Whenever I mention Monkey Fingers Canyon in Morocco to my travellers, they’re always intrigued by the name. And often surprised they’ve never heard of it. I also found myself curious about whose imagination compared the red rock formations to Monkey’s Fingers (locally known as The Cliffs of Talmat and Les Doigts de Singes in French). Interestingly, my local guide displayed a similar imagination, spotting various animal shapes within the canyon’s rock formations.
Monkey Fingers Morocco – my guide
Nestled in the dramatic landscapes of the Dades Valley in southern Morocco, the Monkey Fingers rock formation is famous for its peculiar, knobby shapes that resemble the curled knuckles of a monkey’s hand, hence the name.
Why Is It Called Monkey Fingers?
The name “Monkey Fingers” comes from the canyon’s unique rock formations, which resemble long, rounded fingers sticking up from the ground. These unique formations are shaped by wind erosion, giving them their unusual and striking appearance. Interestingly, despite the name, no monkeys live here; it’s just a creative way to describe the rock shapes.
Where Is Monkey Fingers Canyon?
The Monkey Fingers Canyon is a six-hour drive from Marrakech. Located near the village of Tamlalt, along the Dades River, a few kilometres from the town of Boumalne Dades. This area lies within the High Atlas Mountains, a region celebrated for its rugged terrain, lush oases, and traditional Berber villages.
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Located in the Dades Valley, Monkey Fingers rock formations sit along the route to the Sahara Desert, offering the perfect opportunity to experience both the vast desert landscapes and the thrill of hiking in Morocco.
Boulmane Dades is a popular town to stay overnight before heading to the Sahara desert. However, many tourists also prefer to spend a night in the town of Boulmane (which is 18 km away from Monkey Fingers) or in the nearby Tingir village, famous for its Todra Gorge. Interestingly, the nearby Todra Gorge is much more famous than Monkey Fingers. However, I love the Monkey Fingers more as it is not as touristy as Todra Gorge.
Can you spot the shape of monkey head here? My guide Ahmed showed me in his phone with different lighting – I could see it then!
How to reach Monkey Fingers by a rented car?
If you are driving from Marrakech, take the road towards Ouarzazate. First, you will pass through the scenic Tizi n’Tichka Mountain Pass, the highest mountain road in Nord Africa. Then, you will probably want to stop at Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. Afterwards, continue on the road towards Boumalne Dadès (the nearest town to the Monkey Fingers). You will also pass the famous Rose Valley town (called Kalaat M’gouna) on the way.
Quick Tip: If you’re using the Waze/Google Maps app for navigation, at some point, it may suggest leaving the N10 road to take an alternate route that also leads to Boumalne Dadès town. Ignore this advice and stay on the main road, driving through Kelaat M’Gouna town.
Read more about driving in Morocco culture in my article Driving in Morocco – a detailed guide for a safe road trip.
After reaching Boumalne Dadès town, turn to the more local road R704. Then, drive another 25 km into the Dadès Gorge until you reach the village of Tamellalt, where the Monkey Fingers formations start. As I already mentioned, Monkey Fingers rock formations sit along the route to the Sahara Desert, so it can be a great overnight stay.
If you are looking to rent a car in Morocco, from an international car rental websites, I recommend the Discovercars.com website, which has many different car options in various Moroccan cities: car rental in Marrakech, car rental in Casablanca, etc. They also have a nice additional “extra coverage opinion” that I definitely recommend!
How to do the hike?
The Monkey Fingers Canyon hike has a few starting points, from easy, shorter walks to a bit more challenging longer hikes. The paths wind through narrow passages, past towering cliffs, and alongside small streams and canyones. The canyon twists and turns many times and, in some places, narrows to just 500mm wide. Some places are more difficult to pass if you don’t know the right way.
You might encounter local shepherds with their goats or children playing near the villages along the way. Or old-time destroyed Kasbah, which was the original village of Tamnelat. This Dades valley is full of birch trees – not very common in Morocco, making the hike very interesting and, at some places, even wonder where you are.
