In a nutshell
- The absolute highlight of the Dades Gorge is its breathtaking switchbacks — a truly one-of-a-kind experience on any road trip through Morocco.
- But there’s even more to discover: cool rock formations, an impressive canyon, and some really great hiking trails.
- In this article we tell you everything you need to know for your visit to the Dades Gorge. Your best option is to drive there in a rental car — guided tours into the gorge aren’t available.
- Our top accommodation pick near the Dades Gorge is the Dar Essalama Dades — we’ve stayed there ourselves and loved it.
Facts About the Dades Gorge in Morocco
The Dades Gorge, along with the Todra Gorge, is one of the two most impressive canyons in Morocco. For us, it’s definitely one of the most beautiful attractions in Morocco.
The rock formations in the Dades Gorge are seriously unique and fascinating. The Dadès River winds its way through the gorge, though it isn’t always filled with water. A road runs through the gorge above the river.
On both sides of the river stand ancient kasbahs, most of them uninhabited. You can’t go inside, but the view from the outside alone is really something.
The absolute highlight of the Dades Gorge, though, is the switchbacks — one of the most well-known photo spots in Morocco. Driving along this winding road is a truly thrilling experience and a must on any Morocco vacation.
By the way, the road through the Dades Gorge is about 62 kilometers long. It starts at the edge of the town of Boumalne and heads north. You’ll reach the switchbacks after about 30 kilometers.
The Dades Gorge on a Map
The Dades Gorge is located in the southern part of Morocco, right in the heart of the so-called Dadès Valley, where the Todra Gorge is also found.
The Dadès Valley sits more or less exactly halfway between Marrakech and the desert town of Merzouga, the starting point for all desert tours into the Erg Chebbi desert.
The Dades Gorge is about 330 kilometers from Marrakech. The drive takes around six hours by car.
The entire area around the Dades Gorge is called the Dadès Valley. It’s part of the High Atlas, a mountain range within the famous Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
To give you a sense of exactly where the Dades Gorge is located, we’ve marked it on a map. You’ll also be able to see that the Todra Gorge isn’t far away.
Activities and Attractions Around the Dades Gorge
There aren’t a huge number of highlights or activities around the Dades Gorge. Still, there are a few really cool things to see here that are well worth your time.
Driving Through the Switchbacks of the Dades Gorge
As already mentioned, the absolute standout of the Dades Gorge is a drive along the switchbacks. They’re also the reason the Dades Gorge road is such a popular destination for travelers.
It’s a truly cool and one-of-a-kind experience to drive up the narrow, incredibly winding road — all between these gigantic rock walls that glow redder and redder as the sun sets.
On the left side of the Dades Gorge switchbacks, the Dadès River keeps flowing alongside you.
The road is in pretty good condition and you shouldn’t have any trouble navigating it in your rental car or your own van.
Café-Restaurant Timzillite Chez Mohamed and the View of the Switchbacks
The second highlight is of course the breathtaking view of the switchbacks of the Dades Gorge. The perfect vantage point is from the Café-Restaurant Timzillite Chez Mohamed.
Here you can sit on the terrace with a delicious mint tea, soak up the panorama, and photograph this incredible landscape. You’ll end up with some really stunning shots!
In front of the restaurant there’s a large parking lot where you can park your car for free. The view from the parking lot looking back into the Dades Gorge is also seriously cool.
Our tip: We can’t recommend the food at Café-Restaurant Timzillite Chez Mohamed. We tried a tagine and have definitely had better food in Morocco. But a mint tea is always a good call. We ended up having a proper dinner that evening at our accommodation, the Dar Essalama Dades. The food there was absolutely delicious!
Monkey Fingers
Before you reach the switchbacks, make a quick stop at the Monkey Fingers. You’ll get there after about 18 kilometers (open in Google Maps).
The Monkey Fingers are a pretty cool rock formation. If you look closely, you might be able to spot that parts of the rocks resemble monkey fingers — which is exactly where the name comes from. You’ll still need a bit of imagination, though.
Driving Through the Canyon
Even after your drive along the switchbacks and a stop at the restaurant, it’s worth continuing a little further into the gorge — always following the river.
Keep going until you reach a cool canyon. Here the rock walls get taller and the road between them gets narrower. It’s a really impressive sight and a great experience.
This part of the Dades Gorge reminded us a bit of the Todra Gorge. The rock walls in the Todra Gorge are even higher, though, and the canyon is even narrower.
If you keep driving from here, you’d reach the Todra Gorge after about 200 kilometers. Since 2025, this connecting road has been paved and is in good condition.
That said, the drive takes about 4.5 hours to get there, so we’d still recommend taking the main road.
Hiking in the Dades Gorge
If you have a bit more time, you can also do some great hiking in the Dades Gorge. A popular hike takes you around the Monkey Fingers.
You can do the hike on your own or book a guide. We recommend going with a guide — they know the area really well and will share great insights along the way. It’s best to book the tour online in advance.
