Ouarzazate is commonly known as the Door of the Desert, as it leads you to extravagant desert wonders and exciting day trips.
This town in the middle of the dusty desert is framed by the Atlas Mountains and surrounded by historic Kasbahs and palm tree-lined village oases.
Though small in comparison to the big Moroccan cities like Tangier and Marrakech, Ouarzazate is the largest town in the Moroccan Sahara.
Before you escape into the Sahara Desert, let’s take a look at the most popular sites to explore on your next trip to Ouarzazate, Morocco.
Table of Contents
What to Do in Ourzazate
For most visitors to Ouarzazate, it is what is near the town that matters most. The town has things to see, of course, but the main activities lie outside the city walls.
This picturesque town is located in the midst sprawling desert, and for many movie producers it is the ideal location for exotic locales.
Visit the Film Studios
Dubbed the “Hollywood of Morocco”, Ourzazate is the location of where many popular movies and television shows have been filmed.
This UNESCO World Heritage Sites large clay brick walls and grand structures provide a maze of passageways, rooms, courtyards and grand entrances ideal for epic film shots.
The most popular films recorded in Ouarzazate are Gladiator and Game of Thrones.
Which means you may recognize some of the locations on your next visit. A tour company is the best way to explore, as it can take hours to visit all the sites.
A visit to the Atlas Corporation film studios is also a must, as it will provide you with a background into how many of the films were created.
Visit the Souks
Ouarzazate is a great location to do some shopping and pick-up a souvenir or two.
As this village is not as popular of a tourist destination, you will find the shop owners are not as pushy, and the streets are less chaotic.
Exquisite hand woven carpets that were designed and created by local Berber women, can be found at CoOperative Des Tapis.
Of course if you are looking for something smaller to bring home, Labyrinthe Du Sud sells a variety of beautiful Moroccan jewelry.
Various tour companies also include and stop by local stands and shops selling locally made Moroccan wares.
Purchasing a handmade item, designed and sold by the locals is a great way to support the community and remember your visit.
Kasbah Taourirt
Within the oases of the Draa Valley, Kasbah Taourirt Castle looks like a giant sand castle has sprung up out of the desert.
It is a beautiful, expansive Kasbah where you can tour endless stairways, hidden rooms, and stunning courtyards.
Originally built in the 17th century and then expanded in the 19th century by the Glaoui family. Kasbah Taourirt was known as the home to the Glaoui family until the fall of French colonial rule.
This resulted in the eventual decay of the massive 3 story fortified structure, which was made from rammed mud and earth brick.
In 1990 the building was restored and converted into a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Today attracting visitors from around the world, tourists can enjoy exploring the many hallways and over 300 rooms that fill this ginormous fortress
Trip to Zagora
Journey to Zagora, a little village within the Draa Valley. It is a popular activity to book a day trip from Ouarzazate and take a camel trek to Zagora.
See Kasbahs, snack on fresh dates, and marvel at picturesque sunsets and scenery in the endless desert.
Fint Oasis
Oasis of Fint is a perfect half-day trip out of Ouarzazate. Located 10 kilometers south, this literal oasis is a stunning garden amidst the dry desert.
Four traditional villages still call this beautiful place home, and as a visitor you can partake in nightly entertainment shows, and may even be asked to join a family in enjoying a round of mint tea.
Ksar Ait Ben Haddou
The Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can marvel at ancient architectural works built into the slopes.
Declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou is called a fortified village or “ighrem”. Strategically placed along the main trans-Sahara trade routes and the Ounila Valley.
Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou was once a bustling village with many inhabitants and travelers passing through to sell their wares.
Today the population has since dwindled, with most residents living in more modern accommodations outside the fortified structures.
Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou is mostly visited by tourists, who admire its high walls and passageways made from rammed earth, adobe, clay bricks, and wood.
Visit Skoura
An oasis in the Moroccan desert, Skoura is a small town located in the Ouarzazate province of Morocco.
With a mix of modern architecture and historical design, you will find historic buildings built from rammed brick lining the main streets.
From the. outside the buildings can be deceiving, looking like how the structures were designed hundreds of years ago. But upon entry, many of the buildings contain modern amenities and interior designs.
Due to merging rivers, outside you will find a green oasis of palm trees, offering shade from the hot Moroccan sun. Locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables are also available for purchase, due to the area’s rich soil
Take a Desert Tour
Due to Ouarzazate, Morocco’s prime location along the Sahara desert, many tourcompanies leave or pass through Ouarzazate along their journey.
Taking a quick break in Ouarzazate can be a great way to prepare before your desert excursion, or as a reprieve upon your return.
Either way, Ouarzazate is a great place to start or end your journey. With its lush greenery and beckoning palm trees, you will feel refreshed after several days in the dry Moroccan desert.
Where to Stay in Ouarzazate
Within Ouarzazate slowly rising as a name in the travel world, the town is beginning to offer more variety in accommodation choices.
You can find mid-priced hostels, hotels, and bed and breakfasts like Dar Chamaa and Hotel Nadia.
Riads are a popular option in Morocco, as they offer visitors a chance to immerse themselves in traditional Moroccan lifestyle.
These homes-turned-accommodation are comfortable, tranquil, and pleasing to the eye with traditional decor.
Try Le Petit Riad or Riad Ouarzazate for an authentic Moroccan experience.
What to Eat
Along the main street near the souks there are many cost-friendly options. This is the best place to go for finding a delicious, quick, and authentic Moroccan meal.
Le Kasbah D’Sable is a popular dinner option, a mixture of French and Moroccan cuisines.
Getting Around
Within the main parts of the city, it is easy to walk around to your next destination. Petit taxis, colored red, charge a flat rate and are the best way to get around in the extreme heat or if you’re trying to travel across town.
Grand taxis, colored beige, can take you to surrounding cities and Kasbahs that are near Ouarzazate.
Always ensure you check the price beforehand so that you are not charged the extra “tourist fees” when you try to depart at your destination.
If you are planning frequent trips outside of Ouarzazate, the nearby airport offers car rental options as well. This is a pricier but convenient way to travel around the area.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Ouarzazate is in the spring and fall months; April, May, September, and October.
The summer months, June, July, and August, are blisteringly hot. It is best to avoid these months if you are not used to extreme desert heat.
A popular time to visit Ouarzazate is during the Christmas season, when the snow-capped Atlas Mountains frame the sunny desert landscape. December is usually the coldest month of the year.
Travel to Ouarzazate and you’ll find forgotten desert beauty and traditional Moroccan lifestyle. It is a trip that will be forever remembered as unique, thrilling, and packed with excitement.
List of Movies filmed in Ouarzazate
- Gladiator (2000)
- Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- The Mummy (1999)
- Babel (2006)
- Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
- The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
- Alexander (2004)
- The Living Daylights (1987)
- The Jewel of the Nile (1985)