The Dades gorge road
A tight sequence of switchbacks climbing the canyon wall, with a viewpoint café at the top.
Southern Morocco · Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs
Dades Valley
Red rock, switchbacks and the classic first night on the road south.
Why travellers come
Visiting Dades Valley
The Dades Valley cuts north from the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs into the High Atlas, past ochre villages, almond terraces and the strange eroded formations locals call Monkey Fingers.
Most of our circuits spend the first night here. Arriving in late afternoon gives you the best light on the rock, and the famous hairpin road above the valley is a short drive from the hotels.
It breaks the long drive between Marrakech and the desert at exactly the right point, and the landscape is worth the stop on its own.
Travel information
- From Ouarzazate
- About 2 hours east
- To Todra Gorge
- Roughly 1.5 hours
- Typical stay
- One night on most circuits
- Altitude
- Cool evenings year-round — bring a layer
Main attractions
What to see in Dades Valley
The places worth your time, and roughly how they fit into a day on the road.
Monkey Fingers
Rounded rock columns above the valley floor, with short walking trails between them.
Kasbah villages
Earthen villages and old kasbahs strung along the river, many still farmed by the families who built them.
Valley of Roses
Nearby El Kelaa M'Gouna, where damask roses are harvested each spring for rose water.
Best experiences
- Sunset over the red rock formations
- A short walk among the Monkey Fingers
- Dinner and overnight in a kasbah hotel
- The switchback road viewpoint before breakfast
Tours that go there
Private tours including Dades Valley
Each route below is private, flexible and led by our own driver-guides.