Hiking in the Dades Gorge with pickup and lunch included
If you’d still prefer to explore the Dades Gorge on your own, we recommend the Komoot app. There you’ll find the hike around the Monkey Fingers, as well as other routes.
Another great way to find a good hike is to simply ask at your accommodation. The owners often know the best routes or can arrange a local guide for you on the spot.
Our tip: We recommend doing longer hikes only in spring or fall, when it’s the best time to visit Morocco and the weather is at its most pleasant.
Getting There: How to Explore the Dades Gorge
The best way to explore the Dades Gorge is on your own and to include it in your road trip through Morocco — especially if you already have Marrakech and the Erg Chebbi desert on your itinerary.
We spent one night in the Dades Gorge after our desert tour in the Erg Chebbi, then headed to Setti Fatma before making our way back to Marrakech.
You can also stop here on the way there, for example after visiting Ait-Ben-Haddou and Ouarzazate.
Just drive into the Dades Gorge in your rental car. It starts in the town of Boumalne.
First, enter the Monkey Fingers (open in Google Maps) into your GPS. They’re right on the way to the switchbacks, and you can make a quick stop there.
After that, enter the Café-Restaurant Timzzillite Chez Mohamed into your GPS. That way you’ll definitely drive along the Dades Gorge road and its serpentines. At the top near the restaurant, you can park, photograph the switchbacks, and take a break.
For the canyon, just keep driving a little further along the road. After the canyon you can turn back around — there’s nothing much beyond that point.
Guided tours into the Dades Gorge aren’t available. The reason is usually the switchbacks — large tourist buses simply can’t make it up them.
If you want to visit a gorge in Morocco on a guided tour, we recommend the Todra Gorge instead.
Accommodations in the Dades Gorge
Along the road through the Dades Gorge you’ll find plenty of small, charming places to stay — perfect if you want to add an overnight stop to your road trip.
We can highly recommend the Dar Essalama Dades, where we stayed ourselves. The rooms and common areas are designed in a classic Moroccan style with great attention to detail.
The chef prepares dinner and breakfast with just as much care. We had the best Moroccan salad of our entire trip here. The value for money is also unbeatable.
If you want to move on quickly the next day, you can also stay in the town of Boumalne as an alternative.
Our Accommodation Recommendations in the Dades Gorge
Our Accommodation Recommendations in Boumalne
Dades or Todra Gorge?
The Dades and Todra Gorges are about 90 kilometers apart. If you only have time for one gorge in Morocco and you’re wondering whether to visit the Dades or the Todra — here’s our honest take.
If we had to choose, we’d recommend the Dades Gorge — provided you just want to drive through once, wander around a bit, and soak up the scenery.
We find the landscape in the Dades Gorge just a little more impressive, and the switchbacks are an absolute must-see.
On top of that, large tourist buses can’t make it up the switchbacks, so the Dades Gorge is significantly less crowded than the Todra Gorge.
If your focus is more on hiking or even climbing, however, you’re better off heading to the Todra Gorge. It’s also the better choice if you want to join a guided tour.
Highlights of the Dades Gorge:
Spectacular switchbacks that you can drive along and admire.
We find the scenery along the way even more impressive than in the Todra Gorge.
Highlights of the Todra Gorge:
The canyon with its towering rock walls is seriously impressive.
More activities on-site: hiking, climbing, the oasis in Tinghir.
In a dedicated article, we’ve put together all the key info and our tips for the Todra Gorge. If you have time on your road trip, we of course recommend visiting both gorges.
If you only visit one gorge, you’ll naturally have a bit more time for other highlights in Morocco — like more things to see in Marrakech, a side trip to the port city of Essaouira, or the surf town of Taghazout.
General Tips and Frequently Asked Questions About the Dades Gorge
How long should you spend at the Dades Gorge?
It really depends on what you want to do.
If you just want to see the famous switchbacks of the Dades Gorge, three hours is enough. It takes just under an hour to drive from Boumalne to the Café-Restaurant Timzzillite Chez Mohamed.
We do recommend planning for an afternoon and the following night, though. That way you can explore the entire gorge at a relaxed pace, walk around a bit, and take a long break at the restaurant. For us, the Dades Gorge was the perfect stopover on the way back from the Erg Chebbi desert to Marrakech.
If you want to hike in the Dades Gorge, set aside a full day and definitely plan to spend the night.
What is the weather like in the Dades Gorge?
The weather in the Dades Gorge is similar to that in Marrakech — and thus similar to many parts of Morocco.
In summer, it can get really hot. If you’re planning to hike, definitely check the temperatures beforehand.
In spring and fall, the weather is super pleasant, usually around 68 to 77°F.
In winter, it gets a bit cooler, but the average temperature is still around 57°F.
No matter when you visit: at night it always cools down noticeably.
Is the Dades Gorge safe?
Yes, absolutely. We always felt completely safe in the Dades Gorge — you don’t need to worry about safety in Morocco here.
Of course, you should always drive carefully when navigating the area in your rental car.
If you’d like to hike, we recommend booking a guide for the longer trails.
