Todra Gorge and the wonderful Tinghir Oasis
The spectacular Todra Gorge is located in the eastern Atlas Mountains and is one of the most important gorges in Morocco. It begins at the oasis of Tinghir, whose beautiful palm gardens form the entrance gate to the gorge. As you drive past small clay villages and ancient kasbahs, gigantic landscapes and dramatic rock faces await you, forming a picturesque canyon. Be enchanted by the breathtaking scenery of the Todra Gorge, an experience in Morocco that should not be missed on any trip!
In this travel guide you will find all the important information and tips about Todra Gorge in Morocco. In addition, we show you great pictures, the most beautiful sights and where to find great accommodations.
Good to know!
Many tourists visit the Todra Gorge via a guided tour from Marrakech. On GetYourGuide you can find great excursions, which usually also include a visit to the desert of Merzouga.
You can also explore the Todra Gorge on your own with a rental car. On a perfect Morocco itinerary, a stop at this famous canyon should not be missing!
If you are still looking for a very special accommodation, we can recommend the Auberge Restaurant Atlas, with fabulous breakfast and pool.
General info about Todra Gorge
The Todra Gorge in Morocco, also known as Gorges du Todgha, is a real insider’s tip for a round trip through the country. This spectacular rocky gorge is located in the Atlas Mountains, at an altitude of 1,400 meters, and borders Tinghir, a city of 44,000 inhabitants and also one of the most beautiful oasis in southern Morocco. Over thousands of years, the river Oued Todra had cut this imposing canyon into the mountain range on its way south. Particularly worth seeing in this area is the last part of the canyon. Here the rock walls are up to 300 meters high and the canyon is then partly only 10 meters wide. The passage is a really spectacular experience on every road trip!
Climbers and hikers also get their money’s worth in the Todra Gorge, because there are numerous climbing as well as hiking routes to choose from. Many therefore stay longer and enjoy the fantastic landscape. But just the charming drive through this huge, dramatic canyon, past traditional Berber villages, red clay castles and green palm groves, is definitely worth the trip!
Tinghir Oasis
Upon arrival in Tinghir, one is already amazed at the magnificent view of the green, lush gardens and the countless date palms growing in the valley. From the oasis town, the journey then continues along a road of about 15 km in the direction of Todra Gorge. On the way, you will be amazed by the red rocky landscape, which together with the quaint clay villages and the lush palm gardens conjures up a picture-perfect backdrop.
In Tinghir you have the opportunity to walk through the oasis gardens and take a closer look at the agriculture. Local guides will gladly lead you through the impressive landscape and show you the most beautiful places of the oasis. The small tour goes past the irrigation canals, along the fields and through the palm gardens. This way you can get an idea of the agriculture there and take impressive travel photos at the same time.
During a 1-hour exploration tour you get to know the oasis Thingir from its most beautiful side. Finally, you reach a hill, where you also pass old ruined Kasbahs. From up there, you can enjoy a spectacular view over the wide oasis valley.
The Todra Gorge
The Todra Gorge starts already at the exit of Tinghir and the drive through this huge but narrow canyon is a real experience. The high rock walls rise up on the left and right of the Todra River and with their partly up to 400 meters high walls, the Todra Gorge is one of the most spectacular canyons in the world.
The contrast between the green oases and the red rock is also really impressive. Enjoy the ride through the gorge and stop often. There are breathtaking photo motifs and viewpoints here. The huge red rocks are popular among climbers from all over the world. Hundreds of climbing routes can be climbed in the red walls, but also hikers get their money’s worth with the countless routes.
The most impressive part are the last 600 meters at the end of the Todra Gorge. With just 10 meters from one wall to the other, the canyon becomes really narrow. At that part of the gorge, the gigantic red rock walls reach up to 160 meters. The location is really stunning and offers one of the best photo motifs of Morocco.
Beware that the Todra Gorge is one of the best things to see in Morocco and therefore is a very popular tourist spot. To avoid the crowds, you should explore the gorge in the morning or late afternoon, when the buses are gone.
How to get to Tinghir and the Todra Gorge?
From Marrakech to Tinghir and further to the Todra Gorge it is about 400 km. On the way there are some highlights of Morocco that you should not miss. The mud city of Ait-Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, the Rose Valley and the Dades Gorge are just a few of them, you can read more on our travel guide about “Morocco Road Trip Itinerary“.
The roads are generally in a very good condition, you do not need an off-road vehicle for the route. There are also enough gas stations on this route. The best way to get there is by rental car from Marrakech or if you don’t want to drive yourself, you can book an excursion to the Todra Gorge.
Excursions to Todra Gorge
If you like, you can also visit the Todra Gorge via a guided tour from Marrakech. Mostly, this multi-day trip is combined with a visit to the desert of Merzouga and the mud city of Ait-Ben-Haddou. You can find great tours with overnight stays on the online portal GetyourGuide, where you can browse through a wide selection of undertakings. As a little plus, most excursions can be canceled free of charge up to 24 hours in advance.
Where to Stay at Todra Gorge
On the way from the oasis Thinghir to the Todra Gorge you will find a wide range of different accommodations and hotels. Most of the accommodation options are traditional Berber style riads or kasbahs. If you are looking for a great place to stay near Todra Gorge, we can give you these accommodation tips…It’s worth a look!
- Hotel with pool: The Kasbah Restaurant Amazir is in a wonderful location next to the river. A beautiful terrace invites you to linger and drink tea. There is also a small pool available.
- Traditional Hotel: The Auberge Restaurant Atlas inspires with a beautiful location in the oasis at the beginning of the gorge. Also the breakfast is very tasty!
- Charming Hotel: The La Petite Gorge is a family run hotel. It is centrally located on the main road and delights guests with hospitality and reasonable prices.
Read more about Morocco:
-
2 Weeks in Morocco: A perfect Road Trip Itinerary
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15 Best Things to do in Morocco
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Marrakech in 3 days: Itinerary and Tips for Marrakech
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Best things to do in Fez | Mrocco
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Merzouga, Morocco: Plan a Desert Tour & Camel Trekking
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Dades Gorge and the winding road in Morocco
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Ait-Ben-Haddou: Guide for Morocco’s famous Ksar
Find the best accommodation at Todra Gorge:
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6 Comments
Wow! Those canyons are simply stunning!! A couple of questions – what month did you travel there? Also, is traveling by campervan a thing here, or better to have a daily rental car and stay at hotels? (Wondering what is culturally and logistically possible).
I love the dichotomy of the red rocks and green oasis in Todra. It reminds me a lot of canyons in southern California where you will have dry, arid desert and all of a sudden come upon palm trees. (usually golf courses these days). Of course, the red limestone is even that much more dramatic. Spending a season climbing the routes along the canyon seems fascinating. It looks like there will be endless options and you could find ways to always be climbing in the shade.
This looks INCREDIBLE!! Your photos are stunning. I’ve never been to Morocco, but when I do this will definitely be on my list. I love finding unmarked treks and exploring on two feet. The massive desert canyons and sand coloured homes are super cool – looks almost extra-terrestrial 🙂
Wow what a beautiful place this is! I love the look of the Todra Canyon. I’m sure it was a spectacular drive through to see such high, beautiful cliffs.
I love the Moroccan stone desert! I’ve been to Tata and Aka and just loved it. Your post reminds me very much of that trip, but the Todra Canyon looks much more impressive than what I saw. Morocco is like a fairytale.
Tinghir looks beautiful and I’m in awe of the rock formations of the Todra gorge. The colour is so vivid. I’ve always wanted to visit Marrakech but I will definitely be putting Tinghir on my list 😊