Dades and Todra Gorges Guide: Canyons, Hikes and Where to Stay

Between the High Atlas and the Sahara, two rivers have carved some of the most dramatic landscapes in Morocco. In the Dades Gorge, a road coils up the canyon in a ribbon of hairpin bends past strange red rock formations. In the Todra Gorge, sheer walls rise around 300 metres above a crystal-clear stream. Add palm oases, earthen kasbahs and Berber villages, and you have the highlight of the road from Marrakech to the desert.

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The Dades Gorge

The Dades Valley begins near the town of Boumalne Dades and runs north into the High Atlas. The road follows the river past almond trees, fields and kasbahs, then squeezes between rose and ochre cliffs. Along the way, look out for the strange rounded rock formations often called the “monkey fingers”, sculpted by wind and water.

The most famous sight is the road itself. Around 25 kilometres up the valley, near Tissadrine, it climbs out of the gorge in a series of tight hairpin bends. Park at the café at the top for the classic view. Above this point the road narrows and becomes a real mountain adventure, so check conditions before driving further.

The Todra Gorge

About an hour and a half’s drive east, near the town of Tinghir, the Todra Gorge is narrower and more dramatic. At its tightest point the canyon is only about 10 metres wide, with smooth limestone walls rising around 300 metres on either side. A shallow stream runs along the bottom, and you can walk through the narrowest section in a few minutes, or keep going on hiking trails up into the surrounding mountains.

Best things to do

1. Hike between the villages. Local guides lead walks from a couple of hours to a full day, through side canyons, nomad camps and terraced fields.
2. Climb the walls of Todra. The gorge is one of Morocco’s top rock-climbing spots. Go with an experienced local guide, who will provide equipment.
3. Walk the Tinghir oasis. A long ribbon of palm trees, gardens and old ksour stretches along the river below Tinghir. The view from the road above is spectacular at sunset.
4. Visit the Rose Valley. West of Boumalne, Kelaat M’Gouna is famous for its rose water, oils and soaps, and for its rose festival in spring.
5. Stay with a Berber family. Many guest houses are family-run and serve dinners of tagine, couscous and fresh bread baked in clay ovens.

Where to stay in the Dades Gorge

Auberge La Fibule du Dades

Auberge Tissadrine

Dar Rihana Dadès

Kasbah Flilou

Where to stay near the Todra Gorge

Auberge Le Festival Todra Gorge

Riad Dar Bab Todra

Kasbah Petit Nomade

Relais des Nomades

Getting there and around

The gorges lie on the road between Ouarzazate and Merzouga. From Ouarzazate, it is about two hours to Boumalne Dades; from Tinghir, Merzouga is about three to three and a half hours further east. Most visitors come on a 3-day desert tour from Marrakech, which usually spends a night in the Dades Valley; book one on GetYourGuide. Driving yourself gives you time to stop and hike; compare rental cars on DiscoverCars. Grand taxis and buses connect the towns, but you will need local transport or a guide to reach the upper gorges.

Do it like a Moroccan: local tips

• Drive in daylight. Mountain roads are narrow and unlit, with livestock and sharp bends.
• Bring cash. ATMs are only found in Boumalne and Tinghir.
• Watch the weather. Flash floods can happen after heavy rain; never walk in the riverbed during a storm.
• Download offline maps. Mobile coverage is patchy in the upper gorges, so save your route before you go. A Morocco eSIM from Airalo works well in the towns.

When to go

Spring brings almond blossom and roses; autumn has warm days and clear skies. Summers are hot in the valleys but pleasant higher up, and winter nights are cold, sometimes below freezing, so ask about heating.

Continue your journey with our Ouarzazate and Aït Benhaddou guide and the Merzouga travel guide, or plan your road trip with the free Moroccanly trip planner.

Cover photo: Abdou Faiz on Unsplash