Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs
Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs

Visit the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs & Rose Valley

Overview

When exploring the unique communities of the Moroccan Desert, make your way through two of the country's most cultural areas: Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs and Rose Valley. You can easily pair them with visits to Boumalne Dades or Ouarzazate or while traveling between the Sahara and Marrakech.

The Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs is filled with (you guessed it) many kasbahs which were once used as defense fortresses. You'll find preserved versions in many famous towns, such as Aït Benhaddou, but others remain in disrepair. The kasbahs were constructed with "rammed earth," a building technique using raw materials, so they can easily deteriorate if neglected.

In Kela'a M'gouna, named after the nearby Mount Mgoun, you'll find the "Valley of the Roses." Here, you can admire the cultivated rose bushes and visit a collective to learn how artisans convert the petals into rose water and oil used in the cosmetic industry. It's believed that 10th-century pilgrims arrived in Morocco from Saudi Arabia and brought Rosa Damascena, the variety of roses popular in this region. The month of May hosts the annual Rose Festival, featuring local Berber musicians, dancing, parades, artisans, and food vendors.

Read more about unique and interesting cultural experiences in Morocco.

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Veronica C.
Mexico | Reviewed on Mar 15, 2023
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Itineraries with Visit the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs & Rose Valley

Marrakech to Casablanca: Sahara Desert & Fes - 6 Days

This adventure-packed trip showcases Morocco's highlights, including Marrakech, Casablanca, Fes, and the desert. Start in Marrakech for colorful markets and architecture, then head inland to explore kasbahs and sleep under the stars in a desert camp amid the Sahara dunes. Visit Fes' narrow streets and the medieval medina before ending the trip in Casablanca to see the Hassan II Mosque and the world's tallest minaret.

Morocco Grand Tour: Cultural Cities, Sahara Desert & Atlas Hiking - 10 Days

This 10-day itinerary offers a great mix of culture and outdoor adventure. Start in Casablanca and explore imperial cities and medieval medinas, ride across dunes and spend a night by a campfire listening to traditional music. Follow old caravan routes through hidden oases and hike through small villages dotting the hillsides in the Atlas mountains. Share a meal with local families and enjoy the evening spectacle of Jemaa el-Fna Square in Marrakech.

Imperial Cities, Moroccan Deserts & Hiking the Atlas Mountains - 12 Days

This 12-day grand tour is a perfect mix of culture and adventure. Start in Casablanca and wander the medinas of Fes and Marrakesh. Explore desert towns, oases, and old kasbahs, ending with two days of hiking in the foothills of the Atlas mountains, spending an evening with a local family.

Highlights of Morocco: Fes, Atlas Mountains, Dades Valley, Marrakech & Essaouira - 14 Days

See some of Morocco's best sights on this two-week itinerary. You'll wander the streets of artsy seaside Asilah, then head to the sandier seas of the Atlas Mountains and Erg Chebi with a camel trek and desert camping. Follow expert guides through the bustling markets of Fes and Marrakech, and wrap up your trip in the bohemian enclave of Essaouira before you depart.

Southern Morocco Nature & Culture: Marrakesh, Boumalne Dades, Essaouira & More - 10 Days

Hit the sands of the Sahara and the shores of Tifnit Beach with this 10-day itinerary through some of southern Morocco's highlights. Hear the hum of the city in Marrakesh before you head into the desert on a camel trek, including a night in a tent under the stars. Then get refreshed on Tifnit Beach and in the artsy coastal city of Essaouira before you head home.