The Ziz Valley spills out on either side of the Ziz River on its path south from its source in the eastern High Atlas Mountains around the Rich region, through the mountains into the Sahara Desert past Errachadia and Erfoud to desert oasis village of Merzouga on the fringe of the soaring Sahara Desert Erg Chebbi sand dunes.
Along its path the Ziz River has carved scenic gorges into the High Atlas mountains and foothills with the most substantial where the landscape gives way to the Sahara Desert. Just south of Errachadia is the most impressive section of the Ziz Gorge. Here, where the Gorge is at its deepest and widest, a seemingly sinuous sea of endless date palm groves stretches endlessly into the desert horizon.
Once a route for the desert camel caravans travelling from the desert north to Fes, Tangier, the Mediterranean and beyond, the Ziz Valley, including its Ziz Gorges, is populated with small Amazigh (Berber) villages, extensive palm groves and oases.
The Ziz Valley and Ziz Gorge lies on the Fes to Erfoud/Merzouga road.