Great Oasis Valleys

Tucked between the alpine mountains of the High Atlas and the volcanic landscape of the Jebel Sarhro, the Dadès River winds its way east, creating a lush river valley in the midst of the dry, foreboding desert. For hundreds of years, the oases have attracted settlers who built kasbahs for protection, earning the region the nickname "Valley of One Thousand Kasbahs." Farther east, the stunning ochre-colored cliffs of the Todra and Dadès Gorges cut into the High Atlas, carving out a place for lush palm groves. South of the Jebel Sarhro, the Drâa River winds south, creating another ribbon of verdant greenery studded with ...

Tucked between the alpine mountains of the High Atlas and the volcanic landscape of the Jebel Sarhro, the Dadès River winds its way east, creating a lush river valley in the midst of the dry, foreboding desert. For hundreds of years, the oases have attracted settlers who built kasbahs for protection, earning the region the nickname "Valley of One Thousand Kasbahs." Farther east, the stunning ochre-colored cliffs of the Todra and Dadès Gorges cut into the High Atlas, carving out a place for lush palm groves. South of the Jebel Sarhro, the Drâa River winds south, creating another ribbon of verdant greenery studded with kasbahs. Both valleys terminate at the vast stretch of desert and dunes — inhospitable but intriguing — that is the start of the Sahara.

About the Expert

Mara Vorhees has written or contributed to many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including Brazil and Morocco.