A small Berber village strung along the river about 30 km up the Dadès Gorge, Aït Oudinar is where the wider valley narrows into the dramatic upper canyon. The village has a handful of small auberges and restaurants, all with terraces over the river — a natural lunch stop on the gorge drive from Boumalne. The Hôtel Chez Pierre, run by a French expatriate, is the long-established option for a proper sit-down lunch.
The river here is shallow enough to wade in places, and there are several easy walks: up onto the cliffs for views back down the valley, or along a side stream into a slot canyon that requires some scrambling. Local guides hang around the cafes and will lead two-hour hikes for a modest fee.
The village is also the turnaround point for most day-trippers from Boumalne; beyond Aït Oudinar the road climbs the famous switchbacks and continues deeper into the High Atlas.