Ouarzazate is a small city on the southern side of the High Atlas, about 200 km and four hours by road from Marrakech. It is known for its film studios, the Taourirt Kasbah and nearby Ait Ben Haddou, and it is the main stopover on the way to the Sahara. One night is enough for most visitors.
Where Ouarzazate is and how to get there
The city sits on a plateau at around 1,150 m, where the Dades and Draa valleys meet. The usual approach from Marrakech is the N9 over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, which reaches 2,260 m. The road is paved and has been widened in many sections, but it is still a mountain road with constant bends, so allow four hours plus stops.
Other options exist. Long-distance coaches run from Marrakech several times a day and take roughly four and a half to five hours. Ouarzazate also has a small airport with a limited number of flights, mainly domestic. There is no railway south of Marrakech.
If you only have one day, a private day trip to Ouarzazate from Marrakech covers the pass, Ait Ben Haddou and the city in around twelve hours.
What to see in the city
Ouarzazate itself is spread out and calm, with wide streets and little of the pressure you feel in the big medinas. The main sights can be covered in half a day.
- Taourirt Kasbah. A large earthen palace complex that once belonged to the Glaoui family, who controlled the caravan routes of the south. Part of it is open to visitors, with painted ceilings and narrow staircases, and the old quarter behind it is still lived in.
- Atlas Studios. One of the largest film studio sites in the world by area, a few kilometres west of the centre. Guided visits walk you through standing sets, including Egyptian temples and Tibetan-style buildings.
- Cinema Museum. A small museum opposite the Taourirt Kasbah with props, sets and equipment from productions shot in the region.
- Place Al Mouahidine. The central square, lined with cafes, and the best place for an evening walk.
Ait Ben Haddou and other nearby places
The most visited site in the area is actually 30 km north-west of the city. Ait Ben Haddou is a ksar, a fortified village of earthen houses and towers on a hillside above the Ounila river, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has appeared in many films and television series. Go early or late in the day for softer light and fewer tour groups; the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah guide has a full walking route.
Three other stops are worth knowing:
- Fint Oasis, about 15 km south, a strip of palms and gardens hidden in a rocky valley and reached partly by track.
- Tifoultoute Kasbah, a few kilometres west of town, with a terrace view over the river and storks nesting on the walls.
- Skoura, roughly 40 km east, a large palm grove with several old kasbahs, of which Kasbah Amridil is the best preserved and open to visitors.
North of the city you may also notice the towers and mirror fields of the Noor solar complex, one of the largest solar power plants of its kind.
Ouarzazate as a gateway to the Sahara
Two main desert routes split here. Head south-east along the Draa Valley and you reach Zagora in about three hours and the dunes beyond M'Hamid in roughly five. Head east along the Dades Valley and you reach Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes in about six to seven hours.
Because of this, most multi-day itineraries pass through the city at least once, often for lunch on the way out and a night on the way back. Routes such as the 4-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes with Ouarzazate include a proper stop here rather than a drive past. To continue east, read the Todra Gorge and Dades Valley guide.
Weather and the best time to visit
The climate is dry with strong sunshine most of the year. Altitude keeps nights cooler than in the lowlands.
| Season | Typical daytime high | Typical night low | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| March to May | 22 to 30 °C | 8 to 15 °C | Most comfortable; almond blossom and roses in the valleys |
| June to August | 35 to 40 °C | 18 to 22 °C | Hot afternoons; sightsee early |
| September to November | 22 to 32 °C | 8 to 17 °C | Clear skies; date harvest in the Draa |
| December to February | 15 to 18 °C | 0 to 4 °C | Sunny days, cold nights; snow possible on the pass |
These figures are approximate averages. In winter, heavy snowfall can close the Tizi n'Tichka road for a few hours, so keep your schedule flexible between December and February.
How long to stay and where to sleep
For most travellers, one night is right. It lets you see the kasbah and a studio in the afternoon or morning without rushing the mountain crossing. Add a second night if you want to visit Fint and Skoura or you enjoy quiet towns.
Accommodation falls into three broad areas: modern hotels in the city centre, guesthouses in restored earthen houses around the Taourirt quarter, and small lodges in the Skoura palm grove or near Ait Ben Haddou. Staying near Ait Ben Haddou means you can walk the ksar at sunrise before day visitors arrive.
Practical tips
Banks with ATMs, pharmacies and supermarkets are easy to find in the centre, which makes Ouarzazate the last convenient place to withdraw dirhams before the desert. Fuel stations are frequent on the main roads but thinner on side routes.
Travellers prone to motion sickness should sit in the front seat for the Tichka crossing and avoid a heavy breakfast. Carry cash for entrance fees at kasbahs and studios, which are modest and usually paid in dirhams. For a wider choice of routes, see the Sahara desert tours from Marrakech.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ouarzazate worth visiting?
Yes, particularly as part of a longer trip south. The city is modest, but the kasbahs, studios and Ait Ben Haddou together make a full and varied day.
Can you visit Ouarzazate as a day trip from Marrakech?
Yes. Expect about eight hours of driving in total and a twelve-hour day, with time for Ait Ben Haddou and one or two stops in the city.
How far is Ouarzazate from Merzouga?
About 360 km, or six to seven hours by road through Skoura, Boumalne Dades, Tinghir and Erfoud.
Why is Ouarzazate called the Hollywood of Morocco?
Because of its film studios and the number of international productions shot in the surrounding desert, kasbahs and mountains since the mid-twentieth century.
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