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OUARZAZATE
aBOUT THE CITY
Ouarzazate has stood at the edge of the Sahara desert for hundreds of years. A city of palm trees, sandy streets and blocky, fort-like buildings, this is the Morocco seen in a hundred movies. The name Ouarzazate comes from the Amazigh for ‘quiet place’, and compared to many of its fellow Moroccan towns and cities, there is a certain calm to be found here. Inside its walls you’ll find new hotels and complexes, plus film studios which have made the most of their photogenic location. Outside the city is the reason most people come to Ouarzazate: the stunning Sahara. Take a trek out to the nearby villages and kasbahs, see the breathtaking Todra Gorge, and marvel at one of the world’s great natural wonders.
selected experiences
OUARZAZATE CULTURAL FESTIVALS
If you’re looking for one of Ouarzazate’s cultural festivals then May is definitely the time to visit the Door of the Desert.
The first festival to look out for is The Rose Festival. Just a short drive from Ouarzazate is Kalaat M’Gouna, the rose capital of Morocco. Miles and miles of rosebushes grow around this desert oasis, a wildly colourful sight that fills the air with a heady perfume. Rosewater is highly prized throughout the kingdom (it takes 3,000 kilos of petals to make just one litre) and people celebrate the harvest with dancing and singing through the night in the souk. Through a rain of rose petals a Rose Queen is elected to reign over the crop.
And like many places in Morocco, August is the month for Moussem – Ouarzazate celebrates Sidi Daoud with a pilgrimage, a special souk for craftsmen, and plenty of song and dance.
OUARZAZATE CULTURE
The Door of the Desert is the place to go if you want to experience the culture of desert life. The Musee Theatre Memoire de Ouarzazate is dedicated to teaching people about, and preserving the cultural values and traditions of, the High Atlas and pre-Saharan Moroccan inhabitants. There are many exhibits here including clothes, tools and written documents that will give you a fascinating insight into these people.
Ouarzazate is in a region famous for its many kasbahs, and it’s simplicity itself to go on a tour of these fascinating buildings that were built centuries ago. It’s also a place proud of its traditions and history, and if you time your holiday correctly you’ll be able to attend one of the festivals the locals organise to celebrate their culture.
OUARZAZATE CYCLING
Ouarzazate, otherwise known as the Door of the Desert, connects the N9 route over the High Atlas Mountains to the Sahara. It’s the perfect place to start a cycling journey or to visit when coming over the mountains from Marrakech. On this path you get to enjoy one of the best descents Morocco has to offer down towards Ouarzazate.
In town, you will find it easy to rent a bike and excursions with a local guide into the desert or mountains are easy to book. Make sure to tour the Ksar of Aït Benhaddou, a fortress of red clay, or the Kasbah of Tifoultoute, just five miles from Ouarzazate.
OUARZAZATE DESERT TREKS
The historic city of Ouarzazate, guarded by the stunning Atlas Mountains to the west and the Sahara Desert in the east, offers an adventurous range of activities and opportunities for all to enjoy in stunningly rich surroundings. Head east from Ouarzazate and you’ll soon be trekking through the deep golden sands of the Sahara, sat behind a camel’s hump, trotting along on a horse, racing on a 4×4, or sticking to the fabulous foot trails and feeling the sand beneath your soles. There are well established companies in the area which can offer you a taste of the nomadic Amazigh lifestyle, sleeping out beneath a blanket of stars, to be woken by the first golden rays of the sun hitting the dunes. The ancient Ksar of Aït Benhaddou lies nearby and as you explore it may even start to feel familiar – it’s provided the backdrop to many blockbuster films.
OUARZAZATE FAMILY DAYS OUT
Take your family to Ouarzazate to enjoy some great days out. It’s not a place where you’ll find theme parks: instead, what your family will gain is a special, entirely authentic experience.
You’ll have the opportunity to spend the night in a traditional Amazigh tent surrounded by massive sand dunes, ride camels on treks into the desert and see stunning gorges and imposing mountains just minutes outside the city. Touching the modern world, Ouarzazate is also movie backdrop central. Children and adults alike will love touring Atlas Film Studios and spotting the sets and props from such films and TV shows as Game of Thrones, Atlantis, Kingdom of Heaven and Asterix and Obelix.
