In spring, the snowmelt from the High Atlas Mountains gathers in rivers and streams downhill. Over the years, this southerly discharge has cut plunging gorges and panoramic vistas. The most dramatic of these is the Todra Gorge Hike. At almost 200m high and only 10m wide at its narrowest point, it’s amazing Moroccan scenery.
History
A paved road runs up the gorge, making the major visitor site an easy but rather blighted goal to see. Although it’s easy and fast to reach out of the car and take some photos, we highly suggest you strap on some hiking boots to appreciate this fantastic location. A few hours of hiking around is a Moroccan experience not to be missed.
A Brilliant Climb Exploring the View and Culture of Canyon
It was another picture-perfect Moroccan blue sky when we put off on the hike. The light had only just risen over the canyon walls, and the red rock was blazing in the before morning rays. Strapping on our walking boots, we located the path and slowly bossed up the valley. The start of the path is a famous route with residents. We passed a girl with her donkey laden with meals and two boys frantically herding their goats in the opposing direction.
Directions for Todra Canyon Climb
This hike begins at a big rock car park marked P on the map below, which occurs on your left only further to the closest area of the gorge when driving northwards on the R703. Take the visible definite steps, which fast turn into a gravel path, and head up the valley, preserving a dry riverbed about 50m below you on the right.
After roughly 30 minutes, the path turns left and zig-zags up a gorge marked 1 on the map. This is the steepest part of the walk, but it’s not long. After 10 or 15 minutes, the way bends right, flattens out, and continues to travel.
Rock Moving in the Todra Chasms
Morocco has high peak ranges going from the beach to the High Atlas, making the country a prime goal for rock climbers from all over the globe.
The Todra Gorges are currently one of the most famous rock climb goals in Morocco. This canyon has become more and more famous over the last few years and has more than 400 further climb routes. Despite their growing popularity, the gorges don’t feel crowded at all.
Where to Lease Rock Climbing Gear for the Todra Crevasses
You can rent rock climbing equipment instantly at the opening of the gorge at the Aventure Verticale shop. They have a massive choice of ropes, harnesses, helmets, quickdraws, carabiners, climbing shoes, and practically everything else you could need to go rock climbing.
The shop was discovered in Tizgui town, roughly 400 meters before the opening of the Gorges. Visit their website to see a complete list of the equipment and prices.
How Troublesome are the Stone Climbing Courses in Canyons?
The ways in the Todra Gorge Hike cover an expansive range of difficulty grades. If you’re a beginner, it’s a fantastic place to understand how to rise. The rocks are solid, reddish compact limestone, and you can discover climbing routes from the 4a to the 8c French grades instantly in the gorges.
It’s good to understand your climbing level before attempting to summit any of these ways. If you want to have a summary of the numerous famous ways and their difficulty level, review the Climb Morocco website.
Aventures Verticales has just published a top of most of the climbing ways in the surrounding region, which you can purchase at their store in front of the gorges.
Climbing Todra Gorge Hike in Morocco
The light borders and designs of the Todra Gorge Hike are ideal for climbers. Beginners but particularly better-experienced climbers, everyone can yield themselves here. There are hundreds of climbing ways to select from.
It is best to prearrange a companion who attends you during the climbing and who knows the region very nicely. Yet another option is to do a day trip mountaineering, where you hike, climb, and run away from the usual hiking trails.
You can even lease climbing equipment from the providers of these times, such as Aventure Verticale Maroc.
Best Places to Go Through the Night at the Todra Gorge
Unfortunately, most people don’t survive extremely long in the gorge. But if you want to get a nice hike in the morning or the afternoon or also want to find the other highlights in the region, we truly suggest that you stay overnight.
We remained at a lovely visitor home, La Petite, 2 km from the Todra Gorge, in the nearby town. Very friendly individuals and comfortable but nice rooms. In the morning, you can eat your breakfast on the terrace with a lovely view over the peaks.
Do you want Something Special?
Then, Auberge La Festival is the site, too. This eco-lodge is discovered in a gorge enveloped by nature. Made with natural materials, the lodge combines fully with its surroundings. But the rooms are extremely unique, as they are carved into the rock, and you rest in a kind of shelter. Book in time because this site is famous.
Visit the Dades Gorge
The Todra Gorge is maybe the most well-known of the two, but if you have sufficient time, you truly should visit the Dades Gorge. From Tinghir, it is an hour’s drive via the main road to the start of the gorge, near the town of Boumalne du Dades. There is even a nice regional market there on Wednesdays.
You can also bring a shortcut via the peaks, but that is only possible with a 4×4. If you don’t keep one, you can also book this 4WD experience time from Todra to Dades. If you choose not to go here yourself, you can even book a tour from Ouarzazate.
The most well-known point of the gorge is the spectacularly crooked path up. For the best idea, go to this point, where you can also drink or eat something while relishing the views.
The landscape is full of red rocks, mud kasbahs, and leafy trees. You can also do several beautiful hikes in this landscape. You can do most of them without a guide, like with Monkey Fingers, but you can also book a suggested walking tour that brings you to the numerous lovely places in the Dades Gorge.
What is the Best Time to Visit the Todra and Dades Gorge?
Unlike numerous other locations in Morocco, the Atlas Mountains are much more lovely in the summer. So from April to early October is the best time to see the Todgha and Dades Gorge. Then there is small rain and no too high temperatures.
During the winter, it is also excellent, but then you have a nearly everyday chance of some rain.
We saw it in September and had good weather, although there was a type of fog so that we could see the sights a little well.