Dades Gorge (Gorges du Dades)

The basics

Whether hiking the surprisingly lush landscapes around the river, navigating the gorges in a 4WD, spending the night in a cliff-top kasbah, or camping amid red rock, the Dadès gorges don’t fail to delight. Most travelers experience them as part of a multi-day journey from Marrakech to Fez by way of the Moroccan Sahara near Merzouga (or vice versa), or on a longer adventure, perhaps focused on mountains and dunes or royal cities and deserts. It’s much easier and usually more affordable to book an organized tour that includes 4WD transfers, a prearranged desert camp with all activities, and accommodation than put the logistics together yourself.

Things to know before you go

• Rural Morocco is a conservative culture. Women will likely feel more comfortable wearing long, loose pants and loose tops that cover shoulders, chest, and upper arms.
• Sneakers or hiking sandals are recommended for walking the Dadès Gorge. Hiking boots aren’t essential.
• The Dadès gorges are not wheelchair-accessible or stroller-friendly.

How to get there

The Dadès Gorge runs between the Atlas and Anti-Atlas mountains about 70 miles (113 kilometers) northeast of Ouarzazate in central Morocco, and around a 5-hour drive east of Marrakech. A tour is the easiest way to get here: Winding mountain roads and the Moroccan driving style can be a lethal combination for self-drivers.

When to get there

Mid-March to mid-November is the best time of year for visiting the Dadès Gorge. Winter weather can be on the cool side.

From Marrakech to the Sahara

An impossibly scenic route runs from Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes via the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, a red-sand desert fortress, and the Valley of the Roses, where roses are harvested for oil and rosewater in early summer, to the Dadès Gorge. Many travelers spend the night in the gorge and travel to the Sahara via the Todra Gorge (Todgha Gorge) the next day.