Ouarzazate — The Door of the Desert
About Ouarzazate — The Door of the Desert
Ouarzazate is known as the 'door of the desert'. The town grew around the Taourirt Kasbah, once a seat of the powerful Glaoui family, and later became a base for filmmakers drawn by its light and landscapes. Just outside town, the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou is one of Morocco's most photographed sights. From here, roads lead east through the Dades and Todra valleys to Merzouga and south through the Draa Valley to Zagora.
Why start your tour in Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate is already on the desert side of the High Atlas. Starting here skips the long mountain drive from Marrakech and puts you within a day of the Erg Chebbi dunes, travelling through the Skoura palm grove, the Valley of Roses and the Dades and Todra gorges. It’s ideal if you have limited time, or if you want to go deeper and spend two nights in the desert.
Arriving in Ouarzazate
- By air: Ouarzazate Airport is a few minutes from town, with domestic flights mostly connecting via Casablanca.
- By bus: coaches run from Marrakech over the Tizi n’Tichka pass.
We pick up from the airport, the bus station or your hotel.
What to see
- Ait Ben Haddou: a fortified mud-brick village (ksar) about 30 km away, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a familiar backdrop from many films.
- The film studios: sets from well-known films and series, open to visitors.
- The Taourirt Kasbah: a Glaoui-era kasbah in the heart of town.
- The Fint Oasis: a hidden palm valley a short drive from the centre.
Good to know
Ouarzazate to Merzouga is around 360 km, a long day with stops in the gorges. That’s why several of our Ouarzazate tours break the journey in the Dades Valley. Our Ouarzazate tours finish in Marrakech or Fes, and our tours from Agadir stop here for the night on the way to the desert.
Tours Visiting Ouarzazate
3-Day Agadir to Zagora Desert Tour
Swap the beach for the Sahara: cross the Anti-Atlas via Taroudant and the saffron town of Taliouine, explore Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou, follow the Draa Valley to Zagora for a sunset camel ride and a night at a desert camp, and return to Agadir.
3-Day Ouarzazate to Fes Desert Tour
From Ouarzazate to Fes via the Sahara: Ait Ben Haddou and the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, the Dades and Todra gorges, a sunset camel trek and a luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi, then north through the Ziz Valley, the Middle Atlas cedar forests and Ifrane.
3-Day Ouarzazate to Marrakech Desert Tour
Start at the gateway to the Sahara: Ait Ben Haddou and the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, the Dades and Todra gorges, a sunset camel trek and a luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi, then back west through the Draa Valley and over the High Atlas to Marrakech.
4-Day Agadir to Marrakech Desert Tour via Merzouga
Travel from the beach to the Red City by way of the Sahara: the Anti-Atlas and Taliouine's saffron fields, Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley, the Todra Gorge, a sunset camel trek and a luxury camp in Erg Chebbi, and finally the Draa Valley and the High Atlas to Marrakech.
4-Day Ouarzazate to Marrakech Desert Tour with Two Desert Nights
Four days from Ouarzazate to Marrakech with real time in the Sahara: Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley, the Todra Gorge, a sunset camel trek and luxury camp, a full day with nomads and Gnawa musicians around Erg Chebbi, then back over the High Atlas.
5-Day Agadir to Merzouga Desert Loop
A full loop from the Atlantic to the Sahara and back: out through the Anti-Atlas via Taroudant and Taliouine, the Dades and Todra gorges, a sunset camel trek and a luxury camp in Erg Chebbi, then home over the High Atlas via Ait Ben Haddou and Marrakech.
8-Day Ouarzazate to Marrakech Grand Loop: Sahara, Fes & Chefchaouen
A full loop of Morocco starting in Ouarzazate: the Dades and Todra gorges, two nights around Erg Chebbi, a guided day in Fes, Chefchaouen, a night in Rabat and the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, ending in Marrakech.
Day Excursions
Ouarzazate Day Trip from Marrakech
Explore the 'Hollywood of Morocco'. Discover Ait Ben Haddou, visit cinema studios, and cross the majestic High Atlas Mountains on a day excursion.