Two of the most spectacular landscapes that can be visited in Morocco are the Todra gorge and the Dadès valley, two rock formations famous all over the world with tourists and climbing enthusiasts. In the middle of the High Atlas mountains, on the edge of the desert, the chasms seem to split the mountain in two, as if the Earth itself were indicating that the road to the south of Morocco is that way, with a landscape reminiscent of the Grand Canyon.
Both the Todra and the Dadès gorges are situated in central Morocco, in the heart of the country’s interior. The Atlas mountains act as a natural barrier through the area, completely transforming the Moroccan landscape. Green gives way to ochre in this mountainous area that anticipates the start of the Sahara.
Both gorges are nestled in the respective valleys of the Dadès and Todra rivers (the latter being a seasonal river), two natural mountain passes that wind through the Atlas mountain in a north-south direction, before meeting successive rivers that flow into the Atlantic. Along the course of the rivers, the town of Ouarzazate is the so-called gateway to the desert.
Both gorges run parallel to one another, the Dadès gorge on the western side and the Todra gorge on the eastern side. Read on to find out more about them and how to get there.
Todra gorge and Todra valley
The Todra gorge is situated on the eastern side of the High Atlas, a sub-range with the highest altitude in all of the Atlas mountains. The course of the Todra river, which fills up seasonally, has truly extraordinary dimensions. Its walls can reach a height of 300 metres, while the gorge narrows to a width of just 30 metres – a veritable natural rock passage that pushes its way through a world-famous mountain range.
The best way to explore it is to leave your car at one of the car parks at the start and traverse it on foot, to get a real feel for the height of the cliffs. You will find a few stalls selling things along the way. Given the magnitude of the walls, the landscape becomes quite sombre, leaving visitors dwarfed by this work of nature.
The place is perfect for fans of climbing and hiking and has become very popular with people visiting Morocco. From them, there are some highly-recommended hiking routes which allow you to see the gorge from the top. The only difficulty is the steep climb to the top of the cliffs.
On the way to Todra by car you will also discover the impressive palm grove of Tinghir, on the outskirts of the town. Dense and leafy, it is a veritable green oasis, a palm and olive tree orchard set against the ochre and reddish tones of the desert.
Getting to Todra gorge
Todra is situated 25 kilometres to the north of Tinghir, the town through which you will need to pass to visit the gorge. Tinghir is around 350 kilometres from Marrakesh and around 500 kilometres from Fez. The easiest option is travelling from Ouarzazate, a town with an international airport, 160 kilometres away from the gorge. You must take the N10, which follows the course of the Dadès river before leaving it, in the direction of Tinghir.
Dadès valley and Dadès gorge
Driving along a dizzying road, through the Dadès gorge, is the kind of experience fans of road trips will love, that you will only find in certain places in the world.
The route begins many kilometres further back, with the Dadès river already showing signs of the greenery that is a veritable orchard for the area’s people – a wash of green amid adobe houses and a rocky desert. As it goes on, it gets higher, reaching an altitude of over 1,500 metres. The river begins to meander as it enters the Atlas mountains, with the road following its course.
This whole area is part of the so-called Route of the 1,000 Kasbahs, referring to the traditional adobe constructions which are so common in the south of Morocco. The route goes from the snowy peaks of the Atlas mountains to the desert, leaving behind the valleys and canyons combining arid landscapes and riverside vegetation, on its way to Ouarzazate. Many will remember films such as Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars, which were filmed here.
Getting to the Dadès gorge
When coming from Ouarzazate, the Dadès gorge is situated in a mountain pass before the Todra gorge. Just follow the course of the Dadès river from Ouarzazate, along the N10. In the town of Boumalne Dadès, turn off onto the R704 to follow the river and enter the gorge, which is located a few kilometres ahead.
