulders had dropped; my thoughts had slowed. I felt grateful — not only for the beauty of the valley but for the quiet it had brought into me.

If you need space to breathe, this **Ourika Valley day trip from Marrakech** is your answer. One of the calmest, clearest, and most beautiful days I spent in Morocco.

Nice relaxed atmosphere, very quiet at night, clean, no frills. friendly hosts.

We enjoyed our stay at Riad Shaloma. The people were very nice. They give us free water and if we needed anything they didn't hesitate to help. Our room was very nice and cool thabks to the AC. The bathroom looked good and the shower was very big. They offer a good breakfast and optional dinner for €15. On the roof there's a nice terrace with a place to lay down in the sun or sit in the shadow. If you want to visit the souks or go for something to eat you will only have to walk for 5 minutes to get to the outer part the city.

Our stay at this Riad was simply unforgettable, largely thanks to the incredible hospitality of Omar. He went above and beyond to ensure our experience was perfect (even meeting our taxi at 1am to personally escort us to the Riad when we arrived for the first time). The breakfast is incredible and the atmosphere is super relaxing! We highly recommend this Riad, and BIG THANK YOU to Omar for his outstanding service

Owner of the Riad very helpful and kind. The location is a bit inconvenient

We could not recommend this Riad more. Omar was the most welcoming host and was so helpful. It really made a big difference to our stay, making us feel really safe and really comfortable. Nothing seemed too much to ask and our experience really would not have been the same without Omar. The property is really well located, within walking distance to the main square. The food and rooms were lovely and offer a great insight into the culture. Thank you so much for making us feel so welcome.

A truly wonderful experience at Riad Shaloma. An excellent example of harmony and beauty enclosed in a picturesque part of the medina of Marrakech. Omar and Hamid are two guys who dedicate all their time for your benefit. They are really great guys who helped and supported us every single moment of our stay and I will never stop thanking them. Should I return to Marrakech one day, I will definitely return to this Riad. I highly recommend it to anyone!

100% Recomendable
Riad Shaloma es el mejor sitio para quedarte. El chico es una persona encantadora. Hemos viajado mucho y el trato que hemos recibido a sido maravilloso. Limpieza en la habitacion y comodidad. Desayuno muy bueno. Lugar tranquilo y a unos diez minuto del centro. Te ayudan en todo lo que necesitas. Si volviera a Marrakech no dudaria en hospedarme aqui.

We did not chose this accommodation as it was part of a package tour, arranged by Holidaytravel. We were more than happy with this place. Location is excellent, all important places are within reasonable walking distance, and yet it is not noisy because from the main street you still have to walk a few mins in the narrow streets. Hospitality by Hamed and Omar is excellent. They bring you to the taxi, fulfill your wishes,etc .. Very very friendly. Breakfast good, dinner alas has not worked out. Rooms all open up to the main inner court which scared me a but, but it was no problem as the people who eat there tend to whisper, lol. It did not bother at all. There also is a roof terrace to relax. It ticked all the boxes, so great place to stay.