Todra Gorge
A vertiginous canyon where sheer 300m walls close to a narrow river passage — walk the floor at dawn before the crowds.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Todra Gorge · Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Dadès & Todra Gorges, Morocco
The Todra Gorge narrows to a slot barely 10 metres wide between red walls, and the Dadès climbs a road of celebrated hairpin switchbacks. Both lie in the kasbah country of the far south. From Fes you reach them on the Sahara route through Errachidia and Tinghir, or later from the Marrakech side over the Tizi n'Tichka.
- Private or small-group
- A written quote for your dates
- WhatsApp support during your trip
Why go to Dadès & Todra Gorges
The Dadès and Todra gorges belong to the kasbah country of the far south, a long way from the Fes medina — so be clear about the map. There are two honest ways in. From Fes you can take the southern Sahara route, dropping through Ifrane, Midelt and the Ziz toward Errachidia, from where Tinghir and the Todra are within striking distance; or you reach the gorges later, on the Marrakech side of a longer imperial trip, climbing over the Tizi n'Tichka before turning east along the kasbah road. The Todra narrows to a 300-metre slot barely 10 metres wide and draws rock climbers from across Europe; the Dadès twists past the eroded 'monkey-finger' rock and the celebrated hairpin switchbacks. Between them lie palm oases, mudbrick kasbahs and, around Kelaat M'Gouna, the damask roses of the Valley of Roses.
- Best time
- March–May (rose season in May) and September–November
- How long
- 1–2 nights en route to the Sahara
- Nearest airport
- Ouarzazate (OZZ) or Errachidia (ERH)
- Region
- Pre-Sahara · Kasbah road
What you'll see in Dadès & Todra Gorges
Dadès switchbacks
The photogenic hairpin road climbing out of the gorge, with a café terrace perfectly placed for the view.
Valley of Roses
Kelaat M'Gouna's damask-rose fields, harvested each May for rosewater — a fragrant detour in spring.
Skoura palmery & kasbahs
An oasis of date palms studded with earthen kasbahs, including the beautifully restored Amerhidil.
Ways to see Dadès & Todra Gorges
Trips we build around Dadès & Todra Gorges. Tell us which one fits and we'll write the days and quote them for your group.
5 days
The silence of Chigaga
The gorges feature on the private 4x4 route between the Atlas and the deep Sahara.
3 days
Marrakech → Sahara via the gorges
Most desert routes thread the Dadès and Todra gorges on the way to the dunes.
Before you go
Getting there. About 2–3h east of Ouarzazate on the kasbah road
Best combined with. Aït Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate and the Merzouga dunes
Read next. Can You Do a Sahara Desert Tour from Fes, and How Many Days Do You Need to Reach Merzouga and the Dunes?; Merzouga vs Zagora — Which Sahara Desert Should You Visit?; Sahara Desert Camps Explained — Standard vs Luxury, Erg Chebbi vs Erg Chigaga.
Pair Dadès & Todra Gorges with
The places closest to Dadès & Todra Gorges, easy to join on one private route.
Questions about Dadès & Todra Gorges
Read these before you add Dadès & Todra Gorges to a trip.
Are the Dadès and Todra gorges worth it?
Yes — they're among the most dramatic landscapes in Morocco and a natural, scenic break on the long desert route. The Todra's sheer walls and the Dadès switchbacks are highlights of any southern road trip.
Can you visit the gorges from Marrakech?
They're best seen as part of a 3-day-or-longer Sahara loop, not a day trip — they sit roughly halfway between Marrakech and Merzouga on the kasbah road.
Tell us your dates. We'll plan Dadès & Todra Gorges with you.
- Tell us what drew you in. Your dates, who is travelling and what you want to see.
- A person reads it. We write a day-by-day plan for your group, private or small-group.
- You change anything. Then we confirm the guides, drivers and riads.