In the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco, near the town of Tinerhir, the Todra and the Dades Rivers have carved out a narrow canyon called Todra Gorge (sometimes spelled Todgha Gorge), on their final 40 kilometers through the mountains. The gorge takes its most spectacular form about 15 km from Tinghir. Here, for about 600 meters, the canyon walls closes in to a mere 10 meters from each other, while the sheer and smooth rock walls rise up to 160 meters on each side. It is said that the gigantic rock walls magically change color as the day progresses.
At the bottom of the gorge flows an ice-cold river, which at one point of time, carried great quantities of water which is apparent from the size of the canyon that was carved out of the rocks. The river has since dried up and reduced to a tiny glacier stream. A well-maintained asphalt road leads all the way from Tinerhir to the gorge and beyond it.
The gorge is breathtaking and easy hike by foot with many places to stop and photograph. The robust rock sides with many uneven surfaces provide plenty of opportunities for rock climbing. You can even spend the night here in one of the small hotels and lodges that the locals have set up inside the gorge.
Sources: Wikipedia / Travel Exploration / Looklex
I just found this article about Todra Gorges and it reminds me about one of our Morocco tour.
ReplyDeleteHassan and our driver Hamid did such an excellent job making us feel at home and secure while sharing their country with us. We had such a wonderful and personal experience with our driver during the 3 days we were with him. We feel like we are friends now.
The services were professional and the accommodations were basic but comfortable. The food was great and all of the stops to see the beautiful Moroccan landscape were perfect.
We did a lot of driving in our 3 days, but it never felt like a bore or too much. There was always time to stop and enjoy another breathtaking panorama or opportunity. We were amazed by the picturesque landscapes of Morocco and realized if we hadn't taken the journey, we would have missed out on so much that Morocco has to offer.
We were always given options of where to eat and where to go. If we didn't want to see something, we could simply ask to skip it and there was no pressure to buy.
The desert part of our trip was so peaceful. We loved staying at the tent camp under the milky way. The dunes are graceful and serene. The camels are well trained and we had a Camel ward with us the entire time.
Once we arrived at camp, we were given plenty of free time and the best meal we had in Morocco. A drum circle and music was another highlight.
I just can't say enough positive things about this trip. It was an amazing experience for a reasonable price. I would recommend it to anyone without hesitation. Shokran!
Nice article, and outstanding photos. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteTodgha Gorges are some of the most amazing scenes in Morocco. Every traveler between the two imperial cities of Fes and Marrakech through the Sahara desert must visit. They are famous for rock climbing activities throughout the years. Although in summer time or weekends it gets crowded by the neighboring towns school kids having their pick-necks next to the stream, it is still very quiet. Don't forget to enjoy a goats Tagine at a local cafè. Should you fall in love with the canyons, there are plenty of B&Bs to spend the night for a relatively cheap price.
Todra Gorge is one of the fascinating places of sought of Morocco. Wonderful photos & article, Thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading you here Kaushik. Keep up the great work!