Dades Valley

Surrounded by a cascade of tangerine hills and mountain passes, Dades river flows serenely from its springs in the High Atlas. It pours into the verdant gorge known as Dades Valley. Back in the day, Dades valley was a route connecting the endless dunes of the Sahara to the inner cities. Buzzing trade caravans and Bedouin nomads strode through acres of land on it. They left their traces in the kasbahs and picturesque fortified villages overlooking the river; the haste of those mystical times echo through every inch of the valley to this day.

Nothing beats an atmospheric hike through live-stock trails and Berber villages for the ultimate rural experience. While higher elevations host a colorful portfolio of earth tones, a heavenly bundle of rose fields, palms, and almond groves rise among layers of sandstone rocks in the gorge.

Renowned as the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, Dades valley is home to a series of caravanserais, most of which were converted into hotels and invite visitors in for a dreamy stay. However, a part of the time’s intriguing mobility remains nestled in the villages. They offer a pleasant rest and a glimpse into the traditional practices of locals, such as rose water production. You might even come across Bedouin nomads who dwell in the outlying caves, carrying on their centuries-old lifestyle in between the mountains and the desert.