OUARZAZATE FOOD AND DRINK
Sometimes known as the crossroads of the south, Ouarzazate is a place where Moroccan and Saharan culture have mixed for centuries, and the cuisine on offer in the town reflects this intermingling of cultures.
There is a profusion of dates and spices on offer, on sale in the souk and used in the recipes of the local cafés and restaurants. This area is the saffron capital of the world, and the usually expensive spice can be bought at a reasonable price. The traditional Moroccan dishes of couscous and tagines, in their distinctive domed pots, are also very much in evidence.
Along the main street and in the central square there are plenty of affordable restaurants serving traditional Moroccan cuisine, but you’ll also find the European influence here with pizzas and French cuisine.
OUARZAZATE HAMMAMS
Ouarzazate and the surrounding valleys are small oases in the midst of largely arid desert. The city has hosted thousands of adventurers, from avid travellers to film stars, all of whom have found a place to rest amongst the traditional hammams to rejuvenate them after time in the desert.
The hammams are primarily traditional as they have been for centuries – and they come highly recommended. As well as locals and tourists, you’ll be following in the footsteps of stars from productions including the wildly successful Game of Thrones. After a long active day in the desert there is nothing better than cleansing yourself amongst the calm stone chambers of the city’s hammams.
OUARZAZATE KAYAKING AND RAFTING
The tumbling waters of the Dades River provide you with all the white water you could want as it travels from the High Atlas and joins with the Ouarzazate River. It’s a vividly lush green area in a land of sand and rock, and there is plenty to see as you travel through this ancient land. In some remote areas women still wash their laundry on the banks of the river and traditional villages can be seen a little higher up the land. One of the highlights of any trip in this region is the gigantic Dades Gorge – a magical place with stunning rock formations and kasbahs that have stood for hundreds of years.
OUARZAZATE LUXURY
Ouarzazate is a place well used to providing a luxury visitor experience – it has been the backdrop for many Hollywood blockbusters over the years, so hosting global A-listers and meeting their demands is nothing new to the locals. The knock-on effect of this means that holidaymakers have many lavish places to choose from when they come to stay.
This is your chance to stay in a kasbah with everything laid on for you – round the clock service, private chauffeur, a selection of exquisite hand crafted meals – for a very reasonable price. Or how about a prestigious palace full of heritage and opulent furnishings? The five star hotels range from the old and elegant to the new and stylish, and all of them give you a world-class service.
OUARZAZATE MOTORCYCLING
Ouarzazate has much to recommend it for any biker, but some of the best riding can be found on the journey to the city.
If you’re travelling down to Ouarzazate from Marrakech then you’ll come across the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass on the awesome N9 road. This Moroccan highway stretches all the way from the Red City down through Ouarzazate and Zagora before ending near the Algerian border at Mhamid. The road offers some of the best rides in Morocco, but it’s the pass that is the N9’s crowning glory. A slender ribbon of tarmac that winds through the Atlas Mountains, a ride through Morocco is incomplete without a stretch of the N9.
OUARZAZATE MUSIC FESTIVALS
Ouarzazate’s major music festival is a mix of traditional folk music and new interpretations by the best new musicians in the area. It’s a celebration of Ouarzazate’s heritage including Ahidous music – a traditional Amazigh dance involving flowing circles and pounding rhythms – and Ahwash music which is a significant part of Amazigh culture in this region. A combination of dance, poetry and songs, this evocative music is different amongst every tribe.
To see this fantastic folk festival, you need to book your visit to Ouarzazate for September. It’s five days of culture that will live long in the memory.
OUARZAZATE PEOPLE
Ouarzazate has been a city for just over a century. It wasn’t until the French colonisiation of 1912 that it was officially established, and in 1928 it became a garrison town, administrative centre and troop station. Before the French arrived, the site had been an African trading point. The majority of the population today is still Amazigh and they built most of the buildings in and around Ouarzazate, including the kasbahs. They are a naturally generous, hospitable people, well used to seeing holidaymakers visiting their city, and are always happy to help travellers.
OUARZAZATE RETREATS
The Door of the Desert is the perfect place for you to escape from the strains and stresses of modern life. Ouarzazate stands alone in Morocco, two hundred kilometres from the nearest big settlement. You’ll be surrounded by sand dunes, palm trees and snow-capped mountains, a world away from the stresses and strains of everyday life. The hotels and riads are well equipped in this area for people who are searching for wellness and peace. Tranquil swimming pools and soothing Jacuzzis take away the heat of the desert, and massages and hammams help you to relax. Of course, it’s the natural beauty that surrounds Ouarzazate that makes this such a great place for a retreat: make sure you take at least one trek out of the Saharan city.
