Landscapes
Situated a 2h30 drive from Ksar Ighnda, the Dades gorges are a must-see destination. These gorges stretch for 25 km and feature impressive ochre-coloured cliffs. Dwellings of the same colour blend into the rock, and sunset promises magical moments dressed in magnificent vermilion hues. As you travel through the Dades Gorge, you'll see a succession of distinctive features that don't necessarily resemble each other.
First series of gorges
At that time, the wadi was still divided into two branches, each of which had carved its gorges nearly 300 m deep in ochre-coloured limestone dating from the Jurassic period.
Second series of gorges
They are separated from the former by the M'semrirThey too are carved out of limestone dating from the Dogger period. Over a length of more than 500 m, the wadi has cut a narrow path through the rocks, almost 400 m deep.
Third series of gorges
They are separated from the previous ones by a narrow basin, hemmed in between escarpments, and are carved out over several kilometres in limestone. reefs ochre or sometimes reddish. These limestones, older than the previous ones, date from the Lias (Jurassic lower). Their massive and resistant nature explains the narrowness of the passage cut by the wadi, which in places is only a few metres wide.
Fourth series of gorges
These gorges, located to the north of the Boumalne oasis, are different in that they are carved out of more varied rocks dating from the Cretaceous and theEocene. The classic gorges with subvertical walls carved in ochre limestone alternate with narrowings in red sandstone, and in places show gully patterns in marl.
monkey doights
The "Monkey Fingers" are made up of eroded rock, forming natural columns that emerge from the ground.
The entire route is passable. There are a few obstacles along the way that are a little difficult, but the route is still affordable. You have to come as if you wanted to do a mountain hike, sometimes you have to be equipped with shoes to cross the water. The best solution is to take a guide who we feel is essential for the route. A guide is not just there to show you the way, but also to explain the fauna, flora and geological formations of the area.
The Dades Valley is a wild landscape, with snow on one side and semi-desert on the other. Its wild grandeur and supernatural silence can only be matched by the Grand Canyon. The river forms the valley along a winding path full of fruit, walnuts, wheat, birch and almond trees, giving us a backdrop of spectacular rock formations.
The Dades Valley is one of Morocco's jewels, a place that offers a unique experience to all those who venture along its route, discovering the natural and cultural beauty of this region of the country.
