How to get to the Akchour Waterfalls from Chefchaouen (Morocco)

This guide explains how to get to Akchour from Chefchaouen by public transport, how to hike the trail towards the Akchour waterfalls, and what you need to bring on this hike.

Morocco is a gorgeous place full of diverse landscapes. When I first visited this destination, I had the idea that the whole country was a vast barren desert with sand dunes and camels everywhere. I also thought the only interesting city was Marrakech.

Oh, how I was wrong! The whole northern part of the country is composed of lush forests and when the autumn rains come around, it’s possible to see waterfalls and rivers overflowing with fresh water in the mountains.

Reading Tip:

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One of the most beautiful waterfalls in Morocco are the Akchour waterfalls in the Rif mountains. This series of waterfalls is a lot calmer and less visited than the Ouzoud waterfalls near Marrakesh.

I had so much fun hiking up to the Akchour waterfalls. It is located in the northern part of the country, about 45 minutes driving from Chefchaouen.

Both the city and the waterfalls are worth a visit. I’d suggest you take one day to visit Chefchaouen and one day to go on a hike to the waterfalls.

Tip: See my  Morocco Travel Page for a complete overview of all my travel guides and blog posts about Morocco!

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The streets of Chefchaouen, the ‘Blue Pearl’ of Morocco

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Plan your trip to Chefchaouen

Where to stay

• Best budget pick: Dar Bleu Pearl
• Best guesthouse choice: Casa Sabila
• Top Riad: Lina Ryad & Spa

Top experiences in and around Chefchaouen

• Highlights of Chefchaouen Walking Tour
• Day trip to the Akchour Waterfalls and God’s Bridge
• Day hike to Mount Lakraa

Plan your trip to Morocco

• 19 things to know before traveling to Morocco
• 3 itineraries to discover the best of Morocco
• Morocco Safety Guide
• Renting a car in Morocco
• Best travel insurance for Morocco

How to get to the Akchour Waterfalls from Chefchaouen by public transport

Getting to the Akchour waterfalls from Chefchaouen is relatively easy. When you walk through the city, some taxi drivers will offer to bring you to the waterfalls and back for 400 dirhams, which is very expensive, even during the low season.

The best and cheapest way to get there is by taking a shared ‘Grand’ taxi. These taxis leave when they are full and even during the low season they fill rather quickly. The fare is 25 Dirhams per person one way and the trip there takes about 45 minutes.

Finding these shared taxis is very easy. First, you’ll need to exit the old Medina and find Avenue Hassan 2. Walk straight along the boulevard until you reach a roundabout near the police station. Then take the first exit right and you’ll find the taxis just down that street.

Tell the taxi drivers that you want to go to Akchour and they will show you which taxi to take. It’s possible that you’ll have to wait for a bit until there are enough people to fill the taxi (one taxi takes 4 to 6 people). We waited about 15 minutes before our taxi was full.

Reading Tip:

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How to hike to the Akchour Waterfalls

Akchour is a small town with one street on which you can find a few restaurants. The taxi will drop you off at the car park. You’ll see a gate near the restaurants. Cross that gate and keep walking until you see a hydro-electrical dam.

The hydro-electrical dam at Akchour

Along the way, you’ll see more small restaurants and little shops. Some local guys will eagerly offer their services as guides. You don’t really need a guide as it’s easy to get to the waterfalls by yourself but if you want to learn more about the area, you could always hire one.

Once you arrive at the dam, the road will split into two directions. The trail on the right leads to the unusual rock formation called God’s Bridge. This hike takes about 45 minutes one-way.

We didn’t hike there as we didn’t have enough time but if you’d like to visit both the Akchour waterfalls and God’s Bridge, you can do both if you arrive early enough at Akchour.

We took the trail on the left and crossed the bridge to walk towards the waterfalls. Continue walking on this path until you arrive next to a stand selling Tajines and fresh drinks on your left.

There is a small path that goes up and behind that restaurant and after a few minutes walking, you’ll see a sign showing plants native to the area. That sign means you’re on the right path.

The Akchour waterfalls consist of a lower waterfall and a much taller one as well as plenty of smaller cascades that run along the same river.

The walk from the dam to the “Grande Cascade” or Big Waterfall takes about 2 hours. If you’re not that ambitious, you can also stop at the little waterfall, which is about 1 hour of hiking.

It’s an easy trail, even if you’re not used to doing much hiking. The path is very clear so you can’t really get lost.

Reading Tip:

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Along the way, you’ll come across some viewpoints where you can enjoy the view over the stunning little cascades and the spectacular scenery of the Rif mountains.

You might also encounter some monkeys on your way! The Rif mountains are home to the Barbary macaque, a species of monkey that is only found in the mountains of Morocco, Algeria and with a small population in Gibraltar.

If you’re quiet, you’ll hear them jumping from tree to tree and calling out to each other and if you pay attention, you might even see a family of them not too far from the hiking trail!

It’s better not to return too late if you want to find a shared taxi at the gate that will bring you back to Chefchaouen. The fare from Akchour to Chefchaouen is also 25 Dirhams per person.

Reading Tip:

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Tours to Akchour Waterfalls

If you prefer to go to the Akchour waterfalls with private transport and a guide, you can book a guided day tour from Chefchaouen.

You can combine the trip to Akchour Waterfalls with a visit to God’s Bridge, an incredible rock formation near Akchour.

If you’re in Tangier and you like to go on a day trip to Chefchaouen and the Akchour Waterfalls, the easiest way will be to book a guided day tour with private transport.

During this full-day trip, you’ll visit all the highlights of Chefchaouen in the morning and go hiking to the Akchour waterfalls in the afternoon.

What you need to bring on your hike to Akchour

Make sure to bring the following things with you on your hike to the Akchour Waterfalls and the God’s Bridge:

• Comfortable hiking shoes or sturdy sneakers
• If you’re hiking during the autumn or winter, dress in layers as it can be quite cool and don’t forget to bring a rain jacket.
• If you’re visiting Akchour during the summer months, bring your swimming gear as you can swim in the pools
• Bring some biodegradable toilet paper and hand sanitizer. There are ‘toilets’ along the way, the kind that consists of a hole in the ground…
• Carry some water and snacks. You’ll also come across plenty of little stands where you can eat Tajines and drink some delicious Moroccan tea so it’s also good to have some cash with you.

Reading Tip:

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Where to stay near the Akchour Waterfalls

It’s possible to spend the night in the Rif Mountains, not too far from Akchour. There’s a beautiful hotel called Caiat Lounge Refuge, the perfect place to enjoy the beauty, peace, and quiet of the mountains. Click here to check rates and availability.

If you prefer to return to Chefchaouen, you’ll find many different hostels and hotels there with a wide range of prices.

I recommend:

• Best budget pick: Dar Bleu Pearl
• Best guesthouse choice: Casa Sabila
• Top Riad: Lina Ryad & Spa

My Akchour Waterfalls Photography Gear

This is the gear I used to capture the beautiful Akchour Waterfalls:

Curious what I use to capture places like this? Here’s my go-to gear:

• Camera: Panasonic LUMIX DC-90
• Main lens: Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6
• Wide-angle lens: Leica DG Vario-ELMARIT 8-18mm f/2.8-4.0
• Prime lens: Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7
• Tripod: Manfrotto Compact Action Tripod (Hybrid Head)

Reading Tip:

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I hope that this guide will help you to enjoy your trip to the Akchour Waterfalls to the fullest. If you have any remarks, updates or questions, let me and other readers know in the comments below!

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