Gorges du Dadès is a gorge and lies in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco. Carved over the centuries by the Dades River, the Dades Gorge is now a very popular destination for travellers attracted by the sheer beauty of the scenery. With red and mauve rock towering above the road, fig and almond trees, lush gardens, Ksour and Kasbahs – the appeal of this natural panorama is obvious.
Most visitors simply drive into the gorge, marvel at the scenery, then return the same way. The more intrepid spend a couple of nights and explore in depth, getting out on foot, by mountain bike or even raft (during the rafting season).
Travellers in 4WD (with a guide) can follow a thrilling mountain loop (at certain times of the year), following Dades Gorge as far north as Agoudal, then turning south to head for Todra Gorge – slow going but worth it!
The Dades gorge is a spectacular place! It has a relaxed atmosphere, so you may want to recover if you’re in need of a rest from the daily hassle. The gorge is as interesting as the valley. The valley is wonderfully colorful as the green of the riverbed is surrounded by red, scarlet and carmine rocks and soil. It starts out rather wide and then narrows at Ait Oudinar.
The Kasbah of the Rocks is a mystical landscape of dark red eroded volcanic rocks. The beauty of this place is in its visual transformation as you change perspectives. From different angles and distances, the rocks transform in front of your eyes, in shape and form. The Kasbah is marked by the Cafe Meguirne, 14 km down the road. The kasbahs of the Ait-Atta look vulnerable and fragile as they lie under a massive volcanic rock formation. The kasbahs blend in perfectly with the soil and rocks. It is a perfect place to draw, sketch, write or have a pic-nic.
Dades Gorge can be accessed from the small town of Boumaine which lies 116 km northeast of Ouarzazate and 53 km from Tinerhir. A sealed road runs for 63 km through the Gorge as far as Msemrir. After that 4WD is necessary.
The best time to visit the lower valleys is from March to May and the mountains are best from May to July.
