The Valley of Roses, the Dades Gorges and the Todra Gorges are three wonders along the road of a thousand kasbahs (N10). The Todra (Todgha) Gorges are the most famous: here is how to visit them.
Getting there
The starting point is Tinghir. From there a road of about 15 km follows the Todra river through a large palm grove and mud-brick villages the same colour as the mountains. There are several viewpoints along the way where you can stop for photos. Because they are so close to the main road, the gorges are a classic stop on tours from Marrakech to the Merzouga desert.
The canyon
The Todra river has carved a canyon up to 300–400 metres deep into the High Atlas. At its narrowest, the walls are only a few dozen metres apart and the road runs right through the rock. The water is clear and cool: you will see visitors dipping their feet and locals filling their bottles.
Our tip: park at the entrance to the narrow section and walk a few hundred metres. The walls rising towards the sky are impressive, especially in the warm afternoon light.
Hiking in the gorges
If you have more time, you can do a loop hike of about 10 km that starts at the bottom of the gorge and climbs the slope on paths used by local Berbers. In about an hour you reach the highest point, where you may meet nomadic families, and then descend on the other side. Start early, with good shoes and water, or go with a local guide.
When to go
Spring and autumn are the best seasons. In summer the gorges are cooler than the plain, but the midday sun is strong.
The Todra Gorges are an essential stop on a trip to Morocco. We visit them on almost all our tours from Marrakech and from Fes.
More about Todgha Gorge on Wikipedia.
Keep reading
1 min readAit Ben Haddou, Morocco’s most famous kasbahAit Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed ksar 190 km from Marrakech: its history, the films shot here (Gladiator, Game of Thrones) and how to visit.Read article →
1 min readTaourirt Kasbah in OuarzazateTaourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate, a former residence of the Glaoui family: mud-brick towers, rooms decorated with stucco and cedar ceilings.Read article →
1 min readThe Hassan II Mosque in CasablancaThe Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca: built on the Atlantic with a 210-metre minaret, it is one of the largest in the world and open to…Read article →