Things to Do in Ouarzazate, From Kasbahs to Day Trips

The best things to do in Ouarzazate fall into three groups: the town sights (Kasbah Taourirt, Atlas Studios, the Cinema Museum, the craft shops), the oases and kasbahs within half an hour (Fint, Tifoultoute, the El Mansour Eddahbi lake, Aït Ben Haddou), and longer day trips into the valleys of Skoura, Dades and the Draa. With two or three days you can see the essentials without rushing, and still have time for a quad ride or a horse trek at sunset.

This guide is written from the perspective of people who live and work here. It is organised so you can pick what suits your pace, with honest timings from the centre of town.

Town sights you can see in a day

Ouarzazate is compact. Most of its landmarks sit along or just off Avenue Mohammed V, the long road that crosses the town from the Marrakech side to the Zagora side, and none of them is more than a short taxi ride from another.

Kasbah Taourirt

If you only have time for one sight in town, make it this one. Kasbah Taourirt was a stronghold of the Glaoui family, the clan that controlled much of southern Morocco in the first half of the 20th century. From the outside it is a jumble of earthen towers and crenellated walls; inside, a restored section reveals reception rooms with painted cedar ceilings, carved plaster and small courtyards. Plan about an hour. Our full Kasbah Taourirt visitor guide covers the history and what to look for.

Atlas Studios and CLA Studios

Ouarzazate earned its nickname "Ouallywood" thanks to its film studios. Atlas Studios, on the Marrakech road at the western edge of town, opens its sets to visitors on guided tours: an Egyptian temple, a Tibetan monastery, a medieval Jerusalem street, desert fortresses that have appeared in films such as Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven. CLA Studios is smaller and usually quieter, with sets used for The Mummy and Game of Thrones. See our Atlas Studios guide for tour details and tips.

The Cinema Museum

Right across the road from Kasbah Taourirt, the Cinema Museum occupies a former studio building. A fire in June 2024 damaged part of its collection, so check that it is open before you go. It is a modest place, with old cameras, costumes and a few sets you can walk through, but it pairs neatly with the kasbah and takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

Souk, crafts and Berber carpets

Ouarzazate does not have a labyrinthine medina like Fez or Marrakech, which many visitors find relaxing. Shopping is spread between the craft complex opposite Kasbah Taourirt, the small shops around Place Al Mouahidine and the weekly markets in surrounding villages. Look for flat-woven and knotted carpets from the Ouzguita tribes around Tazenakht, a carpet-weaving town about 85 km to the southwest, as well as pottery from Tamegroute in the Draa valley, silver jewellery and argan products. Prices are negotiated, so take your time and compare.

Oases, kasbahs and the lake near town

A few of the most rewarding places around Ouarzazate are within 10 to 45 minutes of the centre, which makes them easy to fit into a morning or a late afternoon.

• Kasbah Tifoultoute: about 8 km west of town, on a rise above the Ouarzazate river. It belonged to the Glaoui family and was used as a hotel for the crew of Lawrence of Arabia in the early 1960s. The view from the roof over the palm grove is the main reason to go.
• Fint oasis: about 12 km from town, reached by a partly unpaved track (allow 30 to 45 minutes). A ribbon of date palms and gardens runs along a river between bare black hills, with mud-brick hamlets you can walk between. It is one of the most peaceful places in the area.
• El Mansour Eddahbi lake: the reservoir created by a dam completed in 1972 on the Draa river, just east of town. Its shores attract migrating birds, and the late-afternoon light over the water and mountains is lovely. Water levels vary a lot with rainfall.

The best day trips from Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate sits at a crossroads: the High Atlas to the north, the Draa valley to the south, the Dades and Todra to the east. That makes it a natural base for day trips. Here are the classics, with approximate driving times.

Aït Ben Haddou

The fortified village of Aït Ben Haddou is the single most visited place in the region, and rightly so. Its earthen houses climb a hill above the Ounila river, topped by an old granary with a view over the whole valley. Go early or late in the day, when the walls glow and the tour buses are gone. Read our complete guide to visiting Aït Ben Haddou from Ouarzazate.

