Dades and Todgha valleys

The road of a thousand kasbahs

Heading east from Ouarzazate, the road follows a string of palm groves squeezed between two mountain ranges: the High Atlas to the north, the Jebel Saghro massif to the south. Routard calls it the "road of a thousand kasbahs", for the fortified earth houses that line the villages.

In order, coming from Ouarzazate:

• Skoura and its palm grove, about an hour's drive before Boumalne;
• Kelaat M'Gouna, the town of roses, with the Valley of Roses to the west;
• Boumalne Dades, about 2 hours from Ouarzazate, where the Dades Gorge road heads north;
• Tinghir, about 160 km from Ouarzazate, with its palm grove and the Todgha Gorge to the north;
• then Errachidia, about 130 km from Tinghir, and the Tafilalet as far as Merzouga.

The Dades river runs for nearly 200 km. In spring and autumn you may come across nomad families moving their herds between the High Atlas and Saghro pastures.

Two gorges, two ways to see them

The two gorges are about fifty kilometres apart and are not visited in the same way.

The Dades Gorge is a road. The R704 climbs the valley from Boumalne to M'semrir, between cliffs that reach about 500 m. Its most photographed stretch is a series of hairpin bends, seen from above from the viewpoint at the Timzzillite hotel. The "monkey fingers" of Tamlalt, rounded rock formations, are explored on foot in a nearby canyon, ideally with a local guide. Guesthouses are dotted all the way from Boumalne to M'semrir. Beyond M'semrir, the track towards Agoudal is generally passable only by 4x4.

The Todgha Gorge is a walk. It starts about 15 km from Tinghir. The valley narrows into a tight canyon, between cliffs nearly 300 m high; at the narrowest point, the walls are only a few metres apart. You can stroll for an hour or two without a guide in the developed section. Climbers find hundreds of bolted routes, from beginner to advanced. For mountain hikes above the gorge, a guide is recommended.

Tinghir is worth a stop: its palm grove stretches for nearly 30 km, with date palms, olive, fig and pomegranate trees watered by traditional channels. Above the town, the ruins of the old Glaoui kasbah look over the palm grove and the mouth of the gorge; the town also keeps its old mellah (Jewish quarter).

The Valley of Roses

Kelaat M'Gouna grows the Damask rose (Rosa damascena), a perfume rose used for rose water, essential oils and cosmetics. It flowers in April and May.

Each year the International Perfume Rose Fair, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture with Tinghir province, celebrates the harvest; its 61st edition took place from 7 to 10 May 2026, with a rose carnival on the Saturday. The 2027 dates have not yet been published. Sabaro recommends aiming for late April or early May to see the fields in bloom, and booking early if you want to attend the fair.

How many nights, and where

Routard allows at least one to two days for the Dades Valley. Depending on the trip, Sabaro suggests three paces:

• On the way to the desert. One night in the Dades Gorge, then the next day's drive passes through Tinghir and the Todgha Gorge before Merzouga. This is the pace of three-day tours between Marrakesh and Merzouga.
• For walking. Two or three nights in the Dades Gorge, for hikes to villages and viewpoints, or a multi-day outing towards the M'Goun, a High Atlas massif, with muleteers.
• For climbing. Several nights near the Todgha Gorge, close to the routes.

In the Dades Gorge, the Sabaro selection brings together three small houses: Dar Rihana, a six-room guesthouse with a pool, at Ait Ouffi; Dar Jnan Tiouira, an eleven-room kasbah without a pool, built by a high-mountain guide who organises treks; Eden Boutique Hotel, eighteen rooms at Tamellalt, with two pools and a spa.

Seasons

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to early November) are the most pleasant seasons. Summers are very hot and winters cold. River levels vary with the season; rafting and canyoning in the Dades depend on the water level.