Dades Valley
Travel Guide
An Ever-changing View
In Morocco’s southern valley regions, geological history is magnificently exposed for all to see.
Travelling from Marrakech over the Atlas Mountains, toward the palm oasis town of Ouarzazate. Thereafter, heading South East into the Dades Valley, located on the northern side of the Atlas range, is to experience, rather like a kaleidoscope, the Atlas’s changing character at each turn. The Atlas and Anti Atlas ranges can confidently vie with the mighty Himalayas or Swiss Alps and yet have the gentle greenness of the Scottish Highlands.
The Dades & Todra Gorges
The Dades valley in some stretches is the more barren of the Southern valleys which makes palm oases Skoura all the more beautiful and dramatic, twisting Gorges like the Dades and Todra all the more spectacular, providing you with, yet again, some of the most magnificent scenery of the south.
Berber Civilisation
The Dades is also known as ‘The valley of the thousand Kasbahs’, dozens of fortress cities litter this route, a reminder of the civilisations that once flourished here in the fertile valleys where roses bloom in the Skoura and El Kelaa des Mgouna oases.
Moroccan Rose Oil
To find yourself in the Dades valley is to be immersed in the heart of the rose country, known also as ‘The Valley of the Roses’ where each spring roses are harvested to produce rose water and rose oil for local distribution and the remainder exported to be processed by the worlds perfume industry.
The Rose Festival that takes place after the harvest each year in May is celebrated with dance and traditional Berber music, during which time the entire town is fragrant with the beautiful and natural scent of distilled roses.
Giant Rock Stacks
The Dades gorge is a dramatically spectacular section of the valley, separating the Atlas Mountains from the Anti Atlas, the gorge is unmistakeably mesmerising and one of southern Morocco’s great natural wonders and most spectacular canyons, with Kasbahs built into the rock, precariously overlooking the river below and where gravity-defying giant rock stacks, all shades of rustic red and baked terracotta glow in the sun.
So ’overbaked’ are these structures by the sun and worn by weather, they look as though they might well crumble before you. The river in perpetual motion has forged deeply cut gullies, inviting you to stop and stare, in amazement!
Dramatic Views
The road north from Boumalne Dades, with dramatic and ascending zig-zagging roads slicing through the mountain, creates the most magnificent views and is a spectacular way to see the natural beauty of the gorge itself, and the unnatural eclectic mix of roadside attractions and wares set out to catch the visitors passing eye!
Sweet Sticky Dates
Continuing South East, you arrive at the small town of Erfoud and should you travel during the month of October, you will find the date harvest in full swing throughout the southern region, Erfoud being the home of the famed date festival, held annually in the same month.
The Dune Set Erg Chebbi
Into The Chebbi Dunes
Importantly, The Dades Valley comprises one of the great entrance routes into the Sahara, continuing either south-east or northeast, brings you to the oasis village of Merzouga, a populated entrance into the desert.
However, this dune area is a relatively large and stunning expanse of sand, whereby it is still possible for you to access areas of the magnificent ERG CHEBBI, in relative isolation. To choose to stay in a Saharan desert camp, or small hotel on the dunes offers you the unique opportunity of experiencing desert life under the stars and of course you have the option, should you wish, take a camel excursion whilst in the desert or camel trek into the desert.
Our Award-Winning Service
My now wife is Moroccan, and we wanted to organize a pre-wedding trip for our friends and my family members who wanted to take in the sights before our wedding in Marrakech. The group quickly ballooned beyond our wildest expectations with 63 people wanting to join in! We had made arrangements with a different tour company who mysteriously cancelled on us several months after we thought everything was all set. We scrambled at short notice to find another tour company and are so happy we found Mor'hara. I will never forget! I cannot recommend this company enough for large or small group travel.
Steven M - Morocco / USA
My sister and I had talked about visiting Morocco for several years. How lucky we were that she found Mor'hara Morocco Tours. Our 10-day trip was planned in detail with assistance from Liz and from the first day that we were picked up at the airport by Hassan we set sail on a fabulous journey through Morocco. Camel riding into the desert, traversing the Atlas Mountains, shopping in Marrakech, tasting all kinds of exotic foods, interacting with local people and their children - day after day of wonderfully exciting activities. Hassan was the ideal guide- informative, funny, engaging. This adventure was truly the trip of a lifetime.
Gerri L - USA
The experience Morhara Morocco Tours provided us was "simply" unforgettable. Perfect from all service perspectives (logistics, 4x4 vehicles, amazing accommodations and in the camp, cultural content, routes, spectacular food, personnel, flexibility and security) and more importantly to me, everything was handled with care, love and passion by Hassan, our guide and leader of the tour. Hassan was great, generous and seemed to be driven by the ambition to make this tour an outstanding event for all us. We are deeply thankful and happy with your services.
Marcelo L - Brazil
I don't even know where to start! Hassan was an incredible guide, translator, driver, coordinator during our entire time in Morocco. We were female travelers and felt very safe with Hassan and had a great time from start to finish. The desert tour was unforgettable. We learned how to cook tajine, rode camels, climbed sand dunes, saw beautiful Kasbahs, went off-roading, and glamped like pros! We had a wonderful, surreal experience and I would 100% recommend Hassan and Liz's company. Our trip exceeded my expectations and it was all thanks to Hassan and Liz at Morhara.
Jennifer W - USA
I contacted Morhara due to their great reviews and I couldn't be happier with my decision. We had a once in a lifetime experience. The trip was well paced and included the flexibility you need travelling with young children. A lot of the success of the trip was due to our lovely driver Hafid, my children and my husband and I all loved him! In turn his love for his country, especially the Sahara, was infectious and we truly felt like we saw the real Morocco. We can't wait to come back when the children are older, Morocco is such a beautiful, friendly country.
Cleo W - UK
As a group of 5, we spent wonderful 11 days in Southern Morocco. From the very first contact, we were pleased with the personalized contact and arrangements of our private tour and then... we arrived in Morocco and it was even better! Hassan who was guiding us proved to be extremely friendly, helpful and informative and made us feel relaxed and comfortable during the whole journey. If you are looking for a first-class service and personalized, friendly assistance while in Morocco I can clearly recommend you get in touch with Liz and Hassan of Mor'hara Tours. Thank you both for all your efforts and fantastic holiday we had on and off the 'beaten' visitor track!
Jacek A - Poland
My husband and I just got back from our holiday in Morocco, and we had the best time, thanks to Mor'hara. During the planning process, Liz and Hassan (owners) are extremely responsive and provided comprehensive information. Now that we have travelled with them, I am even more supportive of their business and we greatly enjoyed our time with Hafid, our driver. I would highly recommend traveling with Hafid and Mor'hara. Even though we only interacted with Liz and Hassan via e-mail, I feel like part of the family. Thank you team Mor'hara for the amazing experience and memories!
Akikio I - USA
This is the company to hire if you want an authentic and unforgettable experience in Morocco. Hassan will go out of his way to make you fall in love with Morocco. Our experience in the Sahara was exceptional. We never once felt lost or out of place as Hassan made sure to make us feel like Morocco was our home too. We didn't feel like we were over paying, and every recommendation came with genuine intention for us to have a once in a lifetime experience in Morocco. I wish we had more time to see the entire country with this tour company.
Parastoo B - USA
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