MA · Drâa-Tafilalet · 30.92°N 6.92°W

ouarzazate

Earthen kasbahs, palm oases and film-set landscapes south of the High Atlas.

Best time
March–May and September–November suit kasbah walks and drives. July–August is very hot; winter nights are cold, and snow can close the High Atlas pass.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Casablanca, usually via Istanbul, Doha or Dubai, about 17–20 hours all in, then about 1 hour on to Ouarzazate. By road it's about 4 hours from Marrakesh over the Tizi n'Tichka pass. Morocco is 8 hours behind KL.
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MA · Drâa-Tafilaletouarzazate30.92°N 6.92°Wgowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Earthen kasbahs, palm oases and film-set landscapes south of the High Atlas.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingOuarzazateMA, Drâa-Tafilalet
KLouarzazate
≈ 11,586 km from KL, as the crow flies
The Kasbah Taourirt on Avenue Mohammed V in Ouarzazate just before sunset in April.

Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Ouarzazate sits where the High Atlas gives way to dry valleys and palm oases. The town's earthen kasbahs and the fortified villages nearby explain why film crews keep coming back.

Makan

  1. Vegetable tagineCarrots, potatoes and seasonal vegetables slow-cooked under a conical lid.Map ↗
  2. CouscousSteamed semolina with vegetables and meat, a big midday meal.Map ↗
  3. Amlou and breadAlmond and argan spread for a long breakfast.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Aït BenhaddouA fortified earthen village climbing a hill above a riverbed, about 30 minutes away and in countless films.Map ↗
  2. Taourirt quarterLanes and earthen walls around the Glaoui family's old kasbah, damaged in the 2023 earthquake.Map ↗
  3. Fint OasisPalms and small villages in a green pocket of rocky desert, a short drive from town.Map ↗
  4. Atlas StudiosFilm studios on the edge of town, with sets left over from desert epics.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Drive the Tizi n'Tichka in daylight; it's a winding mountain road with snow in winter.
  • A driver for the day is the easy way to combine Aït Benhaddou and the oases.
  • Food is halal as standard, and alcohol is found only in some hotels and restaurants.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.