Things to do in Ouarzazate
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Ouarzazate
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best season. Warm days, cool nights, roses in bloom in April and May.
Extreme heat, 35 to 42C and peaks above 45C. Sightsee early and late only.
Other best season. September still hot, October ideal, November cooler with cold nights.
Mild days, nights 0 to 8C and sometimes below freezing. Snow can affect the Tizi n'Tichka pass.
What's on
- Rose Festival, Kalaat M'Gouna May, dates set locally each year
Rose harvest festival on the Dades road, a reason to time a spring Dades drive.
Best things to do in Ouarzazate
Atlas Film Studios
Huge working backlot of standing sets from Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven and Game of Thrones, best with a guide.
Kasbah Taourirt
Glaoui mud-brick palace with decorated reception halls, partly restored, the historic heart of Ouarzazate.
Cinema Museum
Small, dusty museum of sets, props, costumes and old film kit opposite Taourirt, an easy cheap pairing.
Kasbah Tifoultoute
Less restored Glaoui kasbah on a hill, worth it for late afternoon views over the oasis and river plain.
Where to stay in Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate town centre, Avenue Mohammed V
one or two night road-trip stop, buses and restaurants
Walk to cafes and taxi ranks, easy early starts for Ait Benhaddou and the studios.
Talmasla and the lake side
couples staying longer, quiet kasbah guesthouses
Palm grove and lake views a few kilometres out, with hotel help for excursions.
Skoura Oasis
splurge and slow trips with a car or driver
Palm grove calm 40 km east, day-trip back to town for Atlas and Taourirt.
Best restaurants in Ouarzazate
La Kasbah des Sables
The special-occasion dinner in town, refined French and Moroccan cooking in a rich kasbah dining room.
Restaurant Douyria
Classic Moroccan cooking in a restored house with a roof terrace facing Kasbah Taourirt.
Jardin des Aromes
Garden restaurant on the main avenue for Moroccan gastronomy, tagine and couscous in a relaxed setting.
Restaurant Cafe Habous
Cheap, central, long-hours cafe on the main square for Moroccan staples, shawarma, pizza and coffee.
La Terrasse Cafe and Restaurant
Modern avenue cafe for breakfast, a cool midday break and mint tea while waiting out the heat.
Outdoor things to do in Ouarzazate
Ait Benhaddou
UNESCO earthen ksar climbing to a hilltop granary, the headline excursion and a famous film location.
Fint Oasis
Hidden river oasis of palms and four villages in black rocky hills, a quiet hosted half day from town.
Kasbah Amridil
Showpiece 17th century kasbah in the Skoura palm grove, kept as a small museum with roof views.
Draa Valley
Long palm grove road past ksars through Agdz toward Zagora, the classic gateway to the desert drive.
Dades Valley
Red rock gorges and hairpin roads on the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, best as an overnight toward Merzouga.
Best hotels in Ouarzazate
Dar Ahlam
Top luxury kasbah in the Skoura palms, with private dining settings and house-run excursions.
Le Berbere Palace
Large five star town hotel with gardens, big pool, spa and several restaurants, built for film crews.
Dar Daif
Restored kasbah guesthouse by the lake with pool, hammam and strong set-menu dinners and tour know-how.
Le Petit Riad Maison d'hotes
Small Berber-style riad with courtyard fountain, pool and a well liked breakfast, the mid-range sweet spot.
ibis Ouarzazate Centre
Plain, reliable chain hotel with pool and bar in the centre, the safe cheap bed for a road stop.
Is Ouarzazate expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | MAD 450 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | MAD 1,100 a person |
| Splurge | MAD 3,200 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Fint Oasis: a few days ahead
- Draa Valley: a few days ahead
- Dades Valley: a few days ahead
- Dar Ahlam: weeks ahead
- Le Berbere Palace: weeks ahead
- Dar Daif: a few days ahead
- Le Petit Riad Maison d'hotes: a few days ahead
- La Kasbah des Sables: a few days ahead
- Book Dar Ahlam, Le Berbere Palace, CTM buses and private Draa, Dades or Merzouga drivers ahead in spring and autumn.
Is Ouarzazate safe?
- Watch for petty crime and bogus guides in crowded tourist spots, and check any guide for an official badge. Avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, quiet areas after dark, and rural roads at night. The land border with Algeria is closed and must not be attempted. Heat is the main local hazard.
Ouarzazate travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Unofficial guides at Ait Benhaddou and Taourirt without a badge or agreed fee, vague taxi and tour prices, and Marrakech day trips that are mostly road.
Getting around Ouarzazate: public transport and more
- Walk the centre in the cool of the day. Petit taxis for Atlas and Taourirt. A car, driver or tour is needed for Fint, Skoura, Draa and Dades. CTM and Supratours buses link Marrakech in about four and a half hours.
Who Ouarzazate suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Families | Good |
Make Ouarzazate your trip
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