Explore the Cinematic Desert Town of Ouarzazate, Ouarzazate

Enjoy free time to explore the picturesque town of Ouarzazate, known as the "Gateway to the Sahara." Start in the town's 19th-century Taourirt Kasbah. From the top, you can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. On a clear day, your eye can stretch as far as the red-mud city of Aït Benhaddou, the green Draa Valley, and the rust-colored Todra Gorge!

The town gained popularity thanks to the film industry. Enjoy a movie studio tour (Atlas Corporation Studies or CLA Studios) or visit the Musée du Cinema. Learn about the films produced in the region by getting an up-close look at props and sets from hits such as Black Hawk Down, Prometheus, American Sniper, and Game of Thrones.

Ouarzazate also has an important Mellah (Jewish quarter) with an old synagogue and plenty of lively souks (markets) to peruse. Find the perfect souvenir as you watch artisans make rugs, ceramics, metal goods, jewelry, spices, slippers, and more.

For centuries, people from the Atlas, Drâa, and Dadès Valleys converged to do business at Ouarzazate’s sprawling Taourirt Kasbah, and a modern garrison town was established here in the 1920s to oversee France’s colonial interests. An isolated military outpost during the years of the French protectorate, Ouarzazate—which means “no noise” in the Berber Tamazight language—long lived up to its name. The center of Ouarzazate is easily explored on foot. Avenue Mohammed V, the main street, runs from east to west with shops, cafés, banks, pharmacies, and tour agencies all along its length.

As Ouarzazate’s only historic building, the Taourirt Kasbah stands as a monument to Glaoui expansionism. Unlike other Glaoui kasbahs, Taourirt escaped ruin by moonlighting as a Hollywood backdrop and attracting the attention of UNESCO, which has carefully restored small sections of the inner sanctum. Follow the maze of stairwells to the top floor, where you’ll find a prayer room through keyhole archways, traces of stucco, and an original tataoui ceiling. Afterward, wander through the village inside the kasbah walls, and you might also find deals on local crafts in backstreet shops.

Atlas Film Studios is the first ‘Ouallywood’ studio, established by Mohammed Belghimi in 1983. Displays, sets, and props from movies filmed here include Jewel of the Nile, Kingdom of Heaven, and Kundun. Guided tours run every 20 to 40 minutes and take you through some of the stages, sets, and workshops incorporated on-site. And who knows, you may even get discovered by a talent scout!

Read more about unique and interesting cultural experiences in Morocco.