Cultural Immersion in Rose Valley & Atlas Mountains, Boumalne Dades

This was one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of the trip. Our guide, Ismail, was fantastic and spent seven hours with us! He met us at our hotel at 9 am and asked us about our preferences and comfort levels so he could tailor the hike accordingly. We are in our 20s and avid hikers, so we told him we were happy to go wherever he wanted to take us.

The day started with a three-hour climb up and down opposite sides of the mountain adjacent to the “Monkey Fingers” rock formation. It was a rigorous (+1,200 ft elevation gain) but gorgeous hike, with sandstone arches and remarkable views of the Monkey Fingers and surrounding canyons. Ismail also brought traditional Berber clothes for us to try on during the hike. The only other people we encountered along the way were a pair of local nomads who stopped to chat with us. For those who prefer a less strenuous hike, there’s a mining road behind the mountain that provides easier access to the overlooks.

Ismail flagged down a local minibus taxi to take us back into town (which was a really fun experience) and then showed us some local kasbahs and rock formations. His English is superb, and he shared a lot of really interesting information about local history and customs with us.

After exploring the kasbahs, we enjoyed a lovely lunch at his family’s home in the center of Boulmane Dades. We met his father, Mohammed, who used to lead these tours, as well as his mother and brother. The lunch was good (veggie and chicken tagines, bread, fruit, and tea), and they happily accommodated our dietary request (we relayed that information in advance through our driver). It was fun to see the inside of a local home — we were worried this part of the experience might feel too “touristy,” but it didn’t.

Lunch was directly across from our hotel (Dar Rihana), so we assumed that would be the end of the day, but we were wrong! We finished lunch at around 2 pm, and then he led us to the top of a nearby mountain for a view of the Tizi n'Tichka Pass. On our way back into town, we ran into several members of his family and stopped to see several local businesses. To be clear, these were not sales stops — Ismail seemed proud of the town and wanted to show us around, which we really appreciated.

We cannot say enough good things about Ismail or this experience — he was a stellar tour guide and made our experience incredibly memorable. It’s a small town, and he was clearly known and liked by everyone we encountered. All told, we walked a little over 10 miles in 7 hours, with stops for lunch and sightseeing along the way.

This trek was one of the highlights of our trip, thanks to our friendly and knowledgeable guide Ismail. The sun shone brightly over this idyllic landscape. We felt like we were in paradise as we crossed babbling brooks and over bouldered paths. You’d never want to be out there without the guidance of a local guide familiar with the terrain!
The lunch that we enjoyed, prepared by Ismail’s mother Toda (sp?) was both hearty and delicious. It’s so commendable how throughout the country, the locals were happy to cook for us and yet refrain from partaking in any of the food due to their fasting commitment during daylight hours as they observed Ramadan. This was a really delightful time that both my son and I really enjoyed. The renown Berber hospitality was second to none!!

Great walk with Mohammad! He was delightful

We arrived later than expected. However, our local guide made sure to feed us quickly (food was great) so that we had enough time for our hike before the sun set. He took us to see the local kasbahs and for a short hike through the 'monkey fingers' rock formations. Even though the sun had set, he instructed our driver to take us up the famous windy road into the Dades canyon area for a spectacular view over the valley. He was so friendly and welcoming. Would recommend!

We really enjoyed our hike with Mohammad and the lunch with him and his wife. It was a great opportunity to learn about the area from a local. The hike was just beautiful and Mohammad has a great sense of humor. We had a lot of fun. Lunch was delicious.

Mohamed Amjon,
Brilliant guide for of facts and humour. His wife made the best food I tasted in the whole trip. Overall one of the best days.

Loved spending time with our guide and his lovely wife. They were incredibly welcoming!

We absolutely loved our hike in the Dades valley with Mohammed! This was one of the highlights of our trip. Mohammed was very knowledgeable and highly enthusiastic and friendly, sharing with us stories of his life in the valley and many 'Berber wisdoms' that we greatly appreciated! It was lovely to end the hike by having lunch with him in his warm and welcoming home and to meet his lovely family.

Highly recommend you do this!!