Morocco’s Dades Valley is known for its impressive red rock landscape and winding roads. You can find many images of the steep hairpin bends on the internet, photographed from the busy Vue Panoramique lookout point. However, we discovered another highlight of the valley—the hike through the Monkey Fingers. This surreal piece of nature features bizarre rock formations that resemble the inside of a monkey’s hand. It’s a hugely fun, adventurous hike that we think you shouldn’t miss! We found it to be the most beautiful hike in Morocco!
Start of the hike
You can either park at the Monkey Fingers Viewpoint or drive a few minutes further to this point, like we did. There is ample parking on the side of the road. Both spots are good places to start the hike. If you choose the second option, however, you will first walk two kilometers past some houses and the ruins of once-impressive kasbahs. Then, the Monkey Fingers loom in the distance, allowing you to see them in the wider landscape first. (To see this, walk the route counterclockwise.)
The narrow gorge through Monkey Fingers
No matter where you start, your main goal is to cross the narrow Monkey Fingers canyon. And it’s spectacular! You will walk through a narrow canyon with rock walls towering over you on both sides. Every so often, you have to duck under a rock or scramble over one. Believe it or not, there’s even a spot where you have to climb a tree to continue! There’s no shortage of adventure, although the hike itself is not necessarily strenuous. Anyone in good physical condition can complete the route. The canyon is usually dry, but it had rained heavily in the days before our visit. We had to wade through some water. However, we didn’t mind that at all. The water felt nice and refreshing on our feet!
A nice extra!
Once out of the canyon, most tourists choose to walk back to the parking lot along the left side of the Monkey Fingers. We took a slightly larger loop, which we found to be worthwhile. Although the longest and most difficult part of the hike is behind you, you can still descend through beautiful, wide mountain landscapes and dry riverbeds. In our opinion, this route showcases more of the area’s diversity. Moreover, you will hardly encounter any other hikers here. After 8.6 kilometers, you will hopefully have a happy feeling and a camera full of pictures.
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Monkey Fingers Canyon
Where to stay in the Dades Valley?
There is a surprisingly large range of relatively cheap accommodations near the Dades Valley. We chose a place a bit further away from Monkey Fingers because we wanted to stay in the same location longer and take several day trips from there. Nevertheless, we would like to mention Dar Timitar, as we loved it there. The insane view of the Rose Valley, the delicious food, and the large, spacious bedroom with its own sitting area and balcony made it our favorite place to stay in Morocco.
If you want to stay as close as possible to the start of the hike, Monkey Fingers House is a must. From the terrace of this accommodation, the Monkey Fingers are within reach, and each room has its own small balcony. You’ll pay very little, yet an excellent breakfast is included.
Finally, we’d also like to recommend Riad Rihanna Dades. This accommodation is slightly pricier, but still very affordable, and you get a restaurant with a very cozy atmosphere and a swimming pool!
