Visitor reviews for Oukaïmeden Ski Resort
Oukaïmeden Ratings
Snowsure: 3.3
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Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
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Is often closed due to a lack of snow
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Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
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Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
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Oukaïmeden is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Variety of pistes: 3.8
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The ski runs are featureless and unvaried
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The ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week
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Oukaïmeden has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain
Off-piste: 3.8
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No off-piste worth mentioning
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Off piste is out-of-bounds
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Some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days
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A vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days
Scenery: 4.1
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An ugly resort in a bland setting
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Average mountain views and resort
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A spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town
Access: 4.1
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At least one overnight stop
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Requires a whole day
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Requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns
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Arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon
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There is a main airport within an hour of Oukaïmeden
Public Transport: 3.6
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There are no buses or taxis to Oukaïmeden
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There are slow or infrequent buses / trains available
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Getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections
Accommodation: 3.9
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No places to stay in/near Oukaïmeden
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A few places to stay in the resort
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A wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets
Cheap Rooms: 3.3
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No budget accommodation available
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Just one or two hostels so book ahead
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Several cheap hostels and pensions available
Luxury Hotels: 3.3
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No luxury accommodation available
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Just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead
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Several up-market hotels in Oukaïmeden
Ski in/Ski out: 3.8
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The ski area is located far from any accommodation
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A free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip
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Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available
Childcare: 3.1
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There are no child care facilities at Oukaïmeden
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The resort has limited child-care facilities
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the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche
Snowmaking: 2.6
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Oukaïmeden relies entirely on natural snow
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There are just a few snow cannons
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There are snowmaking facilities on all pistes
Snow Grooming: 3.0
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There are no snow groomers at Oukaïmeden
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Occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state
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All the runs at Oukaïmeden are groomed daily
Shelter: 3.7
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There is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut
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There are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close
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Oukaïmeden is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close
Nearby options: 2.5
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If snow conditions are poor at Oukaïmeden, it will be poor everywhere nearby
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There are good alternatives within an hours drive
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Other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions
Regional rating: 4.3
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Oukaïmeden usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region
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Has average conditions for the region
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Usually has the best snow conditions in the region
Lift Staff: 4.1
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The staff at Oukaïmeden are rude or unhelpful
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Lift staff at Oukaïmeden are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help
Crowds/Queues: 3.6
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The resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues
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It is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays
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It is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare
Ski Schools: 3.6
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No ski schools available
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One or two ski schools but local language only
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A few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors
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Plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available
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Excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors
Hire and Repairs: 4.0
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Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex
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There are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance
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Good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible
Beginners: 4.3
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Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard
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A few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week
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Vast areas of gentle terrain
Intermediates: 3.8
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No intermediate terrain at Oukaïmeden
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Intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days
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Vast areas of cruising runs
Advanced: 4.1
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Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders
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Enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste
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Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week
Snow Park: 2.0
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Not even a kicker at Oukaïmeden
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Average sized park quite well looked after
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Huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails
Cross-country: 3.3
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There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Oukaïmeden
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There are some cross country trails available
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The area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails
Luge/Toboggan: 3.7
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No designated luge or toboggan runs
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There are toboggan runs that open quite often
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Oukaïmeden has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages
Mountain Dining: 3.9
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Nowhere to buy food by the pistes
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Some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive
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There is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets
Eating: 4.1
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Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop
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There are a few places to eat in the resort but nothing special
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A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants
Apres-Ski: 3.4
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Nothing to do, not even a bar
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There are a few bars in the resort but nothing special
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Clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere
Other Sports: 2.4
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No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts
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Resort has just a small public swimming pool
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Resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool
Entertainment: 3.5
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Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here
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The non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week
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The resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports
Winter Walks: 3.9
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Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails
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A couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails
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Extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities
Ski Pass Value: 4.1
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A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available
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The ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts
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Ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area
Value (National): 4.3
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Overall, Oukaïmeden is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money
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Overall represents average value for money
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Overall offers the best value resort in the country
Value (Global): 4.2
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Overall, Oukaïmeden is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world
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Overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries
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Internationally the resort offers excellent value for money
Show all 35 ratings
June 16, 2004
Jeremy
from

United Kingdom
Oukaimeden is located 70km or an hour drive south of Marrakech in the Atlas Mountains. The easiest way to get there is a taxi from Marrakech which can cost any where between 300 to 400DH (30-40 Euros). As there is no scheduled bus service you can arrange for the taxi to return to pick you up if you know the day and time you wish to return. Oukaimeden offers a true taste of adventure & a cultural experience along with consistently steep mountain terrain where other tourist's other than Moroccan's are not often found. The small village is set into the side of the red coloured rocks 1km away from the Chairlift and occasionally a donkey can be found to help you make the short trek across.
