The Rose Valley of M'Gouna: Morocco's Valley of Roses

In the foothills of the High Atlas, around the town of Kelaa M'Gouna — about 60km east of Ouarzazate and 170km from Marrakech — a stretch of valley turns pink for a few weeks every spring.

The rose harvest

The valley grows Damask roses (Rosa damascena), which bloom only once a year, typically from late April into early May. Berber families have grown and harvested them here for generations, hand-picking the petals in the cool early morning before the heat of the day, then distilling them in traditional copper stills into rose water and rose essential oil, used in perfume, cosmetics and Moroccan cooking.

The Rose Festival

The annual Moussem of Roses is held in May or early June, once the harvest is in — folk music and dance from the local Amazigh community, poetry, and stalls selling rose water, oils and other products straight from the harvest.

What else there is to do

Beyond the harvest season, the valley is worth a stop for a walk through the rose fields in the cooler morning hours, a visit to a Berber village, and the chance to buy rose water directly from the people who made it. The dramatic red cliffs of the Todra Gorge are a short drive away, and make a natural pairing with a visit here.

Best time to visit

Late April through early June gives you the best chance of seeing the valley in bloom and, with the right timing, catching the festival itself.

The Rose Valley sits naturally on the route between Ouarzazate and the Dades Valley, which several of our Sahara tours pass directly through — tell us your travel dates and we can check whether the roses will be out.