Beautiful kasbahs and Hollywood studios in Ouarzazate, Morocco

On the road of a 1,000 kasbahs from Marrakech to the Sahara, one pitstop stands out for its movie-star credentials and sunset-soaked citadels. Ouarzazate is Morocco’s desert-based Hollywood. Here’s how to see it.

While there are loads of great things to do in Marrakech many make the popular road trip to the Saharan sand dunes. Heading passed the Ounila Valley & Aït Ben Haddou almost all travellers spend a night in Ouarzazate. It may look like a sleepy town, but under the surface, this dusty road stop has a few surprises up its sleeve.

The first thing you notice as you approach Ouarzazate is a massive shining beacon of light. Radiating from something similar to a modern lighthouse, the world’s largest solar power complex towers above the desert.

But, Ouarzazate is also the leader in another dazzling field. Atlas Studios, just outside the centre of town, has been churning out Hollywood blockbusters since 1983. Over 200 movies have been filmed in this landscape. It has served as everything from biblical scenes to ancient Egyptian fables.

In addition to being the hub of the Moroccan movie industry, the area surrounding Ouarzazate is home to intriguing kasbahs – both decaying and restored – and a hidden oasis making it one of the most interesting places to visit in Morocco.

Here’s our guide of things to do in Ouarzazate including our suggestions for where to stay.

01 – CELEBRATE OUARZAZATE’S FILM PEDIGREE AT ATLAS STUDIOS

At a whopping 433,000 square feet, the Atlas Film Studio is considered the largest in the world. With cheap production costs and desolate scenery, Morocco has seduced Hollywood studios to set up base in Ouarzazate.

Over 200 movies and television programmes have been filmed at Atlas Studios including, Gladiator, Ben Hur, The Mummy, Passion of Christ, Black Hawk Down and Game of Thrones.

Some of the sets have been preserved while others are constantly being built and then knocked down again to make way for the next one. There are complete sets for the films of Kundun and the Mummy, a plethora of film memorabilia and an exhibition hall to Prison Break.

The highlight is the set of Kingdom of Heaven – a 1 km drive from the entrance. Head up to its towering walls, survey the weaponry and the religious imagery and pretend you are Orlando Bloom or Jeremy Irons saving Christendom.

Atlas Film Studios / 8:30 – 17:00 Oct to Feb; 8:00 – 18:30 Mar to Sep | Price: 80 Drh for Atlas Studios; 40 Drh Kingdom of Heaven Set; 110 Drh for both.

02 – PROWL THE MAZE OF TINY ROOMS IN KASBAH TAOURIRT

Kasbah Taourirt is a citadel in the centre of Ouarzazate. It was the official residence of the Glaoui family who owned the valuable trade routes that run between Marrakech, the Ounila Valley, and the Sahara. Their powerful stronghold on this important economic belt allowed them to build the formidable Taourirt which was probably the largest of their kasbahs.

Inside, 300 rooms and a true maze of passageways, draw visitors deeper and deeper inside this ancient labyrinth. Room after room is connected by narrow passageways, sharp steps and a growing sense of curiosity. Intricate plasterwork, painted stucco and fascinating mosaics help to distinguish one room from the next.

To get a feel for what it was like to live in the Kasbah, head out the back where you’ll find Moroccan families still living in some of the tiny rooms. For a small fee, they’ll be more than happy to show you around.

After wandering through the interesting collection of tiny rooms, check out some of the very good local art for sale in a few of the rooms near the exit.

Kasbah Taourirt / 8:30 – 16:00 every day | Price: 20 Drh

03 – BE BAFFLED BUT CAPTIVATED AT THE CINEMA MUSEUM

Opposite the Kasbah, the Cinema Museum is a more intimate look at the film industry in Ouarzazate. Rather than large sprawling lots, the museum contains some old sets, various film props and archaic cinematic equipment.

04 – WATCH SUNSET OR SUNRISE OVER AÏT BEN HADDOU

Built on the side of a hill, Aït Benhaddou is a magnificent fortified town (ksar) whose red mud walls and buildings sit majestically over the banks of the Ounila River. Its castellated walls and dramatic location conjure images of biblical towns, long lost villages, and battling armies.

Hollywood has also taken notice. For years the movie studios have made the pilgrimage here to film such classics as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator and Jesus of Nazareth.

Inside the ksar, tiny alleyways and staircases meander around the red brick buildings which are in various states of decay. Some have been left in ruin while others have been renovated or completely rebuilt by the film industry. Most are filled with stallholders selling art, knick-knacks and local artefacts.

It’s not an authentic look at rural Morocco life, but it’s still a great thing to do in Ouarzazate.

If you arrive at sunrise or sunset, the crowds will be small, the stallholders either gone or still in bed and Kasbah Aït Benhaddou will be shimmering in a golden glow. Head up to the top of one of the surrounding hills and you will be rewarded with beautiful desolate mountain scenery.

One of the best ways to arrive is via a road trip through the beautiful Ounila Valley. Read our guide with all the details for a stunning drive to Aït Ben Haddou.

Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou / Open 24 hours a day | Price: Free | Access: Enter via the footbridge from the town or the new entrance gate south-east of the ksar | Location: 30-minute drive from Ouarzazate.

05 – ABSORB THE PEACE AND QUIET OF THE FINT OASIS

It is only a 40-minute drive along a rough road from Ouarzazate, but Fint Oasis is a wonderful local village in a beautiful hidden oasis.

A community of 150 people live in the 4 villages that line the palm-fringed river. Life seems to have changed very little from centuries gone by. Women work small fields; men herd goats and children pull faces from the backs of donkeys carrying them and their produce between the villages.

