Your ultimate Ouarzazate travel guide
Known as “the door to the desert”, Ouarzazate (Warzazat) is a small quiet town located in the south of Morocco. If you enjoy walking on the gold orange sand dunes, ouarzazate is definitely going to be your next destination. So welcome to your ultimate ouarzazate travel guide!
Nicknamed “the Moroccan Hollywood”, this city has one of the largest movie studios in the world (appropriately named Atlas Studios), a film school and even a museum of cinema. From Brad Pitt to Martin Scorsese, many of Hollywood’s most successful actors, directors and producers have spent weeks, if not months, here working and enjoying all Ouarzazate and the surrounding region have to offer.
A lot of movies such as Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Gladiator (2000), The Sheltering Sky (1990) and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011) were shot here, as was part of the TV series Game of Thrones (2013). Here’s everything you need to know, things to do, what to see, where to stay.
WHERE TO STAY
Le Petit Riad
Located in the El Wahda district, Le petit Riad is a berber-style building with an outdoor swimming pool and a restaurant where Moroccan specialties are served every day. Moreover, the staff here is very friendly that they will make you feel at home.
Le Temple Des Arts
If you’re looking for luxury, it doesn’t get much fancier than Le Temple des Arts. In the heart of Ouarzazate, this luxurious 5-star hotel offers film-inspired design rooms with high quality furnishings. The property features an outdoor pool, and a spa and wellness center with Hammam under reservation. How cool is that!
THINGS TO DO
Visit the CLA Studios
You can’t pass up the opportunity to visit the Ouallywood. The CLA studios is the must-see location in this city: you’ll get to explore all the elaborate sets for popular movies such as “Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra” (2002), Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and many others. And if you are lucky, they will let you enter; unless they aren’t filming any movie.
Telouet Kasbah
There is such a rich history behind this Kasbah that it’s worth getting a guide to show you around Telouet. This slowly dilapidating kasbah was once the palatial residence of Thami El Glaoui, pacha of Marrakesh. But unfortunately some large portions of the Telouet Kasbah have been left to crumble leaving behind them some mesmerizing mosaic interiors and Islamic architecture.
Taourirt Kasbah
Constructed by the Glaoui, Taourirt Kasbah was home to the families of many close relatives in the Glaoui dynasty, along with hundreds of servants, cooks and tailors. From its top floor, you can enjoy the stunning views over the Lake El Mansour Edhabbi, or explore the village within the Kasbah.
