Destination

Dades Valley

Tours through the Dades Valley — kasbah country, the switchbacks above Boumalne and the road east toward the desert.

32 tours in Dades Valley

Browse all Morocco tours

Planning a trip to Dades Valley

The Dades Valley is the stretch of the old caravan route between Ouarzazate and Tinghir that guidebooks call the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs — earthen fortified houses set against red rock, many still lived in. It is the most photogenic driving day on most of our itineraries, and the one people are most surprised by, because they came for the desert and did not expect the approach to be the highlight.

Above Boumalne Dades the road climbs into the gorge proper on a set of tight hairpin switchbacks that are a landmark in their own right. Most tours stop at the viewpoint above them, and many spend the night in the valley before pushing on to Merzouga the next day.

North-west of here is the Valley of Roses around Kelaat M'Gouna, where damask roses are harvested in May for rose water. If your dates fall in the first half of May, the rose festival is worth building the itinerary around.

Questions about Dades Valley

Why do so many itineraries stop overnight in Dades?

Because the drive from Marrakech to the dunes in one day is too long to be enjoyable. Breaking it in the Dades Valley splits the journey roughly in half and puts you within four hours of Merzouga the next afternoon, in good time for the camel trek.

What are the kasbahs actually made of?

Rammed earth mixed with straw, built in place. It is why they are the colour of the ground they stand on, and why the ones that are no longer maintained slump back into it within a few decades.

Camel caravan crossing the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset near Merzouga

Ready for Your Next Adventure?

Let’s Create Your Unforgettable Journey

Tell us your dream trip and our experts will make it happen.

Get Your Free Quote Now