Looking for things to do in Ouarzazate? Visit the Taourirt kasbah, the former residence of the Glaoui pasha, discover the film studios that made the town famous, head to the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, then set off for the Skoura palm grove, the Dades Valley and the Draa Valley. Allow 1 to 2 days for Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou, 4 to 6 days for the loop of valleys and desert. The best periods are March-April and October-November.
Nicknamed « the gateway to the desert », Ouarzazate lies south of the High Atlas, linked to Marrakech by the road over the Tizi n’Tichka pass. This guide to pre-Saharan Morocco brings together the highlights, day trips, an itinerary, the budget, where to stay and the climate, with a calculation that helps with packing: the temperature gap between day and night, month by month.
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Ouarzazate at a glance
- Region Drâa-Tafilalet, south of the High AtlasAt about 1,100 m (3,600 ft)
- Language Arabic, AmazighFrench commonly understood in tourism
- Currency Moroccan dirham (MAD), to withdraw or exchange locally · currencies
- Time zone UTC+1, UTC+0 during Ramadan · detailsSame time as London in summer, 1 h ahead in winter; 5 to 6 h ahead of New YorkLocal time now: –:–
- Airports Ouarzazate (OZZ), or Marrakech Menara (RAK) via the Tizi n’Tichka pass · detailsCheck current routes with the airlines
- Entry US and UK: visa-free up to 90 days · travel.state.gov · GOV.UK
- Electricity check voltage and plug types before you go · plugs
- Ideal length 2 days on siteA week for the loop of kasbahs, gorges and dunes
Things to do in Ouarzazate: the highlights
The Taourirt kasbah
In the town center, the Taourirt kasbah is a vast rammed-earth complex built in the 19th century and enlarged by the Glaoui family, who controlled the southern caravan route. Part of it can be visited: courtyards, apartments with painted ceilings, terraces overlooking the river. The surrounding quarter is still inhabited.
The film studios and the cinema museum
The region’s landscapes have served as a backdrop for many films and series. On the edge of town, on the road to Marrakech, Atlas Studios offers guided tours of sets (temples, palaces, villages). Opposite the Taourirt kasbah, the cinema museum, housed in former studios, displays props and sets. Visits may be interrupted during filming.
The ksar of Ait Ben Haddou
About thirty kilometers (19 mi) away, this fortified village of mud brick, clinging to a hill above the Ounila river, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You reach it on foot across the river, then climb to the communal granary at the top, with a view over the whole valley. Come early in the morning or late in the afternoon: the light is better and there are fewer groups.
The Fint oasis and Ouarzazate lake
About fifteen kilometers (9 mi) away, the Fint oasis is a palm grove in the hollow of a stony valley, reached by a track. Southeast of town, the lake of the El Mansour Eddahbi dam, fed by the Draa river, offers an unexpected landscape, with birds depending on the season.
The Skoura palm grove
On the road to the Dades, the Skoura palm grove is dotted with kasbahs, including Kasbah Amridil, one of the best preserved in the region, which can be visited. Several guesthouses in the palm grove make it a quiet alternative to the town.
The Dades Valley and the Valley of Roses
To the east, the « road of a thousand kasbahs » leads to Kelaat M’Gouna, center of Damask rose cultivation (a rose festival is held there; check dates locally), then to Boumalne Dades and the Dades Gorges, with spectacular rock formations. Further on are the Todra Gorges and, beyond, the dunes of the Erg Chebbi at Merzouga.
The Draa Valley and Zagora
To the south, the road crosses the Tizi n’Tinififft pass and then follows the Draa Valley, one of the longest palm groves in Morocco, dotted with ksour and kasbahs, down to Zagora and M’Hamid, at the edge of the Erg Chigaga dunes.
