The Dadès Gorges (often written Dades Gorges) are a chain of red-rock canyons cut by the Dadès River north of the town of Boumalne Dadès, in southern Morocco. The town sits at about 1,560 metres, on the N10 road between Ouarzazate and Tinghir. This guide explains where it is, how long the drives take, what to see on the gorge road and how a night here fits a Sahara trip.
Where is Boumalne Dadès, and how high is it?
Boumalne Dadès is a small town in Tinghir Province, in the Drâa-Tafilalet region of south-eastern Morocco. It stands at an altitude of about 1,560 metres (1,562 m), on the edge of a desert plateau where the upper Dadès Valley opens out.
Boumalne Dadès lies about 50 km west of Tinghir on the N10, roughly an hour’s drive. Kelaat M’Gouna, the town of roses, is about 25 km further west along the same road.
Boumalne is the base for the Dadès Gorges, which run north from the town towards Msemrir. It is also a starting point for the Todra Gorge near Tinghir and for crossings of the Jbel Saghro range to the south.
How far is Boumalne Dadès from Ouarzazate and Marrakech?
Boumalne Dadès is about 110 km east-north-east of Ouarzazate along the N10, a drive of roughly 2 hours without stops. The road passes the Skoura palm grove and Kelaat M’Gouna on the way.
From Marrakech, the route crosses the High Atlas on the Tizi n’Tichka pass, at 2,260 metres, then follows the N10 east from Ouarzazate. On our 4-day desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga, day one covers about 344 km with a guided stop at Aït Benhaddou and ends with a night in the Dadès Valley.
Our Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate guide covers the two main stops before the valley.
What will you see on the Dades Gorges road?
The gorge road leaves the N10 at Boumalne and climbs north up the valley. The cliffs rise 200 to 500 metres above the river, carved from layers of sedimentary rock that the Dadès has worn away over millions of years.
The lower valley is lined with Berber villages, crumbling kasbahs and irrigated plots of wheat, figs, almonds and olives. Around the Tamellalt valley, erosion has shaped the knobbly rock formations known as the Monkey Fingers (doigts de singe in French).
About 25 km north of Boumalne, near the villages of Aït Ouffi and Aït Oudinar, the gorge narrows sharply. Here the road climbs a series of tight hairpin bends, the most photographed stretch of the valley.
The road continues up the valley to Msemrir. Beyond Msemrir, the way on towards Agoudal is a rough mountain track, so most visitors turn back at the hairpins.
These are the stops worth planning for, from south to north:
- The villages and kasbahs of the lower valley, with their fig, almond and olive groves.
- The Monkey Fingers formations around the Tamellalt valley, where a walk into the rock is the classic hike.
- The narrows near Aït Oudinar, about 25 km from Boumalne.
- The hairpin bends just above them, best seen from the café terrace at the top of the climb.
When is the rose festival in Kelaat M’Gouna?
Kelaat M’Gouna, about 25 km west of Boumalne, is known as the Valley of Roses. Its Rose Festival is held every year in May and celebrates the rose season in the Dadès and M’Goun valleys.
The town’s distillery turns the petals into rose water, essential oils and cosmetics. If you travel the N10 in May, the festival makes an easy stop on the way to or from the gorges. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you travel.
Our guide to Skoura and the Valley of Roses covers Kelaat M’Gouna, its rose products and the Skoura palm grove on the same road.
What is the best time to visit the Dadès Gorges?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, roughly April to June and September to November. Days are mild, and the low sun lights the red cliffs in the morning and late afternoon.
Winter nights are cold at this altitude, and snow can close the higher mountain roads in deep winter. Summer days are hot, so plan walks for the early morning. May adds the rose festival in Kelaat M’Gouna.
How long should you spend in the Dadès Valley?
One night is enough to drive the gorge road to the hairpins, take a short walk and watch the evening light on the cliffs. Two nights give you a full day for a longer hike, such as a walk among the Monkey Fingers.
The return drive from Boumalne to the narrows is about 50 km, so allow at least half a day with stops. For walking routes in both valleys, see our Dadès Valley and Todra Gorge hiking guide.
How does the Dadès Valley fit a Marrakech to Merzouga trip?
The drive from Marrakech to Merzouga is about 560 km, or 9 to 10 hours of driving. Boumalne Dadès lies a little more than halfway, which is why a first night in the Dadès Valley is common on desert trips.
On our 4-day tour, day two leaves the Dadès canyon for the Todgha Gorge near Tinghir. The afternoon continues to the Erg Chebbi dunes for a sunset camel ride and a night in a desert camp.
Our Marrakech to Merzouga road trip guide details every stage of the route, from the Tizi n’Tichka to Rissani.
What are the key facts about the Dadès Gorges?
This table gathers the practical figures in one place.
| Topic | Key fact |
|---|---|
| Gateway town | Boumalne Dadès, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet region |
| Altitude of Boumalne Dadès | About 1,560 m (1,562 m) |
| From Ouarzazate | About 110 km on the N10, roughly 2 hours |
| From Tinghir | About 50 km on the N10, roughly 1 hour |
| From Kelaat M’Gouna | About 25 km on the N10 |
| From Marrakech to Merzouga | About 560 km, 9 to 10 hours of driving in total |
| Gorge narrows and hairpins | About 25 km north of Boumalne, near Aït Oudinar |
| Height of the cliffs | 200 to 500 m |
| Rose Festival, Kelaat M’Gouna | Every year in May |
| Best seasons | April to June and September to November |
The Dadès Gorges reward a slow stop: a night in the valley, an early drive up to the hairpins and a walk among the rock. They pair naturally with the Todra Gorge and the dunes of Erg Chebbi on the road to the Sahara. You can browse all our Morocco desert tours, or ask us anything — we answer for free, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Boumalne Dadès?
Boumalne Dadès is a town in Tinghir Province, in south-eastern Morocco, at an altitude of about 1,560 metres. It lies on the N10, about 50 km west of Tinghir and about 110 km east-north-east of Ouarzazate. The Dadès Gorges begin just north of the town.
How far is the Dadès Gorge from Ouarzazate?
Boumalne Dadès, the gateway to the gorge, is about 110 km from Ouarzazate along the N10, a drive of roughly 2 hours. The narrows and hairpin bends lie about 25 km further north, near Aït Oudinar. Allow around three hours from Ouarzazate to the hairpins, plus time for stops.
Where are the Monkey Fingers?
The Monkey Fingers are knobbly rock formations shaped by erosion around the Tamellalt valley, on the gorge road north of Boumalne Dadès. They are visible from the road, and a walk into the rock is one of the classic hikes of the valley.
When is the Kelaat M’Gouna rose festival?
The Rose Festival of Kelaat M’Gouna is held every year in May, at the height of the rose season in the Dadès and M’Goun valleys. Kelaat M’Gouna lies about 25 km west of Boumalne Dadès on the N10. Exact dates change each year, so check them before you plan your trip.
Is one night in the Dadès Valley enough?
One night is enough to drive to the hairpins, take a short walk and enjoy the evening light on the cliffs. If you want a longer hike, such as the Monkey Fingers, plan two nights. On a Marrakech to Merzouga trip, one night here breaks the 560 km journey a little after halfway.
