Fernweh: Home
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAll highlightsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    • Neighborhoods & highlights
    • Eat & drink
    • Culture
    • Getting around
    • Accommodation
    • Plan trip
    • Nearby
    Ouarzazate
    Bjørn Christian Tørrissen / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

    Morocco

    Ouarzazate

    City

    Ouarzazate lies south of the High Atlas at around 1,150 meters and is often called the Gateway to the Desert.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Morocco
    7. South: Kasbahs & Desert
    9. Ouarzazate
    Ouarzazate lies south of the High Atlas at around 1,150 meters and is often called the Gateway to the Desert. The city grew during French rule as a garrison and administrative post and is now home to Atlas Studios, where many international films were filmed. Ksar Aït-Ben-Haddou lies about 30 kilometers northwest.

    Sights in Ouarzazate

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Atlas Studios
    Attraction

    1Atlas Studios

    Founded in 1983 by Mohamed Belghmi, the film studios are located about five kilometers west of the city. Scenes for Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and Game of Thrones, among others, were filmed here, and tours showcase the sets.
    Open in Google Maps
    Kasbah Taourirt
    Historic Landmark

    2Kasbah Taourirt

    The sprawling adobe kasbah in the center of Ouarzazate has nearly 300 rooms and is the city's most famous structure.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Ouarzazate

    1

    Accord Majeur

    French bistro with classics like Confit de canard.
    Show on Google Maps

    Culture & History

    Film CityMohamed Belghmi founded the Atlas Studios west of the city in 1983. Among the productions filmed here and in the surrounding area were Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and scenes for Game of Thrones.Noor Solar Power PlantAbout ten kilometers outside, the Noor Solar Complex spans over 3,000 hectares. The Noor I power plant went online in 2016, Noor III operates with a 250-meter-high solar tower.

    Local adventures

    Getting ThereCTM buses run several times daily to Marrakech; the journey over the Tizi n'Tichka takes a good four hours.To Boumalne Dadès, it's about two hours by bus.For Aït-Ben-Haddou, the Atlas Studios, and excursions in the surrounding area, a rental car or Grand Taxi is recommended.

    Accommodations in Ouarzazate

    Find perfect stay in Ouarzazate

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Plan your trip to Ouarzazate

    Save places, build a route and plan your city trip, all in one place.

    1. 1
      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
      1234

      Round trip

      12 days · 4 stops

      Saved

      Pick a route

      Pick a ready-made one or save places and plan your own.

      Open bookmarks
    2. 2

      Trip to Ouarzazate

      Live
      • 1Atlas Studios3 days
      • 2Kasbah Taourirt4 days
      Budget

      Plan your trip

      The planner sorts stops, days and budget. Plan together in real time.

      Start trip planning
    3. 3
      9:41 No signal
      Ouarzazate
      Available offline

      Use it on the road

      Download the guide to your phone and use it on site, even offline.

    Nearby

    South: Kasbahs & Desert

    South: Kasbahs & Desert

    South of the High Atlas begins the land of mud-brick kasbahs and oases: the Ksar Aït-Ben-Haddou, the film city Ouarzazate, the gorges of Dadès and Todra and at the end the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga.
    Aït-Ben-Haddou

    Aït-Ben-Haddou

    The Ksar Aït-Ben-Haddou is a fortified mud-brick settlement in the Ounila Valley on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. Since 1987, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site. The backdrop of mud-brick kasbahs on the hillside above the river served for films like Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.
    Ourika Valley

    Ourika Valley

    The Ourika Valley stretches south of Marrakech into the High Atlas, alongside its namesake river. At the end of the road lies the village of Setti Fatma, above which seven waterfalls cascade over the rocks.
    Imlil & Toubkal

    Imlil & Toubkal

    Imlil is located at around 1,800 metres in the High Atlas, approximately 65 kilometres south of Marrakech, and serves as the starting point for climbing Toubkal. At 4,167 metres, it is the highest mountain in North Africa and the centrepiece of the Toubkal National Park, founded in 1942. Around the village, hiking trails lead to Berber villages and to the Sidi Chamharouch shrine, which non-Muslims are not permitted to enter.
    Gorge of Dadès

    Gorge of Dadès

    The Dadès Gorge stretches north of Boumalne Dadès into the High Atlas, with rock walls 200 to 500 meters high above the valley floor. Famous are the red rock formations known as the Monkey Fingers and the winding road that ascends the gorge in tight hairpin bends. The valley is home to kasbahs, villages, and guesthouses.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI