The Todra and Dades Gorges: A Guide to Morocco’s Great Canyons
Red cliffs, zigzag roads, walks among Berber villages: why the gorges are the best stop on the way to the Sahara.
Between the High Atlas and the Sahara, two rivers have carved deep canyons in the mountains: the Dades and the Todra. They are on the road from Marrakech to Merzouga, and most of our tours sleep a night there.
The Dades gorge
The Dades valley is wide and green, with fields of wheat, almond and fig trees and old kasbahs. Higher up, the river enters a canyon of red rock with strange rounded shapes called ‘monkey fingers’. The famous zigzag road climbing the side of the gorge is one of the most photographed places in Morocco.
The Todra gorge
The Todra is more spectacular and narrow. Near the town of Tinghir, the canyon closes between vertical walls of orange rock up to 300 metres high, with a clear river at the bottom. In some places it is only ten metres wide. Climbers come from all over the world to its walls.
What to do
- Walk inside the Todra gorge (30 minutes is enough to feel its size)
- Hike in the Dades valley with a local guide, among villages and fields
- Photograph the zigzag road at sunset
- Sleep in a guesthouse facing the cliffs
When to go
All year. In summer the gorges are cooler than the desert; in spring the almond trees are in flower.
Tours that include the gorges
Almost all our tours from Marrakech pass through them, such as the 3-day tour. If you want to walk, choose the 15-day grand tour, which includes a full day hiking in the Dades valley.
Ready for the Sahara?
Camel trek, a night in our camp or a private tour from any city: tell us what you dream of and we organise it.
