Dades Valley
Oh the beauty of the valley of a thousand kasbahs! The Dades area is filled with lush valley oasis towns, set against the immense blue Moroccan sky. This area is almost surreal in its ancient charm. Each town has its own distinctive trait, so dont be fooled into thinking they are all the same, as you speed by them in your car. Be ready to take breaks in your journey to step out of the car, and walk along the riverbed during the morning or in the late afternoon to fully appreciate the ruined Kasbahs and vast fields of date palms. Many of the Dades kasbahs are in ruin, which lends to the mysterious atmosphere. However, there are a few that remain in perfect condition where Berber families continue to live along the fertile bed of the river. Interesting stops on the road from Ouarzazate are Skoura, Boumalne Dades, the Dades Gorge, Tinerhir and the Todra Gorge
Related Travel Information
Dades Gorge
The Dades gorge is a spectacular place! It has a relaxed atmosphere, so you may want to recover if you’re in need of a rest from the daily hassle. The gorge is as interesting as the valley. The valley is wonderfully colorful as the green of the riverbed is surrounded by red, scarlet and carmine rocks and soil. It starts out rather wide and then narrows at Ait Oudinar.
The Kasbah of the Rocks is a mystical landscape of dark red eroded volcanic rocks. The beauty of this place is in its visual transformation as you change perspectives. From
Dades Gorge
The Dades gorge is a spectacular place! It has a relaxed atmosphere, so you may want to recover if you’re in need of a rest from the daily hassle. The gorge is as interesting as the valley. The valley is wonderfully colorful as the green of the riverbed is surrounded by red, scarlet and carmine rocks and soil. It starts out rather wide and then narrows at Ait Oudinar.
The Kasbah of the Rocks is a mystical landscape of dark red eroded volcanic rocks. The beauty of this place is in its visual transformation as you change perspectives. From
Boumalne
Boumalne du Dades is a small town that overlooks the valley. It makes for a pleasant stop in the valley and it is a good base for walking expeditions.
The oasis surrounding the town are very relaxing and you might want to spend more time here than you had planned. Boumalne provides an excellent base for hiking in the mountains stretching to the south, the Djebel Saghro as well as the gorges to the north. The Vallee des Oiseaux is also a very good day trip from here.
Skoura
The trip from Ouarzazate to Skoura is through a dull plain. However, the Restaurant du Lac, 19 km from Ouarzazate, is a lovely place to take a break (from May to September). It has a impressive view over a lac and a kasbah, at times, partially underwater. The road takes you close to the Dades where you can stop for a walk through the palm groves. You will probably be accompanied by a local guide, nothing to fear, it’s part of life here. Kasbah of Amerhidil and Dar Ait Sidi El Mati Kasbah are on the north bank of
Rift Valley Lakes
There are seven lakes of the Rift Valley. These lakes sits in a wide, fertile valley which runs between Addis Ababa and the Kenyan border. This is one of the best parts of Ethiopia for bird watching. Lake Lagano, lake Abiata and Lake Shala are the most popular of the seven - one lake is blue, one silver and one brown. Abiata and Shala form a designated national park, but this doesn't mean much in practice. Lake Abiata is shallow, with heaps of birds, while Lake Shala sits at the bottom of a 250m deep crater. Lagano is
