Drâa-Tafilalet / South

Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate sits on a high plateau south of the Atlas, where routes split towards the Draa Valley, Dades and Todra and on to the dunes. Its kasbahs and film heritage make it a rewarding stop.

Overview

About Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate grew as a crossroads of caravan routes and later as a French garrison town. Today it is known for its film studios, which have hosted many international productions, and as a hub of the south.

Nearby are Ait Ben Haddou (30 minutes), the Skoura palm grove with its kasbahs, and the Fint oasis.

Highlights

Top things to do

Taourirt Kasbah. A former residence of the Glaoui family with decorated rooms and earthen courtyards.
Film studios. Visit sets used for historical and biblical films and TV series.
Skoura palm grove. Kasbahs like Amridil set among palms, approx. 40 min east.
Fint oasis. A green oasis in a rocky landscape, a short drive from town.
Ait Ben Haddou. The famous ksar is only approx. 30 min away.

Outdoor activities

Walks in the Skoura and Fint oases
Photography of kasbahs at golden hour
Birdwatching at the El Mansour Eddahbi reservoir

Plan

Getting there & best time

Getting there

Ouarzazate Airport has limited domestic flights.
From Marrakech: approx. 4–4.5 h by road over Tizi n’Tichka.
From Ait Ben Haddou: approx. 30 min.
To Dades (Boumalne): approx. 2 h.
To Zagora: approx. 3 h.
From Merzouga: approx. 5–6 h.

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn. Summers are hot and dry; winter days are sunny, but nights are cold.

Day trip or overnight? From Ouarzazate, Merzouga is around 5–6 h away — feasible in one long day but best with a stop in Dades or Todra. Zagora is reachable in about 3 h. Marrakech is around 4–4.5 h.

Tours

Tours including Ouarzazate

3 days

Marrakech → Fes

3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Sahara Tour

Cross the High Atlas, ride a camel into Erg Chebbi for a night under the stars and finish in Fes — the classic Sahara route in three days.

Private · SharedBudget / Standard / Luxury

2 days

Marrakech → Marrakech

2-Day Marrakech to Zagora Desert Trip

A quick desert taste from Marrakech: Ait Ben Haddou, the Draa Valley and a camp near Zagora – smaller dunes, shorter trip.

Private · SharedBudget / Standard

5 days

Marrakech → Marrakech

5-Day Southern Morocco Discovery

A gently paced loop from Marrakech with a night at Ait Ben Haddou, oasis walks, two gorges, a desert camp and the Draa Valley.

PrivateBudget / Standard / Luxury

6 days

Marrakech → Marrakech

6-Day Luxury Sahara & Kasbah Journey

Kasbah hotels, a palm-grove retreat in Skoura and two nights in a luxury Erg Chebbi camp – the Sahara at an unhurried, refined pace.

PrivateLuxury