Dades Valley — source photograph.

Southern High Atlas

Dades Valley

A cultivated river valley where villages, gardens and rock formations share the same narrow corridor.

Discover the story
DESTINATION / THE FIELD GUIDE

A PLACE TO TAKE YOUR TIME

A cultivated river valley where villages, gardens and rock formations share the same narrow corridor.

31.460° N / 6.000° W

The Dades is not only its famous bends. Between Boumalne and the upper gorges, the river supports fields and settlements beneath exposed rock. Travelling with pauses reveals the contrast between the valley floor and the dry slopes above.

What to see

Village landscapes, riverside cultivation and sculpted rock formations.

What to do

Arrange a valley walk and stop at viewpoints without blocking the road or entering private land.

Practical information

Confirm current access, opening arrangements and local conditions before travelling. Use local guides for unfamiliar paths; respect private homes, cultivated land and requests about photography. Accommodation and dining links may refer to your Ouarzazate base or an onward stop; check the address on each listing.

Getting here

Approach through Boumalne Dades. The gorge road continues north; the main route east leads towards Tinghir and Todgha.

THE LAND AROUND YOU

A place
between places.

Follow the landscape a little further.
These nearby places continue the story.

Explore the regional map

Schematic locations, not road directions.

iBEFORE YOU GO

The useful
details.

A little preparation.
More room for the experience.

Time to allow

Overnight route

The setting

Southern High Atlas

Region

Southern High Atlas

Find it on the mapDades Valley — area marker, not an entrance

Area marker only. Confirm the entrance, meeting point and current access.

A few things
to know.

Can I visit independently?

Many regional stops can be reached independently, but check the approach, return transport and current access. Use local guidance for unfamiliar walking routes.

Are opening hours and prices fixed?

No. Confirm access and any charges directly before travelling; conservation, weather and private operations can affect a visit.

Researched with source information · Reviewed 2026-09-27. Reconfirm changing details before travel.

TRAVEL ONWARD

There is
always more.

01Boumalne Dades — source photograph.

Dades Valley

Boumalne Dades

A town above the Dades River and the practical gateway to the valley road and gorges.

02Dades Gorges — source photograph.

Upper Dades

Dades Gorges

Narrow rock passages and a winding mountain road above the inhabited Dades Valley.

03Valley of Roses — source photograph.

M’Goun Valley

Valley of Roses

Cultivated valley country around Kalaat M’Gouna, known for its seasonal rose harvest.

04Tinghir — source photograph.

Todgha Valley

Tinghir

A town and palm-grove landscape that form the inhabited approach to the Todgha Gorges.

05Valley of Roses & Dades Gorges — operator photograph.

Valley of Roses & Dades Gorges

Valley of Roses & Dades Gorges

Skoura, rose-growing country and the Dades Gorges in a full-day journey from Ouarzazate.

06Tinghir and the Todgha oasis corridor, on the return stage of the South Oasis journey.

South Oasis Route & Erg Chebbi

South Oasis Route & Erg Chebbi

Four days linking the Dades, Saghro, Nkob and remote southern tracks with the dunes of Erg Chebbi.

07CLA Studios entrance in Ouarzazate

article

Beyond the film set

Notes from the landscapes, craft and everyday life of southern Morocco.

08Residence Chay — source photograph.

Luxury Apartments

Residence Chay

Independent apartments in Hay El Massira, with room to unpack and settle into an Ouarzazate routine.

09Restaurant Habous — source photograph.

Moroccan / Café / Patisserie

Restaurant Habous

A café, bakery and restaurant on Place El Mouahidine, useful for a pause in the centre of town.

Photography credits

Youssefkhar · CC0 / Resized and converted to WebP; displayed with responsive crops.

Ian and Wendy Sewell · CC BY-SA 3.0 / Resized and converted to WebP; displayed with responsive crops.

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