Lake Lalla Takerkoust
The closest waterside escape from Marrakech: three-quarters of an hour south-west, on the Amizmiz road, the lake stretches seven kilometres at the foot of the High Atlas. Let us be plain up front - this is not a natural lake, it is a large reservoir held back by a 1930s dam (the former Cavagnac dam) on the N'Fis river. You do not come here for a natural wonder but for a break: watersports (paddle, kayak, pedalo), quad on the tracks, lunch facing the summits, sunset, or the plunging view from the Kik plateau. Two honest reservations: no swimming (it is banned), and the water level shifts a lot - fine after the rains, quite low in deep drought. It is the easy half-day outing, often paired with the neighbouring Agafay desert.
Lake Lalla Takerkoust stretches some forty kilometres south-west of Marrakech, on the Amizmiz road, where the Haouz plain meets the first foothills of the High Atlas. This is not a mountain lake born of nature but a reservoir: a dam built in the 1930s on the N’Fis river flooded the valley to hold back seven kilometres of water, meant to irrigate the plain and produce electricity. The result is a large turquoise stretch of water, ringed by arid hills, with the snow-capped Atlas summits on the horizon - the kind of place where you come, for a half-day, to jet-ski, quad or simply have lunch facing the water, off the bustle of the red city.
On your own or on a tour?
What to expect
About half a day. Times are indicative.
Departure from Marrakech
Road south-west via Amizmiz, 45 min through the Haouz countryside.
Lakeside
Watersports (jet-ski, wakeboard, paddle, pedalo) or quad on the tracks around the lake, facing the Atlas.
Waterside lunch
Tagine or fish on a lakefront terrace, with the summit view.
The Kik plateau
Drive up (by car or as an extension of the quad) onto the limestone plateau above the lake: panorama over the reservoir, Toubkal and the valleys.
Back to Marrakech
Return in late afternoon, or later for sunset on the water.
What you see there
The lake and the Atlas
A large turquoise stretch of water at the foot of the mountains, with often snow-capped High Atlas summits as a backdrop. The setting is fine, especially in morning or evening light - keeping in mind that this is an artificial lake, whose level rises and falls with the seasons.
Watersports
The lake is the closest watersports base to Marrakech: jet-ski, wakeboard, water-ski, flyboard, tubing, paddle, kayak, pedalo, sunset cruise. All book on the ground, by the half-hour or the hour. Swimming, on the other hand, is banned.
Quad and the Kik plateau
The hillside tracks lend themselves to quad and buggy, up to the Kik plateau (~1,300 m), a limestone balcony that dominates the lake and gives a fine view over Toubkal and the valleys - in bloom in spring.
Lunch and sunset
The other reason to come: a quiet lunch on a waterside terrace, tagine or fish facing the mountains, then the sun coming down on the lake. It is the weekend escape Marrakchis treat themselves to.
What is included
Good to know
Book your day trip
We do not sell the tickets: booking goes through GetYourGuide. The price is the same as direct, a small commission comes back to this guide.
