Ouarzazate Travel Guide
Ouarzazate was never meant to be my final stop. It was the pivot point on my way south, the town where the road splits between the Dades gorges and the beginning of the great desert, and in the end it turned out to be one of the most surprising places of my whole journey. This guide is everything I wish I had known before I arrived, from the drive in to the best way to spend two unhurried days.
How to get there
For most travellers Ouarzazate is a drive from Marrakech, and it is a spectacular one. I crossed the Tizi n Tichka pass, which climbs to over two thousand metres, and the switchback road through the High Atlas remains one of the great drives in Morocco, with superb views at every bend. Budget three and a half to four hours for the journey, and note that the pass can get snow in winter, so check conditions before you set out. You can also catch a domestic flight from Casablanca, or reach the town by overnight bus from Marrakech or Agadir. A hire car gives you the freedom I valued most for the day trips around the region.
Where to stay
I stayed just outside the centre in a riad built like a small kasbah, with an inner courtyard, a plunge pool, and a rooftop that looked out over the palms. The town offers everything from boutique riads to comfortable business hotels and simpler guesthouses near the main square. Staying a little out of town paid off for me, with easy parking and quiet nights away from the traffic. In the cooler film season, book ahead, because the town fills with crews and festival visitors. Ask your riad to arrange a driver for the day trips; the local drivers know every viewpoint and kasbah.
What to see
The must sees are the Taourirt Kasbah and the film studios, both close together at the southern edge of town. I gave the kasbah a slow hour and a half, then crossed to the studios for a guided walk around the huge sets. The old medina and its souk take another relaxed morning, where you can shop for carpets, ceramics, and spices. If you have a car, drive the easy loop to the Fint Oasis or spend a day exploring the Skoura palms and the Dades gorge to the east. Two nights in town gives you time for all of it without ever feeling rushed.
Staying comfortable
Because Ouarzazate is a desert town at altitude, I learned to respect the gap between day and night. In summer, finish outdoor sightseeing by late morning and resume after four. In winter, carry warm layers for the evening, since the temperature can fall sharply once the sun goes down. Pack sun protection, plenty of water, comfortable shoes for the unpaved paths around the kasbahs, and keep some cash handy for the markets. The town is safe and easy to wander, and most people here are friendly, patient, and happy to point you in the right direction.
Eating and markets
The food in Ouarzazate runs from simple street stalls to excellent terrace restaurants overlooking the kasbah. I ate tagines flavoured with local saffron, freshly baked bread, and plates of olives under a warm evening sky. The medina market is the place for dates, nuts, and spices to take home, and the carpets and ceramics here are among the best value in the south. Coffee and mint tea are everywhere, and everyone has a strong opinion on which stall does the best pastry, so ask and follow the local advice.
How long to stay
Honestly, I would give Ouarzazate a full two nights. It is easy to treat it as a transit town and move on within hours, which is exactly what almost everyone does. But the kasbah, the studios, and the quiet desert edges around it reward a slow visit. Arrive in the evening, watch the light go amber over the mud brick, and clear a day for the valley beyond. Done that way, Ouarzazate gives you far more than a pit stop, and it will stay with you for a long time after you have crossed the next pass.
Getting around town
The centre of Ouarzazate is compact and walkable, and I covered most of it on foot in a single day. For the kasbahs, studios, and desert edges that sit a little farther out, a hire car or the local taxis and drivers are worth the cost. I found that agreeing a fair price with a local driver at the start saved me time and money across several day trips. Distances are short, the roads are good, and directions are easy once you get your bearings. The freedom to stop at a viewpoint is the real reason to have your own wheels.