Skoura

Skoura's palm grove is one of the most beautiful in southern Morocco, dotted with old kasbahs. Kasbah Amridil, partly restored and still owned by the family that built it, shows how a fortified house worked, from the olive press to the rooftop. A good half-day trip, easily combined with the Dades.

Dades Gorges and the Valley of Roses

The road east passes through Kelaat M'Gouna, known for its rose harvest in spring, before Boumalne Dades and the gorges. The red rock formations and the famous zigzag road above the valley make this a long but spectacular day. Many people continue towards Todra and Merzouga instead of returning; our guide to the Ouarzazate to Merzouga route explains how.

The Draa valley

Heading south, the road climbs over the Tizi n'Tinififft pass and drops into the Draa valley, a long green band of palms along the river. Agdz and its kasbahs make a good turnaround point for a day trip; Zagora is further, about 3 hours each way.

Tizi n'Tichka and Telouet

The Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) carries the road to Marrakech over the High Atlas. If you are not driving that way anyway, a day trip to Telouet, the former Glaoui seat with spectacular painted rooms, gives you the mountain scenery and one of the most striking interiors in Morocco.

Quads, buggies, camels and horses

Beyond the sights, the landscape around Ouarzazate is made for being outdoors. Popular options include:

• Quad and buggy rides: tracks across stony desert, palm groves and dry riverbeds, often at sunset. Rides usually last one to three hours.
• Desert excursions: from short camel rides to multi-day trips towards the dunes of Merzouga or the Draa valley, with a night in a desert bivouac.
• Horse riding: gentle rides along the river and around old kasbahs, suitable for beginners.
• Hiking: walks through Fint oasis, the hills around Aït Ben Haddou, or more serious treks in the High Atlas foothills.

Choose operators with good safety gear (helmets on quads and buggies are a must) and agree clearly on what is included before you set off. If you stay with us, the reception at Residence Chay can help you arrange quads, buggies, horse rides, hiking guides or a desert excursion with a night in a bivouac, with providers we know.

Practical tips for getting around

• Petit taxis (small city taxis) cover trips inside town. Ask the driver to use the meter or agree on a price before you get in.
• Grand taxis run shared routes to nearby towns, and can be hired privately for a day trip to Aït Ben Haddou or Skoura.
• A rental car gives the most freedom for the valleys. Roads are good, but watch for speed checks and drive slowly through villages.
• Light and heat: in summer, plan outdoor sights for early morning and late afternoon, and use the midday heat for the museum or a long lunch.
• Cash: small entrance fees, guides and tips are usually paid in dirhams. ATMs are easy to find in town, much less so in the villages.

A simple plan for two or three days

1. Day 1: Kasbah Taourirt and the Cinema Museum in the morning, Atlas Studios after lunch, sunset over the El Mansour Eddahbi lake or at Kasbah Tifoultoute.
2. Day 2: Aït Ben Haddou early in the morning, lunch in the village, then the drive up the Ounila valley towards Tamdaght, or a quad ride in the late afternoon.
3. Day 3: Skoura palm grove and Kasbah Amridil, or a full day in the Dades Gorges; alternatively a slow morning walk in Fint oasis.

For more detail and alternatives, see our two or three day Ouarzazate itinerary.

Making Ouarzazate your base

Because almost every sight above is a day trip from town, it makes sense to unpack once rather than change hotels every night. Residence Chay is in the Hay El Massira neighbourhood, about 3 minutes from downtown, 5 minutes from Kasbah Taourirt and 10 minutes from Atlas Studios, with free private parking for those driving themselves. Our furnished two-bedroom apartments come with an equipped kitchen and a washing machine, which helps on longer stays and when you come back dusty from the desert.

Whatever you choose, leave some unplanned time. Some of the best moments here are the simplest ones: mint tea in a kasbah courtyard, the light turning pink on the Atlas, or a slow walk through a palm grove at the end of the day.