What to see in Ouarzazate

Overview

Ouarzazate is primarily a stopover or a base for exploring the region. The town itself has very little to see, except perhaps the kasbah and the film studios, which offer an "original" attraction. The whole area can be explored in less than half a day.

Sites, monuments and architectural ensembles

Taourirt Kasbah ★★
The former residence of the Glaoui (warlords) is the main historic building in Ouarzazate. Built in the mid-18th century, the kasbah was originally intended to house the families of the chiefs, their entourage, and numerous servants and craftsmen.

Atlas Studios ★★
In the 1960s, Ouarzazate became a sought-after filming location, particularly after *Lawrence of Arabia*, partly filmed here in 1962. Since 1983, the city has been home to Atlas Corporation Studios and a cinema museum showcasing sets and costumes used in films shot in the region.

Museums

Ouarzazate Cinema Museum ★★
On Mohammed V Avenue, facing the Taourirt Kasbah, the museum recounts the history of the city's studios and the major films shot there.

Parks and gardens

In the surrounding area

There are around ten points of interest within a 100–150 km radius of Ouarzazate, some of which can be visited in a day if you have your own transport.

However, even if some travellers opt for this, it’s still best to take your time and explore the region at a leisurely pace. Some sites lie along the same route, such as Aït Ben Haddou – Télouet – Tizi-n-Tichka Road when heading toward Marrakech, or Skoura – Valley of the Roses – Dadès Gorges when travelling east.

Aït Ben Haddou ★★★★ (35 km)
À quelques kilomètres de Ouarzazate, l'ancien village fortifié (ksar) est un site remarquable et unique classé au patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco.

Boumalne-Dadès ★ (120 km)
Thanks to its location near the Dadès and Todgha Gorges, as well as the Djebel Saghro and the Valley of Roses, the village has become a tourist base for exploring these areas.

Jebel Saghro ★★★
This remote region east of Ouarzazate, extremely desolate and sparsely populated, offers stunning lunar landscapes and numerous opportunities for hiking or 4x4 excursions via rough tracks and spectacular passes at over 2,000 m.

Fint ★★ (20 km)
A small oasis about fifteen kilometres south of Ouarzazate.

Dadès Gorges ★★★★ (145 km)
These unique and spectacular gorges on the Ouarzazate-Errachidia route are explored along a small road winding between cliffs of extraordinary colours and shapes. A must-visit for nature lovers and hikers, from here you can even reach the nearby Rose Valley on foot.

Ouarzazate to Guelmim Route ★
Over just over 400 kilometres, this route explores the oases of the south-east (Tissint, Akka, Amtoudi...).

Tizi-n-Tichka Pass Road ★★★
This is the stunning mountain road connecting Marrakech to Ouarzazate via the pass of the same name.

Skoura ★ (45 km)
This small Berber town is home to remarkable rammed-earth buildings and, above all, a vast palm grove.

Telouet ★ (85 km)
This slightly off-the-beaten-path Berber village on the Marrakech-Ouarzazate route is home to an ancient kasbah over two centuries old.

Draa Valley ★★★
South of Ouarzazate, nearly 200 kilometres along the Draa River, which irrigates palm groves and crops before vanishing into the desert sands. The valley is also remarkable for its oases, ksour, and kasbahs scattered along the route.

Rose Valley ★★★ (100 km)
Stunning landscapes and a highlight for nature lovers and hikers. From here, you can reach the nearby Dadès Gorges on foot.

Additional information