If you decide to do the Monkey Fingers hike, park the car next to Auberge Kasbah Ait Marghad (or in the parking of GPS here) and start your hike there. The Monkey Fingers hike loop is approximately 8 kilometres (5 miles), takes around 4 hours to complete and requires a moderate fitness level to complete. There are also longer-hiking roads, but I would get a local guide. You can check AllTrails.com for best hiking roads.
A quick tip: have at least 4 hours for this hike. If you are heading to Merzouga on the same day, wake up earlier. Or, even consider spending 2 nights at Monkey Fingers.
Best time to Visit Monkey Fingers Canyon
The best season to visit Monkey Fingers – honestly, for me, is the winter time because it is not a tourism season, a bit colder; however, you will rarely see other hikers along the way. All Monkey Fingers are yours!
Best Time of the Day to Visit: late afternoon is best for cooler temperatures and great photo lighting (we started the hike at 9 am in December and got nice light only around 12 noon.
Watch my video about Monkey Finger Morocco hike with guide:
Do you need a guide?
You can hike the Monkey Fingers without a local guide, but I strongly suggest getting one. First of all, some places are difficult to reach or pass by. Second, you will hear many stories about the village, the rock formations, and local life. Local guides are not expensive, and you also support the local economy.
I got my guide through the Fatima Mellah Guesthouse in Tinmelat village. However, on the way, I saw some guides walking around waiting for clients. Or you can stop at a local shop or cafe and ask for one. Honestly, I did the Monkey fingers hike 3 years ago with a friend without a guide – we got lost in the canyon and had to turn back.
This time, my guide, Ahmed, explained so much about the history of the valleys and introduced me to their agriculture. My favourite part was his spotting various animal shapes within the canyon’s rock formations, from Monkey Fingers and Moknkey faces to turtles, snakes, etc. Also, in some parts of the hike, Ahmed had to dig some stones to make a path – you can see in the photo above.
Hotels
There are quite a few hotels on this scenic road in Dades Valley. You can either stay in Boulmane Dades town, which is a bit further away, but closer to the main road to Merzouga, or stay next to the Monkey Fingers in the villages of Tamellalt, or the further one called Aït Aïssi.
Staying in Tamellalt village makes the hike much easier. Choose from Dar Ahlam, Monkey Fingers Fatima Mellah guesthouse, Dar Blues, Chez Ichou, Riad Gabsi Du Dades or the newly opened most luxurious Eden Boutique hotel.
I have stayed in the Monkey Fingers Fatima Mellah guesthouse and felt at home there. Fatima is an artist and has a studio in the guesthouse, so you can also enjoy or even purchase her art. It’s a simple home where Fatima lives as well, and the together working ladies are so fun and hospitable. You can check Fatima’s Instagram here.
The view of Fatima’s terrace is stunning – you literally have a feeling of touching Monkey Fingers.
Happy hiking!
SUMMARY
Nestled in the dramatic landscapes of the Dades Valley in southern Morocco, the Monkey Fingers rock formation is famous for its peculiar, knobby shapes that resemble the curled knuckles of a monkey’s hand, hence the name.
The Monkey Fingers Canyon is a six-hour drive from Marrakech. Located near the village of Tamlalt, along the Dades River, a few kilometres from the town of Boumalne Dades.
The best season to visit Monkey Fingers – honestly, for me, is winter because it is not a tourism season, a bit colder; however, you will rarely see other hikers along the way. All Monkey Fingers are yours!
Best Time of the Day to Visit: late afternoon is best for cooler temperatures and great photo lighting (we started the hike at 9 am in December and got nice light only around 12 noon.
The Monkey Fingers hike loop is approximately 8 kilometres (5 miles), takes around 4 hours to complete and requires a moderate fitness level to complete.
You can hike the Monkey Fingers without a local guide, but I strongly suggest getting one. Some places are difficult to reach or pass by, also it is good to support locals by hiring local guide.
