Come visit a land that is as old as the surrounding Sahara Desert. Engulf in golden rays reflecting off enormous sand dunes. Visit ancient wonders, embrace the rich cultures of the locals, and discover some amazing cuisine that you might not have ever experienced before. Take a tour of the Sahara and feel their ancient ancestors all around you.

Ouarzazate is a city located south of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco known as the gateway to the Sahara Desert. With an elevation of 1,160 feet, Ouarzazate is in the centre of a plateau just south of the Atlas Mountains. The locals who built many of the kasbahs and other buildings are mostly Berber-speaking people. This area is known as a critical film location which has attracted many international film companies for many years. Some of the best-known films are Lawrence of Arabia in 1962, The Mummy in 1999, The Last Temptation of Christ in 1988, and so many more!
Ouarzazate means “Quiet Place” and in comparison to other Moroccan cities, it truly is a place of incredible calm and quiet. One of the largest tourist attractions that sit right outside the city is the Sahara Desert. The enormous Taourirt Kasbah is a 19th-century palace that offers amazing views all across its rugged landscape.
While visiting Ouarzazate, take a trip outside the city and visit the Todra Gorge which will take your breath away! Stop by nearby villages and local kasbahs and take in the rich culture.

GETTING TO OUARZAZATE:

Travellers make their way between the cities and Ouarzazate at the base of the Atlas Mountains in several ways to get there. Choosing between a plane, a rental car, and a taxi will be determined by the time you have to spare, your interest in seeing the many points of interest along the way, and your appetite for navigating occasionally vertiginous curves of mountain road, whether on your own or with a driver. Travellers interested in seeing the many small towns and archaeological sights along the way from Ouarzazate to Marrakech may wish to hire a driver.

NOT TO BE MISSED OUT ON:

Visit the Famous Ait Ben Haddou

This village holds some of the best examples of old Moroccan architecture. That is why many famous Hollywood directors used it as a setting for their films. It is a fortified settlement standing on a hill offering you stunning views of the desert and mountains. The buildings are made of wood and earth, using traditional techniques and are well maintained. It is listed as the Unesco World Heritage Site. You can see a couple of old inhabitants still living there, but the others live in a modern village just across the old one.

Taourirt Kasbah

Unlike other Glaoui-era kasbahs, Taourirt escaped ruin by moonlighting as a Hollywood backdrop (Sheltering Sky, Gladiator, Prince of Persia) and attracting the attention of Unesco, Unlike other Glaoui-era kasbahs, Taourirt escaped ruin by moonlighting as Hollywood backdrop (Sheltering Sky, Gladiator, Prince of Persia) and attracting the attention of Unesco, Kasbah Taourirt is set between the wonderful mountains and the awe-inspiring Sahara desert. Its closely set houses and dignified towers made of shalk and sand mixture blend into the surrounding landscape. You have the opportunity to walk into the spectacular building and experience the real ancient kasbah. The Kasbah has almost three hundred rooms and you will love its great decoration. There is a cafe nearby where you can relax and maybe watch a sunset from its terrace.

Take a Tour to Atlas Studios

Speaking about land area, Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate is one of the world’s largest film studios. Some of the well-known historical movies were filmed there: Lawrence of Arabia, The Living Daylights, Kingdom of Heaven and Babel and others. The location is also used in some of the popular TV series like Game of Thrones and Prison Break. Walk along the giant film sets and go into another world, the world of films. The studios’ buildings have kept the accent of Moroccan desert houses, but with modern furniture and design. You will enjoy your time there.

See Tassoumaat Old Medina

This is one of the places in Ouarzazate you must visit. It is a very special and unique place. Medina is located near the river and actually a real inhabited village with houses made of mud bricks. There are families there and you can see children play around, or their mothers making bread inside their houses. There are many sheep all over the place and many other interesting things. Get to know some of the true Berber life. The people are all friendly and warmly welcome all the visitors.

Climb the Jebel Sahro Mountains

If you like hiking, there is a wonderful place near Ouarzazate to do it. It is called Jebel Sahro and it is located between the Atlas mountains and the Sahara desert. Go there and you will have the most exciting hike ever. You will walk through different places, small villages, high mountains, and various landscapes. You will sleep under the nomad tents near the houses of some local people. It is a difficult hike, so do not go there if you are not well prepared, and take a guide.

Ouarzazate Cinema Museum

If you want to have a couple of hours of real entertainment, then you should visit the Ouarzazate Cinema Museum. You can spend a great afternoon, posing and taking photos on the famous film sets walking freely without having to pay attention to the ‘keep off’ signs. The museum is quite small, but interesting and you will love seeing the sets and some of the costumes, accessories, cameras and different machines used in films.

Dades Gorge

The Dades Valley and the Dades Gorge in Morocco are definitely must-see places. Beautiful old Kasbahs and spectacular red-coloured canyons, formed by the Dades River are waiting for you to explore! There are plenty of things to see inside the Dades Valley: Including the breathtaking Dades Gorge, the spectacular winding road and the monkey fingers. You’ll pass interesting Berber villages and stop at some viewpoints to inhale the dramatic landscapes, The contrast between the red rock colours, and the green oasis with the palm groves was immense. Definitely, you should stop at the “monkey fingers” a magnificent rock formation just 9 km from Boumalne Dades.

We hope this article gives you a good idea of where to go when in Ouarzazate.

Have a great Trip to Morocco!!.