Because the temperatures still reach mid 20's in the middle of winter the season is short, so the best time to go is January to Mid-February. The chance of new snow is very slim, however mid-week very few people are there and after a dump long fresh lines can be found inbounds for many days after, with little more than a 5 minute hike back to the base of the chairlift. There are a few short platters at the base for beginners, but the modern new double chair takes you 600 vertical metres to access the mainly advanced steep runs, unless you get off at the mid station for one of the few intermediate runs available. Due to the African sun, the terrain aspects facing the sun all day do not tend to hold the snow and even the chutes and gullies and bowl aspects tend to have hidden shingle rocks as well so it is best to bring one of your old sets of boards or skis unless you have sweet sponsors to hook you up.
Facilities
Please be aware this is a very poor country and there is no shelters or developments of any kind at the base. The lift ticket office is a box 2ft by 3ft, there is a small shack 10ft by 7ft that sells refreshments and light snacks, the ski/ board hire is a limited supply of gear laid out on the dirt bank by the car park and don't expect to see any piste groomers other than a heard of goats passing by.
Accommodation
There is a couple of hotels (one expensive and one reasonably priced) and for a small fee to a local 'guide', they will take you round some more authentic & traditional style cottages or private houses where you can rent a flat / apartment type set-up with if your lucky a balcony & sun lounges, etc.
Tips
- When you are traversing across from the top chairlift, don't be afraid to un-strap and walk across short sections of exposed rock to get to wider out chutes & gullies as this is where you will find your virgin lines with a short walk again back to the base.
- When done on the mountain for the day, the ridge 10mins walk up from the village has remarkable views at sunset with horizon line upon horizon line stretching down to the flat lands and if you follow walk along the ridge for another 20mins you can sit on the edge of some vertical cliffs looking out over Africa.
February 23, 2004
Jeremy Payze
from

United Kingdom
Oukaimeden is located 70km or an hour drive south of Marrakech in the Atlas Mountains. The easiest way to get there is a taxi from Marrakech which can cost any where between 300 to 400DH (30-40 Euros). As there is no scheduled bus service you can arrange for the taxi to return to pick you up if you know the day and time you wish to return. Oukaimeden offers a true taste of adventure & a cultural experience along with consistently steep mountain terrain where other tourist?s other than Moroccan?s are not often found. The small village is set into the side of the red coloured rocks 1km away from the Chairlift and occasionally a donkey can be found to help you make the short trek across.
Because the temperatures still reach mid 20?s in the middle of winter the season is short, so the best time to go is January to Mid-February. The chance of new snow is very slim, however mid-week very few people are there and after a dump long fresh lines can be found inbounds for many days after, with little more than a 5 minute hike back to the base of the chairlift. There are a few short platters at the base for beginners, but the modern new double chair takes you 600 vertical metres to access the mainly advanced steep runs, unless you get off at the mid station for one of the few intermediate runs available. Due to the African sun, the terrain aspects facing the sun all day do not tend to hold the snow and even the chutes and gullies and bowl aspects tend to have hidden shingle rocks as well so it is best to bring one of your old sets of boards or skis unless you have sweet sponsors to hook you up.
Facilities
Please be aware this is a very poor country and there is no shelters or developments of any kind at the base. The lift ticket office is a box 2ft by 3ft, there is a small shack 10ft by 7ft that sells refreshments and light snacks, the ski/ board hire is a limited supply of gear laid out on the dirt bank by the car park and don?t expect to see any piste groomers other than a heard of goats passing by.
Accommodation
There is a couple of hotels (one expensive and one reasonably priced) and for a small fee to a local ?guide?, they will take you round some more authentic & traditional style cottages or private houses where you can rent a flat / apartment type set-up with if your lucky a balcony & sun lounges, etc.
Tips
- When you are traversing across from the top chairlift, don?t be afraid to un-strap and walk across short sections of exposed rock to get to wider out chutes & gullies as this is where you will find your virgin lines with a short walk again back to the base.
- When done on the mountain for the day, the ridge 10mins walk up from the village has remarkable views at sunset with horizon line upon horizon line stretching down to the flat lands and if you follow walk along the ridge for another 20mins you can sit on the edge of some vertical cliffs looking out over Africa.
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