Dadès or Todra: which one to choose?
The two gorges look alike from afar and differ up close. They are about sixty kilometres apart by road, via Boumalne Dadès and Tinghir.
| Dadès Gorges | Todra Gorges | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Boumalne Dadès, then about 20 km of road upstream | Tinghir, then about 15 km north |
| Landscape | Red cliffs, sculpted rocks (the "monkey fingers"), hairpin road | Narrow canyon, vertical walls several hundred metres high, oasis below |
| What to do | Scenic drive, short walk, night in a guesthouse | Walk in the riverbed, climbing, Tinghir palm grove |
If you can only see one, choose the Dadès for the road and the rock shapes, the Todra for walking between the walls. With a single day on site, you will not do both.
Distances and realistic duration from Marrakech
The road crosses the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m), then Ouarzazate and the Valley of the Roses via Kelaat M'Gouna. Distances are approximate and times include stops:
- Marrakech – Ouarzazate: about 200 km, 4 h;
- Ouarzazate – Boumalne Dadès: about 130 km, 2 h;
- Boumalne Dadès – Dadès Gorges (upper valley): about 25 km, 40 min;
- Boumalne Dadès – Tinghir: about 60 km, 1 h;
- Tinghir – Todra Gorges: about 15 km, 20 min.
Two days is possible for the Dadès alone. Leave early, have lunch in Ouarzazate, spend the night in the Dadès valley, spend the morning in the gorges, then face a long return day of about seven hours. The Todra does not fit this programme: it adds an hour and a half of driving, there and back, for gorges you would drive through without walking in.
Three days is the right format. Day one to the Dadès, day two for a morning in the Dadès gorges then the Todra and the Tinghir palm grove late in the day, a night in Tinghir or in the gorges, and day three back to Marrakech. You drive just as much, but you have time to walk.
Leave room for the return: about 350 km and seven and a half hours of driving from Tinghir. If you carry on south, our guide Desert from Marrakech covers the way to Merzouga.
Day 1: Tizi n'Tichka, Aït Ben Haddou and the Valley of the Roses
A 7 am start avoids the traffic on the pass. The road crosses the High Atlas, then stops at the ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Ouarzazate, the Taourirt Kasbah or the Atlas Studios justify an hour if you have not already seen a ksar. After Ouarzazate, the road follows the Valley of the Roses: in spring, April and early May, its rose fields scent the villages around Kelaat M'Gouna. The night is spent in a guesthouse or hotel in the Dadès valley.
The Dadès gorges: the hairpin road and the monkey fingers
Above Boumalne Dadès, the road climbs upstream between red cliffs. The most famous shapes are the "monkey fingers", eroded rock columns above a ribbon of greenery. Higher up, the hairpin road climbs the wall: it is the classic Dadès photo. Allow at least two hours for the drive, the stops and a short walk in the valley.
The guesthouses are grouped around Aït Oudinar, in the most spectacular part. Do not attempt the track to the Todra via Tamtattouchte without a 4x4 and a driver who knows it: go via Tinghir.
The Todra gorges: walking between the walls
About fifteen kilometres from Tinghir, the valley narrows into a canyon a few metres wide between vertical walls hundreds of metres high. This is where the river almost touches the road. The best thing is to leave the vehicle and walk along the canyon floor, where you hear the stream and the light changes quickly. Walkers and climbers come to the area. At midday, groups arrive by coach; early in the morning or late in the afternoon, the place is much calmer.
Back in Tinghir, the palm grove is worth an hour's stroll: irrigation channels, terraced gardens and mud-brick villages, on foot or by bike.
Getting there: tour, car or bus
- Two-day tour: the offers seen in October 2026 for Aït Ben Haddou and the Dadès start at about €250 to €300 for a private trip for two or more people. Check that the programme says "Dadès gorges" and not just "Dadès valley", and that the night, dinner and breakfast are included. To compare tours, see our guide to excursions from Marrakech.
- Rental car: the most flexible option for three days, with the stops you choose. The Tizi n'Tichka pass is winding and can be snowy in winter: plan to drive in daylight. Our guide to car rental in Marrakech gives conditions and prices. You can compare car rentals before you go.
- Bus: CTM and Supratours serve Ouarzazate, Boumalne Dadès and Tinghir from the Marrakech bus station. You then need a taxi to the gorges, from Boumalne or Tinghir. Timetables and prices change: check them on site or on the companies' websites. See also our page train and bus from Marrakech.
When to go
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best seasons: the light is beautiful and walking is pleasant. In summer, the heat is strong around Tinghir and the palm grove: start early in the morning. In winter, from December to February, the Dadès is above 1,500 m: nights are cold, snow can close the Tizi n'Tichka pass for a few hours and make the hairpin road dangerous. Heavy autumn and spring rain can swell the wadis: ask before walking in the riverbed.
What to pack
- walking shoes for the Todra, where you walk on pebbles and in water;
- a warm jacket for the evening, even in spring;
- cash in dirhams: cash machines are rare in the gorges;
- water and something to snack on, as there are few cafés in the gorges.
Going further
For the way south, read Desert from Marrakech and our page on Zagora. To keep your budget under control, see the Marrakech travel budget and our advice on avoiding scams on tours sold in the street.
