Ouarzazate Morocco: Information

Travel advice and information for Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate Moroccan City

Ouarzazate is an enchanting city in Morocco that is often referred to as the “Gateway to the Moroccan Desert.” It is known for its diverse landscapes, friendly people, rich folklore, and authentic architectural design. It is situated at an altitude of 1,160 meters above sea level, surrounded by mountains. Ouarzazate owes its origin to a Foreign Legion outpost set up in 1928, and it still serves as a significant garrison town today. Although it has a population of about 56,000 residents and workers, the city primarily serves as a starting and ending point for trips coming from the south. Visitors to the “red city” can also take a popular Marrakech Ouarzazate excursion to explore the region’s culture and natural beauty.

Ouarzazate Morocco

The Oasis route is a must-visit for all travel enthusiasts, leading them to the stunning city of Ouarzazate. The city has recently witnessed a surge in the film industry, thanks to its breathtaking natural beauty that has attracted numerous Hollywood filmmakers and producers. Ouarzazate boasts of various film studios where many award-winning films, including Kundun, Gladiator, and Lawrence of Arabia, have been shot. The city also features a museum and three film studios. With its wide range of high-quality hotels offering over 3,937 bedrooms, Ouarzazate is rightly equipped for tourism. So, come, stay, and explore all that this city has to offer, and make unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.

Attractions in Ouarzazate City

Al Mouahidine Square, the Central Market, and the handicraft souk are the highlights of the city center. The Kasbah, located on the city’s outskirts, is open for visits from 8 am to 6 pm. It is one of the most fascinating Kasbahs in Morocco and the main attraction in the region. The Glaoui tribe built this adobe stronghold with crenelated towers in the 18th century to protect the gold trade route from Marrakech to Timbuktu. The rooms of the Glaoui dynasty are inside, and you can explore them with the help of one of the tour guides available. You can also visit the Ouarzazate Kasbah and the handicraft center. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm and on Saturdays from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm. They make and sell pieces of local pottery, stones, tapestries, and carpets here.

It’s worth taking a quick trip to the movie studios to see the locations where local movies were filmed. The Oscar Hotel and the Atlas Film Studios have a long list of movies filmed there. Ouarzazate served as the setting for Game of Thrones and is part of its settings in the film studios, making it popular among “Game of Thrones” fans. The Jnan Sbil Garden has amazing hydraulic infrastructure, in addition to its lush foliage. The garden is crisscrossed with water channels that run from a nearby spring, which are used to hydrate the plants and keep the garden green and beautiful.

Visit Ait ben Haddou

If you’re looking for an alternative to traveling to Ouarzazate, we recommend visiting Ksar-Ben-Haddou or Ait Ben Haddou which is just 26 kilometers away from Marrakech. This magnificent fortification has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is currently undergoing repairs. It has been an important commercial and cultural crossroads for the region since ancient times. You can explore it on foot and enjoy the stunning views of the settlement, the surrounding areas, and the Moroccan desert.

The Ouarzazate palm grove

Located at an altitude of 1,188 meters above sea level, this area is situated between the Atlas, Anti Atlas, and the Dades Valley, just forty kilometers away from Ouarzazate. This serene oasis is home to a maze of gardens filled with date palms, pomegranate trees, fig-trees, almond trees, and cereal fields, known for their olives and oil production. Tour guides often refer to this area as the “Road of the Thousand Kasbahs,” due to the numerous magnificent kasbahs that can be found here. It’s the perfect location to indulge in a wide variety of tours, including car tours, 4×4 expeditions, mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, or even mule riding. Spending enchanting evenings in tents in the center of the oasis is another interesting suggestion.

Ways to go to Ouarzazate

To get to Ouarzazate, there are two ways as the railway ends in Marrakech: by car or by plane. If you prefer to travel by road, you can board a bus operated by CTM or Supratour, which will take approximately 4 to 5 hours. The cost per person is less than 100 dirhams. Alternatively, you can take a taxi in Marrakech, which takes 3.5 to 4 hours, but keep in mind that the cab will only depart when it’s full (6 passengers in total). Each person’s cost is also less than 100 dirhams. Although traveling by minibus or 4×4 with a transportation company may be more expensive, you can stop anywhere to take pictures.

How to Navigate Ouarzazate?

The city center is quite compact, making it easy to navigate. If you need to travel within the downtown area, you can take a cab for a reasonable price of around 4 dirhams, or 5 dirhams if it’s after 9 pm. For those arriving at the airport, taxis charge approximately 50 dirhams to transport you to the city center. It’s worth noting that these taxis have limited capacity and can accommodate a maximum of three passengers.

Ouarzazate: shops, restaurants, and hotels

Mohamed V Avenue is a bustling street that offers a plethora of shopping options, hotels, and dining establishments. Right behind the main street lies the pedestrian zone, also known as the “Prince” area, which is lined with various shops and restaurants. However, while exploring Taourirt, it’s important to note that the local marketplace is teeming with vendors who are eager to capture your attention.

Weather in Ouarzazate

The weather in Ouarzazate is dependent on the time of year we plan to visit. However, it is important to keep in mind that the average temperature there is 19.1 °C. Winters in Ouarzazate are cold and dry, while summers can be very hot. The best time to visit Ouarzazate is from March to May or from late September to early October. It is important to note that Ouarzazate is located close to the Atlas Mountains, specifically the High Atlas, which receive frequent snowfall during the winter season and can even block the Tizi n’Tichka mountain pass that connects Ouarzazate with Marrakech.

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