OUARZAZATE TREKKING
Ideally located in close proximity to the mountains and massive rolling sand dunes, Ouarzazate is the perfect base for your trekking adventure. Hardened explorers will find themselves pleasantly challenged by the extremes of the Chigaga dunes, though there are more gentle outings available for the less experienced. For a truly authentic experience, try trekking with the nomads for a while, joining their seasonal migration across the mountains. These trips can last from a day to a fortnight and there are plenty of local companies who are experienced and trustworthy. If you’re looking for a truly rewarding trek, Ouarzazate is the place for you.
OUARZAZATE HERITAGE
Ouarzazate has stood at the edge of the desert for centuries. A trading post on the north-south route through the kingdom, Arabs, Moors, Amazigh and Muslims have all made their mark on this city.
The first place you should visit when you’re on a heritage tour is the Ksar of Aït Benhaddou. Just twenty miles from Ouarzazate, this site has been awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO. This fortified city is a fantastic example of southern Moroccan architecture and has featured in dozens of films including The Living Daylights and Gladiator.
There’s plenty in Ouarzazate that will please the heritage seeker too, as rich architecture, intricate carvings and historic buildings can be found all over the city.
top hotels in Ouarzazate
stars :
Featuring a patio, allergy-free rooms and a plunge pool, Ecolodge L’Ile De Ouarzazate is set 2.7 miles from Cooperative de Tissage in Ouarzazate. Free Wi-Fi is accessible in the rooms and free parking is provided on site.
Location : Google Map
stars :
Set in Ouarzazate, Tin Joseph offers a terrace. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, room service and a shared lounge, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The guest house features family rooms.
At the guest house all rooms come with air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a safety deposit box and a private bathroom with a shower, a hairdryer and free toiletries. The units feature a desk.
Guests at Tin Joseph can enjoy a continental breakfast.
Aït Ben Haddou is 27 km from the accommodation, while Skoura is 44 km away. The nearest airport is Ouarzazate, 1 km from Tin Joseph, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
Location : Google Map
stars : 
Built in 1928 by the French to host their garrisons, Ouarzazate is a sand colored oasis displaying a Moroccan traditional architecture. Ouarzazate’s exceptional luminosity and breathtaking natural panoramas made the 7th art professionals fall for its charm. This city has become the set of famous movies such as Lawrence of Arabia, the Sheltering Sky and Gladiator as well as many series.
Located in the heart of the city of Ouarzazate, below the hotel district and only 100 meters from the Taourirt Kasbah, the charming Ouarzazate Le Riad hotel offers serenity and peacefulness. The Moroccan ambiance, the warm hospitality and the lovely courtyard make it the ideal place to take rest.
Location : Google Map
Stars :
On the edge of the desert at Ouarzazate, where the stunning light shines on a setting of natural beauty. luxury Hotel RIAD KSAR IGHNDA opens its doors for you onto the Atlas Mountains. For discerning lovers of luxurious sensations and relaxation.
In an authentic yet modern setting, our hotel blends in with the environment. In the village, you will come across Berbers, local artisans and discover typical local crafts (bread cooked in the traditional way..).
40 rooms. Spectacular location in the heart of Moroccan desert, next to Ksar Aït Benhaddou UNESCO site – Historic Kasbah surrounded by private gardens – Hammam – Outdoor swimming pool.
Ouarzazate Airport is a 40-minute drive and Marrakech-Menara Airport can be reached in under 3 hours.
Location : Google Map
Stars : 
Located in Ouarzazate town center, the Berbère Palace is just 5 minutes drive from the famous Kasbah de Taourirt. It offers an outdoor swimming pool and a Spa center with a hammam, sauna and hot tub.
Each room and suite at Berbère Palace is air conditioned and equipped with free Wi-Fi access and satellite TV. Rooms also have private bathrooms and a private balcony or terrace.
The Berbere features 4 restaurants that serve French, Italian, Asian and traditional Moroccan cuisine. Breakfast is served on the terrace and guests can enjoy a cocktail at the piano bar.
Free private parking is available at the Berbere Palace and Ouarzazate Airport is 1.2 mi away.
Location : Google Map
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