Leaving the desert behind us we are heading into the High Atlas mountains today. The High Atlas Mountains of Morocco are home to two incredible natural wonders - the breathtaking Todra Gorge and the striking Dades Gorge - but we have a few stops along the way.

Erfoud is a small oasis in the south-eastern Moroccan Sahara Desert known as the 'Gate to Sahara,' in the Tafilalet Valley. Erfoud is known for its unique desert landscapes, including vast dunes and rocky terrain. The town prospered thanks to the flourishing commerce of its marble and its dates. It is also known for its curious marine fossils (coiled goniatites, orthoceras, trilobites, etc.) all about 360 million years old! Erfoud has a wild history as an old Foreign Legion outpost, as well as a popular site for Hollywood filmmakers. A stop at Manar Marble to learn about the ancient fossils and to see how they have used the marble and fossils in a range of household items including tables, bowls, basins, etc.

Tinejdad is a small city with a population of ~45000. El Khorbat Oujdid is an ancient ksar (fortified village) built in raw earth in the 19th century and recently restored thanks to international cooperation. The name El Khorbat means the ruins in Arabic. The Oasis Museum occupies three restored houses inside the Ksar El Khorbat Oujdid, with a total surface of 600 square meters, distributed over three levels. There are photos, sketches, historic maps, and many antiquities. See how life was lived in this area in times past.

Todra Gorge, is an exceptional setting off the beaten track! The Todra Gorges are a series of limestone river canyons, or wadi, in the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains. As you walk through this immense oasis, you are faced with stunning landscapes of canyons and verdant gorges. The pinkish-orange limestone hues are strikingly photogenic, and many claim that the colours of the cliffs change with the hour of the day. This is the Grand Canyon of Morocco!

Boumalne Dades sits in the Dades Valley, a region home to some of the most scenic landscapes in Morocco and known for its beautiful kasbahs and fortified villages. The name Boumalne Dades is believed to come from Bou l'Male which means a place of business and trade. Boumalne Dades is famous for its beautiful and charming landscapes, as well as its idyllic gorges. The small town of Boumalne Dades is the gateway to the Dadès Gorge.

Dadès Gorge (actually a series of separate gorges) was carved out by the passage of the Dades River and is navigable via a road known locally as the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. As you drive the hairpin bends expect to discover breathtaking rock formations in colors that range from tan and beige to gold, rust red, and dusky mauve.

Dades Valley, The heart of the valley is a haven of surprising landscapes inhabited by incredibly welcoming people. What was once the principal route between the desert and the ancient trading oasis of the Tifilalt region, it is divided into two areas by landscape, upstream is the arid, mountainous Boumalne Dades, while downstream is the fertile valleys of Ouarzazate.
Valley of Roses, is famous for its beautiful rose gardens and adobe villages. Every year during the main growing season between April and mid-May, the valley produces between 3000 and 4000 tonnes of wild roses. Each day before dawn, women gather the roses by hand and sell them to co-operatives dotted along the valley. Local distilleries buy some to make rose water, soaps, and potpourri, but the majority are purchased by big French perfume houses, for whom the M'Goun roses command a special price. Unfortunately visiting in November meant we did not see the roses but did visit one of the cooperatives to learn about the process.

Stopped in Skoura to enjoy lunch with a local Berber family who welcomed us into their home. What a day of spectacular sights and experiences.