Valley of Roses

The Draa Valley Rose Road — known as the Valley of Roses (Vallée des Roses) — is one of Morocco’s most enchanting seasonal destinations: a river valley in the High Atlas foothills south of the Dadès gorge, where thousands of Damascus rose bushes (Rosa damascena) bloom in extraordinary pink profusion each spring, perfuming the mountain air for miles. Kelaat M’Gouna, the valley’s main town (also called Roses Valley or El-Kelaa M’Gouna), is the center of Morocco’s rose industry — and one of the world’s most important producers of rose water, rose oil (attar of roses), and rose-based cosmetics. The roses are harvested entirely by hand in a narrow window of two to three weeks each April and May, when entire families — men, women, and children — work from dawn to pick blossoms before the heat opens them and dissipates the precious perfume. The annual Festival of Roses (Fête des Roses), held each May in Kelaat M’Gouna, is one of Morocco’s most joyful and authentic regional festivals: a week of music, folk dancing, the election of a Rose Queen from among the local Berber girls, artisan markets selling rose products, and the entire town decorated with garlands of pink roses. Travelers who time their visit to coincide with the harvest and festival experience one of Morocco’s most memorable and photogenic events. Beyond roses, the valley is extraordinarily scenic: winding roads between pink-blooming bushes, ancient kasbahs mirroring in the Dadès River, Berber women in traditional dress, and the dramatic red-rock walls of the Dadès Gorge rising above. Top experiences: Rose harvest (April–May) | Festival of Roses (May) | Rose distillery visits | Kasbah photography | Dadès Gorge | Berber village walks | Rose product shopping (rose water, rose oil, rose soap). Location: 116km east of Ouarzazate | Best time: April–May for roses; September–October for gorge hiking.