Valley of the Roses Festival - Dades Valley

In May each year, the Valley of the Roses Festival takes place in the Dades Valley, Morocco. Travellers come from miles around to attend the festivities in the market, where a Rose Queen is elected to reign over the crop.

As with many festivals in Morocco, the event is accompanied by excellent food and traditional Berber music. An annual event since the introduction of roses to the area in the 1930s, the festival is a highlight of the year in the region and offers visitors real insight into rose cultivation – a true labour of love. Tons of rose petals are used to produce just a few litres of rose oil, leaving a sweet scent across the town. Join in the tradition as locals celebrate the year’s crops and the beauty of nature in the Draa Valley, high up in the Atlas Mountains. (Photo courtesy of Alex E. Proimos)