Dadès Valley & Todra Gorge

Gorges and oases on the southern flanks of the Atlas: the Dadès hairpin road and Monkey Fingers rocks, Todra's 300-metre cliffs, the Tinghir palm groves and the Valley of Roses.

The Dadès Valley and Todra Gorge lie in Tinghir Province in southeastern Morocco, between the southern slopes of the High Atlas and the Anti-Atlas, midway along the 'Road of a Thousand Kasbahs' from Ouarzazate to the Merzouga desert. The area centres on Boumalne Dadès: heading north along the Dadès River into the Dadès Gorge, you pass red rock walls, the bizarre Monkey Fingers formations and the famous hairpin road; to the west is Kelaat M'Gouna, the Valley of Roses, with its Rose Festival every May; about 55 km east is the Tinghir oasis, and 15 km further north is the Todra Gorge, with cliffs about 300 m high and only a little over 10 m apart at its narrowest. The best seasons are Mar–May and Sep–Nov; spring brings blooming roses and pleasant temperatures; summer days are hot, but the gorges offer shade; in winter nights can drop below freezing and the mountain passes occasionally see snow. Getting there: from Ouarzazate Airport or Marrakech, drive or hire a car with driver along the N10; Ouarzazate to Boumalne is about 115 km, or 2 hours. CTM and Supratours buses stop at Boumalne and Tinghir, but you'll need a taxi or private car inside the gorges. Allow 2 nights: one at a cliffside hotel in the Dadès Gorge to see the Monkey Fingers and the hairpin road and go hiking, and one in the Todra Gorge or Tinghir to enter the gorge early in the morning and walk through the oasis palm groves in the afternoon. Roads are in good condition but mountain roads are winding, so avoid driving at night. Respect local customs in villages and kasbahs and ask before photographing people; self-styled guides touting for business are common, so book a licensed guide through your accommodation.

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