The Todra Narrows
1 hEveryoneDog-friendly
The narrowest stretch of the canyon, about 12 km from Tinghir: walls of about 300 m and 10 m wide, a flat, free 1 h walk.
From Ouarzazate2 h to the Dadès
Between gorges1 h · 55 km
To Merzouga4 h from the Todra
Best timeMar · Apr · May · Oct
Minimum time1 night
The road from Marrakesh crosses the province of Al Haouz The N9 over the Tizi n'Tichka crosses Al Haouz, one of the provinces affected by the 2023 earthquake that the Spanish Foreign Ministry advises against travelling to (advice updated on 9 July 2026). Check it before leaving; if it is still in force, consider arriving via Ouarzazate, which has an airport.
What to do
What to do in Todra and Dadès Gorges
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Dadès Road to Tissadrine
2 h · 29 kmCalm drivers
A mountain road through the Dadès canyon from Boumalne: kasbahs, red rocks and the Tissadrine bends, about 29 km.
Tinghir Palm Grove
2 hFamiliesDog-friendly
A flat 2 to 3 h walk through the Todgha oasis between Tinghir and the gorge: palms, orchards, irrigation channels and mud-brick ksour.
Plan the trip
Todra and Dadès Gorges, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Todra and Dadès Gorges
In spring and in October. In summer the bottoms of the gorges give shade and a little coolness, but the approach road is an oven. In winter the nights are cold and the odd storm brings floods: do not enter the riverbed if it is raining in the Atlas.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Where to stay
Where to stay in Todra and Dadès Gorges
Small hotel
Auberge Le Festival Todra Gorge
Why we like it: A stone inn in the canyon itself, past the narrow part, for sleeping with the gorge empty.
Dar Ayour
Why we like it: A quiet house at the entrance to the gorge, with walking access to the narrow stretch.
Hotel
Le Vieux Château du Dadès
Why we like it: A classic hotel in the Dadès valley, a couple of kilometres from the narrowest part.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Enter the Todra first thing
Before ten the groups have not arrived and the light reaches the top of the walls.
- 2Bring sandals or footwear that can get wet
For crossing the river and walking along the bottom of the canyon.
- 3Stop at the Tissadrine bends with care
There is a café viewpoint at the top. The road is narrow and has no hard shoulder.
Where are they and how do you get there?
On the so-called route of a thousand kasbahs, the N10 between Ouarzazate and Errachidia. From Ouarzazate it is about two hours to Boumalne, the entrance to the Dadès. From Boumalne to Tinghir, the entrance to the Todra, it is about 55 km and another hour. From Marrakesh it is, in total, six or seven hours: do not do it in one day, sleep first at Aït Ben Haddou. From the Todra to Merzouga is about four hours more.
Without a car, CTM and Supratours stop at Boumalne and Tinghir, and from there shared grand taxis go up to the gorges.
Which one to see if you only have time for one?
The Todra can be understood in an hour: a corridor of rock about 300 m high and about ten metres wide, which you walk along beside the river. The Dadès is a road: you drive up through the canyon between oddly shaped rocks to the bends of Tissadrine. If you are in a hurry, the Todra; if you like driving, both.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to pay to enter the gorges?
No. The roads and the bottom of the Todra are free. You pay for parking next to the hotels and for guides if you hire them.
Can you walk in the gorges?
Yes. In the Todra, the narrow stretch is flat and short. There are longer routes above the canyon, best with a local guide.
Where should I sleep, in the Todra or the Dadès?
In whichever leaves you closer to the next day. On the way to Merzouga, the Todra; coming from Merzouga towards Marrakesh, the Dadès.
Can you climb?
The Todra has sport climbing routes on its walls. You need equipment and experience, or a climbing guide.