Ziz Gorges: A Comprehensive Travel Guide
Gorges du Ziz is a very scenic canyon carved by the River Ziz located in the Errachidia Province of the Drâa-Tafilalet region of Morocco.
Can I drive through Ziz Gorges?
Tucked away in the Eastern High Atlas, the road through the gorges is fully paved yet challenging, with countless turns and hairpin turns. It’s called National Route Number 13 (N13). The road is surrounded by cliffs and is both mountainous and winding. When driving a Unimog, the road feels very narrow. Bus drivers often take up much of the road, overtaking on blind bends and steep inclines, so you’ll need to stay alert.
How long is the road through Ziz Gorges?
The road is 55.4 km (34.42 miles) long, running south-north from Errachidia to Kerrandou. The most iconic part of the drive runs from the Legionnaire’s Tunnel (built by French colonial troops in the 1930s to create a passageway to the Ziz Valley) to the dam of Barrage Al-Hassan Addakhil, an artificial lake.
Is the road through Ziz Gorges worth it?
The drive offers stunning views of a spectacular and dramatic scenery on the upper course of the Ziz River. There are a couple of viewpoints and picnic spots along the route.
Pic: Bruno Papais