East of Ouarzazate the High Atlas falls away in a series of river canyons, and two of them define the route to Merzouga: the Dadès and the Todra. They lie about 60 km apart and are usually visited on consecutive days. The Dadès is the more cinematic drive — the road climbs the gorge in a series of tight switchbacks (the famous 'snake road') past the wind-sculpted 'monkey fingers' rock formations, with kasbahs and almond groves below. Todra is more concentrated drama: the river has cut a slot up to 300 m deep and at its narrowest barely 10 m wide, so sheer that climbers from across Europe come for the limestone routes, while everyone else simply walks the flat road through the canyon floor with the cliffs soaring overhead. Both are reached from Boumalne Dadès and Tinghir respectively — small towns strung along the N10.
Option A
Dadès Gorge
Hairpin switchbacks, 'monkey-finger' rock and rose-coloured kasbah valley
Best for
Drivers, photographers, hikers, those wanting a scenic overnight stop
Option B
Todra Gorge
A 300 m sheer-walled canyon you can walk through — and world-class rock climbing
Best for
Climbers, walkers, families wanting an easy flat gorge stroll, day-trippers