ResortLe Berbère Palace
City center
★ 4.5(920)
- Pool
- Spa
- Close to film studios
From1,450 MAD≈ €132 / night
Check ratesDrâa-Tafilalet
Ouarzazate
Morocco’s desert film capital
Once a French Foreign Legion garrison, Ouarzazate is now home to Morocco’s biggest film studios (Atlas, CLA) and the gateway to the Drâa and Dadès valleys.
- Best time
- October to April
- Recommended
- 1 days
Highlights
- Atlas & CLA Film Studios
- Kasbah Taourirt
- Drâa Valley palm groves
- Noor solar power plant viewpoint
About Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate ("the silent door" in Berber) is the main town south of the High Atlas — clean, modern, with one of the world’s biggest concentrations of film studios after Hollywood and Bollywood. Many travelers sleep here on a 3-day Marrakech-to-Sahara trip after crossing the Tizi-n-Tichka pass. The town itself is small (1 night), but the surrounding country is grand: the Kasbah Taourirt, the Fint oasis, the Drâa Valley palmeries south to Zagora, and the Dadès and Todra gorges east toward Merzouga.
Things to do in Ouarzazate
- Tour the Atlas Film Studios — see Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven sets, full Roman city props (MAD 80 / €7.50).
- Visit Kasbah Taourirt — once home to the Glaoui pasha, now a UNESCO-supported museum.
- Drive 30 min into the Fint oasis — a palm grove and Berber village often used as filming location.
- Day trip down the Drâa Valley to Agdz and the Tamnougalt kasbah — palmeries, river, mud villages.
- Photograph the Noor solar plant from the road — the largest concentrated solar facility in the world.
- Continue 2h east to the Dadès Gorges (Monkey Fingers rock formations) and the Todra Gorges for a hike.
Local tips for Ouarzazate
- Most travelers spend 1 night here on a 3-day Sahara route — Ouarzazate-Dadès-Merzouga or the reverse.
- The Atlas studio tour takes 1h with a guide — book through your hotel, MAD 80 plus tip.
- Stop at Telouet (off the Tichka pass) for the Glaoui kasbah ruins — atmospheric and uncrowded.
- Bring a layer — at 1,100 m altitude, evenings are cool even in summer.
- Don’t expect a vibrant medina — Ouarzazate is functional, not picturesque. The kasbah Taourirt is the main "old town" sight.
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Where to stay in Ouarzazate
Hand-picked riads, kasbahs, and resorts — book direct via WhatsApp.
Resort
KasbahDar Daïf
Outside Ouarzazate
★ 4.8(410)
- Traditional kasbah
- Pool
- Garden
- Local cuisine
From720 MAD≈ €65 / night
Check rates
RiadRiad Tigmi du Soleil
Skoura palmery, 40 min east
★ 4.9(280)
- In a palmery
- Pool
- Yoga deck
- Half-board
From1,850 MAD≈ €169 / night
Check ratesCars for your Ouarzazate trip
Pick up at Casablanca Airport or any major Moroccan city.
Dacia Duster 4x4
suv
350 MAD≈ €32 / day
- 👥 5 seats
- 🧳 3 bags
- ⚙️ manual
- ❄️ A/C
- 4x4 capability
- High clearance
- Roof bars
- GPS available
Renault Clio 5
compact
250 MAD≈ €23 / day
- 👥 5 seats
- 🧳 2 bags
- ⚙️ manual
- ❄️ A/C
- Air conditioning
- Bluetooth
- USB charging
- Power steering
4.9 / 5
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Ouarzazate — frequently asked questions
Is Ouarzazate worth a stop?
Yes — most Sahara itineraries from Marrakech stop overnight in Ouarzazate or nearby Skoura.
How long is the drive Marrakech to Ouarzazate?
About 4 hours over the Tizi-n-Tichka pass (2,260 m). Roads are paved and scenic; allow extra time for photo stops.
Can I visit the film studios on a tour?
Yes — Atlas Film Studios offer guided tours daily (1h, MAD 80). CLA Studios is open by appointment.