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Holidays in Tineghir

The Valley of the Kasbahs

The road from Ouarzazate passes directly between hundreds of kasbahs that line the Dades Valley and stretches 100 miles east to the Todra Gorge at Tineghir.

A spectacular drive through stunning desert landscape, villages, palm groves, and the Jebel Sargho lunar-scape to the south.

At El Kelaa des M'gouna, there are hedges of wild roses. Throughout May, the women from the surrounding villages pick 700 tons of pink rose petals, which are harvested and made into a rather heady rosewater at the local distillery.

At Boumalne, take a side turning that leads through the dramatic landscape of the Dades Valley; at Tineghir, turn north for 13 miles and enter the breath-taking Todra Gorge.

Behind many of these villages are hundreds of occupied and abandoned kasbahs which are well worth exploring with local guides. Of particular note are the palm groves around Skoura and Tineghir.

The people of this region are colourful, charming, helpful and very hospitable. You may well be invited into their homes for the a la menthe (mint tea) or even to join the family in a ritual kouskous - however, you should be warned that this may take several hours out of your day and you will be expected to leave a donation (normally around 100 dirhams).

The Todra Gorge

At Tineghir, take a 20 Km side-trip through the splendid Todra River valley road that takes you through luxuriant ribbons of palm and olive groves, almond and pomegranate trees and patchworks of tiny cropfields and about a dozen pink-grey villages before entering the mouth of the Todra Gorge, a canyon 1,000 ft high, cut into the pink and green walls of the High Atlas where birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts can experience some very interesting opportunities. The actual Todra Canyon is only a few hundred yards long and to continue further, a 4 x 4 vehicle is essential.