Waky Marrakech: where to stay by the wakeboard lake and the Atlas

Most people know Marrakech for its Medina. South of the city, on the road to the Atlas, there is another side to it: a resort with a cable-ski lake where you can wakeboard, an 18-hole golf course, pools and mountain views, less than twenty minutes' drive from the centre. This guide explains what Waky Marrakech is, how wakeboarding there works, where to stay, and the day trips that start from that side of the city.

What Waky Marrakech is

Waky Marrakech opened in 2015 as Morocco's first cable-ski park. It sits inside Les Jardins de l'Atlas, a resort of villas and apartments on the Route de l'Ourika developed by Palmeraie Luxury Living. The park is built around an artificial lake with a palm-planted island in the middle and the Atlas on the horizon.

Around the lake, the resort has an 18-hole golf course with its clubhouse, shared pools, the Beach Mama club and sports courts. It is a secure, quiet place, with the city a short drive away when you want it.

Wakeboarding for beginners and riders

A cable park works without a boat: an overhead cable tows riders around the lake. Waky Marrakech has two circuits:

• Easy Start, for beginners, where you learn to get up and ride in a straight line.
• Waky 5, for experienced riders, which can tow up to six riders at once.

The towing speed can be set to each rider's level, and boards can be hired on site if you don't bring your own. Sessions are sold by time, and tour companies in Marrakech also sell sessions with a pickup from your hotel, so the park is open to visitors as well as residents. Prices and opening months change, so check them with the park before you plan the day.

First time? Book the beginner circuit, wear clothes you don't mind getting soaked, and expect to fall in a few times before you get the feel of it.

Golf, tennis and the pools

The wakeboard lake is only part of the resort. The 18-hole golf course runs through it, with its clubhouse, and residents and their guests share the pools and a tennis court. Golf and tennis lessons are available in the residence: ask us for the current times and prices when you book. By the lake, the Beach Mama club has sunbeds and parasols facing the water, which makes it easy to watch the riders without getting wet.

When to go

• Spring and autumn: warm days and cool evenings, the most comfortable time for wakeboarding, golf and day trips.
• Summer: Marrakech is hot, with July days averaging around 36°C, so the lake and the pools come into their own. Ride early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
• Winter: sunny, mild days and cold nights, around 6°C on average in January. The water is cold, so check the park's opening months, and look for a home with heating and a fireplace for the evenings.

Staying at Waky Marrakech

We host homes at Waky Marrakech and nearby, for couples to groups of eight:

• The Waky Club flat is a designer flat for up to three: a bedroom with its own bathroom, a separate guest bathroom, a balcony, a fireplace and heating for winter evenings, and access to the residence pools and sports courts. Parking is free on site.
• Villa Jardins de l'Atlas is a three-bedroom villa for up to eight in the heart of Waky Marrakech, with its own private pool and mountain views, and the wakeboard lake and the clubhouse restaurant in the same residence.
• Villa Akenza is in Aghouatim, on the same side of Marrakech: four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, a private pool, a home gym and a patio with a clay oven, for up to eight. Pets are welcome.

We send the address and the arrival details once the booking is paid and online check-in, with an ID for every guest, is complete. Pick your dates in Marrakech to see which homes are free and the exact price.

Day trips from the Atlas side

• The Ourika Valley: the Route de l'Ourika keeps climbing into the valley, with riverside cafés and walks to the waterfalls at Setti Fatma, at its head. Setti Fatma is roughly 60 to 70 km from Marrakech, and closer from Waky.
• The Agafay desert: a stony desert 30 to 40 km south-west of Marrakech, with camps, camel rides, quad bikes and dinners under the stars. From the city it is about 45 minutes to an hour by car.
• Lalla Takerkoust: a lake at the foot of the Atlas, about 40 km from Marrakech, often paired with an afternoon in the Agafay.
• The city: the centre is less than twenty minutes' drive from Waky, so a morning in the souks and an afternoon by the pool is easy.

Getting there and around

A car is the easiest way to enjoy this side of Marrakech: for the supermarket, restaurants, the Medina and day trips. Taxis come out from the city, and drivers can be hired for the day. From the airport, allow for the drive across town to the Route de l'Ourika; we can tell you the time to expect when you book.

Who it suits

Waky Marrakech suits families with teenagers, sporty groups, golfers, and anyone who wants space, a pool and calm evenings, with the city close enough for dinner. If you want to walk out of your door into the souks, stay in the Medina or close to the centre instead: our guide to where to stay in Marrakech compares every area. For the villas side by side, read Marrakech villas with a private pool.

Frequently asked questions