In spring, the area is ablaze with the contrasting colours. With a little more water in the oasis, the crops are a sparkling green and the riverbanks adorned with bright pink flowers. The wide red rock canyon walls swirling overhead give the area an exotic, otherworldly feel.

There’s nothing you need to do at the Flint Oasis other than stroll around and enjoy the slow pace of life. Locals will no doubt approach to offer a tour. If you decide not to, you can easily park the car and stroll around yourself.

A hotel in the oasis, Terrasses des Délices, does an excellent cup of mint tea on their patio overlooking the lush palm trees.

Fint Oasis / The oasis is shown on the map at the end of this post. The 45-minute drive can be done slowly in a simple 2WD but is quicker and more comfortable in a high clearance or 4×4 (25 minutes). Take the gravel track (P1507) heading south out of town before turning onto the P1509 for a bumpy last few minutes

06 – GO QUAD BIKING IN THE DESERT

If movie memorabilia, intriguing kasbahs, quirky museums and mysterious oases leave you wanting more of Ouarzazate, there’s a 4 wheel answer to your prayers.

The desolate landscape around Ouarzazate is the perfect location for quad biking. Cross stunning trails towards Fint Oasis, explore hidden corners of the desert and have afternoon tea in a local homestay. It’s a great, adrenaline-filled way to get more out of your Ouarzazate experience.

Fouad Quads offer 1 to 3-hour tours starting at the depot right near the entrance to Atlas Studios or a 1-day trip venturing further afield.

07 – NOOR SOLAR ENERGY COMPLEX

The world’s largest concentrated solar power complex is working towards Morocco’s renewable energy targets on the outskirts of Ouarzazate.

Built over an area the size of 3,500 football pitches, line after line of solar panels catch the sun’s rays creating enough power to supply a city the size of Prague. Each panel reflects light up to a massive tower casting a powerful light over the desert. As you approach, it looks like something out of a science fiction movie hovering over the sleepy dusty terrain.

The bright light hovering above Ouarzazate proclaims Morocco as truly part of the modern age. Eventually, the Noor Solar Plant will be able to store energy in the form of heated molten salt, allowing for the production of electricity in the evening.

While the power station is clearly visible from all around the town, tours are not currently available without high-level scientific clearance. But, it’s well worth driving up to the entrance to get a closer look at the tower’s brilliance and admire the effort Morocco is making to green up their energy supply.

WHERE TO STAY IN OUARZAZATE, MOROCCO

As the major centre in the area, Ouarzazate has some good accommodation options for all budgets and all the facilities you might need for your stay including restaurants, supermarkets and petrol stations. A few of the sights are in or close to the centre of town, so it makes a good base to explore the area.

However, if you have your own car, you might want to consider staying at some of the places near Aït Ben Haddou. This way, you can avoid the crowds and easily be there for sunrise and/or sunset to maximise the photo opportunities. Driving in Morocco is easy (as we covered in this post) so getting back to your hotel from Ouarzazate after dinner is no problem. Having said that, the food at Riad Tamdakhte, just near Aït Ben Haddou was very good. So there’s no reason to travel if you don’t want to.

Here are some suggestions from us for staying around Ouarzazate.

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WHEN TO VISIT OUARZAZATE MOROCCO

Ouarzazate can be painfully hot in summer reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius. The valleys around it are most beautiful in spring. At this time, the lush green crops contrast beautifully with the red rock. However, in winter and early spring, the passes over the mountains can still be covered in snow making them impassable.

So we suggest you plan your visit from late March to early May. At this time, the roads should be open and the temperatures not too high.

After the summer temperatures drop, mid-September to mid-October can also be a good time to visit. However, the green valley floor will not be as vibrant as in spring.

While not essential it is also worth avoiding Ramadan. Morocco is a very religious country with strict adherence to fasting. This means that local cafes and services are often closed during the day.

HOW TO GET TO OUARZAZATE MOROCCO

After spending a few days in Marrakech it’s an easy drive to Ouarzazate. The roads are paved and the area can be easily visited using any type of car.

From Marrakech to Ouarzazate is 130 miles and driving will take around 4 hours. But we highly recommend spending all day and going via the Ounila Valley.

If you would like to follow our 10 day itinerary around this part of Morocco, we next went to the Valley of the Roses and discovered the colourful lifeblood of this area, then on to the Tinghir Oasis for some amazing hiking.

MARRAKECH TO OUARZAZATE BUS

If you don’t have your own car, it’s still very easy to get to Ouarzazate. There are around 5 bus services daily from Marrakech to Ouarzazate, which take around 4 hours, 30 minutes. The cost is around €8.

TOURS FROM MARRAKECH TO OUARZAZATE 

Short on time but still want to see a bit more than Marrakech? This day trip to Ouarzazate from Marrakech crosses the Tizi-n-Tichka pass and also includes Aït Benhaddou. For a slightly longer trip, this 2-day tour includes the Sahara as well.

OUARZAZATE, MOROCCO MAP

We have included our list of the best things to do in Ouarzazate, Morocco on the below map so you can plot your course while visiting this beautiful part of the country.

To save the map, make sure you are logged in to your Google account, then click on the star to the right of the title. To locate the map go to your Google Maps app, select saved, then maps.

MORE READING FOR MOROCCO TRIP

Although only a short flight from Europe, Morocco is a different world. Explore medieval medinas, bustling souks, and stunning scenery with more of our Morocco guides.

CITY GUIDES

The best things to do in Marrakech

Our walking tour of the Fez medina

3-day Marrakech itinerary

MOROCCO INSPIRATION

Stunning places to visit in Morocco

Visit the Valley of the Roses in Morocco

Scenic circular hike through Todra Gorge

MOROCCO TIPS

Driving in Morocco – all our useful tips

Our 10-day Morocco itinerary

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