East of Ouarzazate, the N10 runs through two oases that many travellers only see from the window: the palm grove of Skoura and the rose town of Kelaat M’Gouna, at the heart of Morocco’s Valley of Roses. Skoura lies about 40 km east of Ouarzazate, and Kelaat M’Gouna about 90 km. This guide explains what to see in each, when the roses bloom and how far everything is.
Where are Skoura and Kelaat M’Gouna?
Both towns sit on the N10, the road that links Ouarzazate with Boumalne Dadès and Tinghir in south-eastern Morocco. Skoura belongs to Ouarzazate Province and Kelaat M’Gouna to Tinghir Province, both in the Drâa-Tafilalet region.
Skoura is about 40 km east of Ouarzazate, around 45 minutes’ drive. Kelaat M’Gouna is about 50 km further east, about 90 km from Ouarzazate. Boumalne Dadès, the gateway to the Dadès Gorges, is about 25 km beyond Kelaat M’Gouna on the same road.
Day one of our 4-day desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga follows this road east from Ouarzazate to a night in the Dadès Valley, so both oases lie on the way.
What is there to see in the Skoura oasis?
Skoura’s palm grove covers more than 25 square kilometres of date palms and fruit trees, with earthen kasbahs scattered among the gardens. Narrow lanes run between mud walls, and the High Atlas rises to the north.
Kasbah Amridil, at the entrance to the palm grove, is the best known. It was founded in the 17th century, is still owned by the Nassiri family and appeared on an older 50-dirham banknote.
Part of the kasbah is a small museum of rural life, with old tools, an olive press and a bread oven. The family still lives in another part of the building.
Allow about an hour for Amridil. A walk in the palm grove with a local guide adds an hour or two, and is the best way to see how the gardens are farmed.
Why is Kelaat M’Gouna called the Valley of Roses?
Kelaat M’Gouna stands at about 1,450 metres in the Dadès Valley, at the foot of the High Atlas. Its fields and gardens are lined with damask roses (Rosa damascena), grown for their scent rather than for cut flowers.
The town takes its name from Jbel M’Goun, which rises to 4,071 metres in the mountains to the north. Its second name, the Valley of Roses, comes from the rose harvest that shapes the town every spring.
North of the town, a narrow valley leads to the village of Bou Thrarar, at the mouth of the M’Goun gorge. It is a short drive or a longer walk through small fields and villages.
When do the roses bloom, and when is the Rose Festival?
The roses bloom from late April into May, and the picking season lasts only about three weeks. The exact window moves from year to year with the weather.
The Rose Festival of Kelaat M’Gouna is held every year in May, when the harvest is at its height. Its dates follow the bloom: in 2026 it was held in the second week of May, with a parade and markets.
If you want to see the harvest itself, aim for the last days of April or the first half of May, and confirm the festival dates before you book.
What rose products can you buy in Kelaat M’Gouna?
Local distilleries and cooperatives turn the petals into rose water and rose essential oil. They also sell soaps, creams and dried rosebuds.
Rose water is made during the same distillation as the oil, which is why it is the most common rose product. Rose oil takes a very large weight of petals for a small amount of oil, so a genuine bottle is always expensive.
Buy from a cooperative or a distillery shop, where you can ask how each product is made and what it contains.
How long should you spend in Skoura and Kelaat M’Gouna?
Both towns fit into a single day on the N10. A morning visit to Amridil and a stop in Kelaat M’Gouna for the rose shops still leave time to reach the Dadès Valley before sunset.
A night in the Skoura palm grove suits travellers who want a slow first evening after the mountain crossing. Our Marrakech to Ouarzazate road guide covers the drive that brings you here.
In rose season, a night in or near Kelaat M’Gouna gives you the early morning, when the pickers are in the fields. The Dadès Gorges visitor guide covers the valley a short drive further east.
What is the best time to visit Skoura and the Valley of Roses?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, roughly March to May and September to November. Late April and May add the rose harvest and the festival in Kelaat M’Gouna.
Summer days are hot in both oases, so plan walks for the early morning. Winter nights are cold at this altitude.
How do Skoura and Kelaat M’Gouna fit a Sahara trip?
The drive from Marrakech to Merzouga is about 560 km, or 9 to 10 hours of driving. Skoura and Kelaat M’Gouna lie between Ouarzazate and the Dadès Valley, on the stretch most desert trips cover in the afternoon of the first day.
Our Marrakech to Merzouga road trip guide shows how this stretch connects with the gorges and the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
What are the key facts about Skoura and Kelaat M’Gouna?
This table gathers the practical figures in one place.
| Topic | Key fact |
|---|---|
| Road | N10, between Ouarzazate and Boumalne Dadès |
| Ouarzazate to Skoura | About 40 km east, around 45 minutes |
| Skoura to Kelaat M’Gouna | About 50 km east on the N10 |
| Ouarzazate to Kelaat M’Gouna | About 90 km, around 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Kelaat M’Gouna to Boumalne Dadès | About 25 km east on the N10 |
| Skoura palm grove | More than 25 km² of palms and gardens |
| Kasbah Amridil | Founded in the 17th century, owned by the Nassiri family |
| Altitude of Kelaat M’Gouna | About 1,450 m |
| Rose bloom | Late April into May, about three weeks |
| Rose Festival | Every year in May |
Skoura and Kelaat M’Gouna turn a long driving day into a journey through gardens: palm shade and earthen kasbahs in the morning, rose fields and distilleries in the afternoon. They are worth a slow stop 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
How far is Skoura from Ouarzazate?
Skoura is about 40 km east of Ouarzazate on the N10, around 45 minutes’ drive. Kasbah Amridil stands at the entrance to the palm grove, so it is easy to visit on the way east.
Where is the Valley of Roses in Morocco?
The Valley of Roses is the area around Kelaat M’Gouna, in the Dadès Valley of south-eastern Morocco. The town lies on the N10, about 90 km east of Ouarzazate and about 25 km west of Boumalne Dadès.
When is the Kelaat M’Gouna Rose Festival?
The Rose Festival is held every year in May, at the height of the rose harvest. Its exact dates follow the bloom and change from year to year; in 2026 it was held in the second week of May.
When is the best time to see the roses?
The roses bloom from late April into May, and picking lasts about three weeks. Aim for the last days of April or the first half of May, and check the bloom before you travel.
Is Kasbah Amridil worth visiting?
Yes, if you have an hour to spare on the N10. The kasbah was founded in the 17th century, is still owned by the Nassiri family and shows how a fortified family house in the oasis was built and lived in.
