The Valley of Roses takes its name because many roses are grown but only bloom twice a year, from late April to June. It could also be called “pink valley” because of the color of its land. Wonderful landscapes.
The ocher and red hues in which the Dadès Valley blends make it the ideal place to discover Morocco from another angle, that of a wild nature where natural laws take back their rights with dignity.
In the southern foothills of the Moroccan Atlas, believe it, nature delivers a theater of great beauty. By following the course of the winding rivers, you will end up in green settings through the steep ravines. You will come across saving oases which give all their exotic charm to the “Land of the Far Sunset”. Among these bits of Eden, the Valley of Roses is to be discovered, ideally in spring.
In Moroccan tourist guides, the “Valley of Roses” is the nickname given to the Dades Valley which unfolds at the foot of the High Atlas, between the town of Kelâat M’Gouna and the village of Bou Tharar, in the South – East of the country. It is generally entered through Imassine, at the level of a clutter of large blocks of rounded rocks which sometimes seem to stand in balance on the ground. Then follows a series of small peasant communities with earthen houses which maintain, away from the roads, various kinds of culture (corn, barley and other cereals, potatoes, etc.).
The nickname of the valley comes from the rose hedges originally created to prevent goats from entering the fields. It was pilgrims returning from Mecca who brought the Damascus rose (Rosa Damascena) to the region in the 10th century. Today, the flower has become an emblem of the territory. It is locally consumed in the form of rose water and exported to the perfume industry market in the form of rose concrete or essence.
- Trip code: RVT
- Duration: 6 days of walking.
- Period: All Year Round
- Level: challenging
- Travel: on foot.
- Accommodation: Berber House / Basecamps / Tents.
- Meals: typical Moroccan dishes (tagine, couscous, …).
- Activity: Walking & Trekking
- Group size: 4–16
- Ages: 16+
We offer adventure Atlas Mountains and Mountain activities, tours and things to do available daily throughout the travel season with local guides.
Services Included:
- English speaking guide.
- All meals.
- Berber House or Mountain Hut
- Mule to carry your staff.
- Transfer from & to Marrakech.
Not included:
- Travel insurance
- Tips
- Own Expenses
6 days Roses Valley trek: Discover the Roses Valley, a magnificent green setting surrounded by the ocher and red rocks of the immense desert plateaus. Departing from our comfortable and authentic ecolodge, you will explore this amazing massif, undoubtedly the most beautiful of all the great Moroccan south, to discover the small villages, where the Berbers are busy, in the fields, cultivating their plots.
Itinerary Day per Day:
Day 1:Marrakech – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley – Ait Youl
Early morning departure from Marrakech by minibus via the Tichka pass at 2260m, the highest road pass in Morocco: grandiose landscapes of the snow-capped the High Atlas. Descent of the southern slope to Ouarzazate. Lunch break. We then enter the beautiful and wide valley of Dades: its green fields, abundant water at hand, its casbahs, its palm groves. Meeting with our team of muleteers. Night in a lodge in AïtYoul. 5-hour transfer.
Day2: Ait Youl – Tizi Mglouna – Ouzighimt – Igherm
Our day of walking begins through the fields; then we approach the high dry plateau of Tizit Mglouna (2000 m) (provide water), picnic on the way, while the mules follow us quietly to the village of Tizguine. Wonderful discovery of the Ouzighimt valley, well-irrigated; authentic architecture, and meeting with the population. We camp for the night near the village of Ighrem, at 1700m.
Climb elevation: 300 m
Day 3: Igherm – Issoumar – Mgoun Valley – Alemdoun
We go up the valley through the village of Issoumar and do not hesitate to cross the river on foot several times (provide tennis or plastic sandals). Holm oaks and red juniper trees line the mountain path; further on it is the earth which declines its shades of red and ocher. We end the day with the Alemdoun plateau, at 1750m, then descend to the village.
Climb elevation: 200 m
Day 4: Alemdoun – Assif Qati – Agouti – Boutghrar ( Roses valley center)
At the foot of the 4000m of the famous M’Goun chain, we take the path of the beautiful valley of Assif Qatari, the famous valley of oleanders. We pass through gorges and cross the freshwater of the river. Little by little the valley widens and we reach the villages, such as Agouti Fougani, Agouti Tahtani, El Hot then Aznag, Berber architecture, and old Kasbahs back to the 15th Century, a superb hike through gardens, fields of fruit trees, and beautiful adobe houses. Finally opens before us the valley of roses where we stop for the lunch break. We will take 5 hours of quiet walk to the evening camp, in the village of Boutaghar at 1600m.
Day 5: Boutaghrar – Hdida – Taberkhacht
In the heart of the wonderful Valley of Roses, we also approach the Kasbahs. Then, we cross the river again, in the wider bed. In the event of too much water recession (February-March), we will follow the path trail. Lunch in Hdida is a nice little civilization in the bed of roses valley, visit the village and keep hiking down to Taberkhacht village where our camp will be settled.
Day 6: Taberkhacht – Kelaat Mgouna – Ait Benhaddou – Tichka Pass – Marrakech
Early morning we meet the vehicles. Cross Kelaat Mgouna the roses Capital, then after 1.5hrs arrive at Ait Benhaddou, one of the oldest villages in the southeast of Morocco. We walk through the village visit one of the Kasbahs and back for lunch in the center of the town. After lunch, we gonna drive back to Marrakech. Arrive in Marrakech after 8hrs drive.
Number of People: | 1 – 2 | 3 – 4 | 5 – 6 | 7 – 9 | 10+ |
Price per Person: | 950 € | 885 € | 695 € | 545 € | 400 € |
A trek in Morocco could include the Atlas mountains, (for example Jebel Toubkal, Jebel M’goun or Jebel Siroua), the Sahara Desert or the famous Moroccan valleys and kasbahs. Depending on your fitness level (and the season!), you can trek, walk or ramble all over Morocco.
Our Treks start from several villages and valleys in the Atlas Mountains.
We offer adventure Atlas Mountains and Mountain activities, tours and things to do available daily throughout the travel season with local guides.
Please fill the form to contact us:
GENERAL INFORMATION:
- Portage: For walkers a small backpack for the day’s belongings. Mules are available for carrying luggage.
- Supervision: By a Multilanguages speaking Moroccan mountain guide assisted by a cook and muleteers.
- Accommodation: Riad Atlas Imlil, Bivouac in a 2-person tent with mattresses, lodgings during the hike, or at the mountain hut in the winters.
- Meals: typical Moroccan dishes (tagine, couscous, …). Fresh products and complementary preserves, meat bought in the mountains. Picnic or salads at noon, hot and cooked meal in the evening.
- Climate: dry and hot in spring, cold at night in winter. Thunderstorm possible
- Supervision: Berber guide speaking French and English, cook, mule drivers.
List of equipment to bring back: The weight of your luggage must be limited and contain all of your belongings. A flexible travel bag with side openings or a rucksack without frame, do not bring back rigid bags and suitcases.
- The list:
- A sleeping bag (warm for winter)
- A small backpack for the day.
- A pair of light walking shoes that hold the ankle well.
- A spare pair of shoes and a pair of sandals.
- Loose pants for walking
- A sweater or fleece (from October to March) and a lighter one to wear underneath.
- A mountain jacket & waterproof jacket & pant
- A change of clothes.
- A flashlight + spare battery.
- A gourd.
- Sunglasses …