Ouarzazate — pronounced “Wah-zah-zaht” — is Morocco’s gateway to the Sahara and its most cinematic city. Known as the “Hollywood of Africa,” it has provided the backdrop for blockbusters including Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and Game of Thrones. But beyond the film sets, Ouarzazate is the starting point for some of Morocco’s most dramatic landscapes: the Draa Valley, the Dades Gorge, and the rose-pink kasbahs of the Skoura palm oasis.
Top Attractions in Ouarzazate
- Ait Benhaddou — UNESCO World Heritage ksar, the most photographed kasbah in Morocco
- Taourirt Kasbah — a sprawling 19th-century clay fortress in the city centre
- Atlas Corporation Studios — the world’s largest film studios, open to visitors
- Draa Valley — 150km of date palm groves, kasbahs and oasis villages
- Skoura Palm Oasis — a sea of palms dotted with mud-brick kasbahs
- Dades Gorge — dramatic canyon accessible as a day trip
Our Ouarzazate Tour Options
Ouarzazate Day Trip from Marrakech
Cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260m) to visit Ait Benhaddou and Ouarzazate’s kasbah and studios. A long but spectacular day tour (12 hours).
Ouarzazate & Draa Valley 2 Days
Overnight in Ouarzazate and explore the Draa Valley south to Zagora — through endless palm groves, kasbahs, and Berber villages.
Grand Southern Circuit (5–7 Days)
The ultimate route combining Ouarzazate, Ait Benhaddou, Dades Gorge, Todra Gorge, and the Merzouga Sahara dunes. Our most popular multi-day tour.
Getting to Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate has a small regional airport (OZZ) with connections to Casablanca and seasonal European flights. By road from Marrakech, it’s a stunning 3.5-hour drive via the Tizi n’Tichka mountain pass — one of Morocco’s most scenic drives.