Day Tour To Dades Gorge

Day Tour to Dades Gorge: The Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs

If Todra Gorge is defined by its verticality, the Dades Gorge is defined by its movement. Located in the heart of the High Atlas, this winding valley offers a surreal landscape where the forces of nature have sculpted the earth into shapes that seem more like a dream than reality.

Commonly referred to as the "Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs," the drive through the Dades is a journey through deep red canyons, lush riverbanks, and ancient fortified villages that blend seamlessly into the mountain walls.

The Iconic "Monkey Fingers"

One of the most unique geological features in the world is found right here: the Pattes de Singe (Monkey Fingers). These are conglomerate rock formations that have been eroded into smooth, rounded shapes that look like giant fingers emerging from the earth.

The Experience: Unlike the flat valley floor, you can hike through these formations. The "Monkey Fingers Canyon" offers a relatively easy scramble through narrow slots and over boulders, making it a favorite for photography and light adventure.

The Road of a Million Turns: Tissadrine

You’ve likely seen it in car commercials or on Instagram: a series of impossibly tight hairpin turns winding up a steep mountainside. This is the Tissadrine Road.

The Viewpoint: For the best experience, drive to the top where a small cafe overlooks the zigzagging road. Watching the sunset turn the red rocks into a deep crimson as headlights begin to flicker on the switchbacks below is a quintessential Moroccan travel moment.

A Lush Contrast

Despite the rugged desert surroundings, the floor of the Dades Gorge is surprisingly green. The Dades River creates a life-giving ribbon of fertility where locals grow:

Roses: This region leads into the Valley of the Roses (Kelaat M'Gouna), famous for its fragrant Damask rose oil.

Agriculture: You’ll see groves of almond, walnut, and poplar trees providing a cool, shaded canopy for the small farms beneath them.

When to Visit:

The Scenic Route: The Dades is best visited as part of a loop between Ouarzazate and the Sahara.

The Weather: Because it is at a higher altitude, the air is much cooler than in Marrakech or the desert. In winter, snow can occasionally dust the upper reaches of the gorge, so bring layers!

Program:

Pick up from your hotel in Ouarzazate at 8:30 AM and head to Skoura Oasis via the road known as the Thousand Kasbahs. We may see several kasbahs along the way and visit Kasbah Amerhidil in the Skoura Oasis. This kasbah is well known in Morocco, as it is printed on one of the local currency notes.

Then our route takes us to the Valley of Roses, where you can see and possibly sample the locally produced rose cosmetics, which are highly prized in Morocco. The valley is especially beautiful at the end of April and the beginning of May, when the entire area is filled with a delightful fragrance.

We will travel through many small villages and also pass the strange rock formations of the Tamnalt Hills, shaped over centuries by wind and water, until we reach the Dades Gorge. We will spend some time admiring the gorge, with a possible short trek in the area, before returning to Ouarzazate.