Telouet and the Tizi n’Tichka road
Between Marrakech and Ouarzazate, the road crosses the High Atlas at the Tizi n’Tichka pass. A detour along a secondary road leads to the Telouet kasbah, the former stronghold of the Glaoui, with reception rooms decorated with zellige and stucco, then rejoins Ait Ben Haddou through the Ounila valley. The U.S. Department of State describes roads through the Atlas as steep, narrow, winding and dangerous.
Day trips from Ouarzazate at a glance
| Destination | Recommended time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Ait Ben Haddou | Half a day | Heritage, photography |
| Fint oasis | Half a day | Palm grove, peace and quiet |
| Skoura | Half a day to 1 day | Kasbahs, palm grove |
| Dades Gorges | 1 day (better with a night) | Scenery, hiking |
| Zagora (Draa Valley) | 1 to 2 days | Palm groves, gateway to the desert |
| Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) | 2 to 3 days as a loop | Dunes, desert camp |
Suggested itineraries
- 2 days: day 1, the Taourirt kasbah, the cinema museum and the studios; day 2, Ait Ben Haddou in the morning, the Fint oasis or Skoura in the afternoon.
- 5 days (valleys loop): Marrakech – Telouet – Ait Ben Haddou (overnight); Ouarzazate and Skoura; the Valley of Roses and the Dades Gorges (overnight); the Todra Gorges; back via Ouarzazate.
- 7 days with the desert: add Merzouga and a night in a camp in the Erg Chebbi, or Zagora and M’Hamid via the Draa Valley.
- For a first trip: combine Ouarzazate with Marrakech, or with Fez by crossing the desert.
Hot by day, cold at night: Ouarzazate’s climate in figures
Ouarzazate has an arid climate: it gets very little rain (115 mm / 4.5 in a year on average) and more than 3,400 hours of sunshine a year. The catch is the gap between day and night, due to the altitude and the dry air. We calculated it month by month to help you pack.
| Month | High °C (°F) | Low °C (°F) | Day/night range °C (°F) | Rain mm (in) | Sunshine (h) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17.3 (63 °F) | 1.8 (35 °F) | 15.5 (28 °F) | 5.5 (0.2 in) | 262 | ⚠️ Sunny, nights close to 0 °C |
| February | 19.3 (67 °F) | 4.5 (40 °F) | 14.8 (27 °F) | 14.2 (0.6 in) | 252 | ✅ Mild by day, cold nights |
| March | 22.7 (73 °F) | 8.2 (47 °F) | 14.5 (26 °F) | 16.5 (0.6 in) | 292 | ✅ Ideal |
| April | 26.7 (80 °F) | 11.9 (53 °F) | 14.8 (27 °F) | 6.6 (0.3 in) | 318 | ✅ Ideal |
| May | 30.7 (87 °F) | 15.7 (60 °F) | 15 (27 °F) | 4.4 (0.2 in) | 343 | ✅ Hot, good for the valleys |
| June | 35.5 (96 °F) | 19.6 (67 °F) | 15.9 (29 °F) | 6.6 (0.3 in) | 337 | ⚠️ Very hot |
| July | 38.8 (102 °F) | 22.7 (73 °F) | 16.1 (29 °F) | 3.8 (0.1 in) | 316 | ❌ Heatwave, nearly 39 °C (102 °F) |
| August | 37.5 (100 °F) | 22.1 (72 °F) | 15.4 (28 °F) | 12.3 (0.5 in) | 295 | ❌ Very hot, storms possible |
| September | 33.1 (92 °F) | 18.1 (65 °F) | 15 (27 °F) | 13.2 (0.5 in) | 273 | ⚠️ Still hot |
| October | 27.5 (82 °F) | 13.3 (56 °F) | 14.2 (26 °F) | 14.8 (0.6 in) | 273 | ✅ Ideal |
| November | 21.7 (71 °F) | 7.2 (45 °F) | 14.5 (26 °F) | 7.8 (0.3 in) | 256 | ✅ Mild, cool nights |
| December | 17.7 (64 °F) | 3.2 (38 °F) | 14.5 (26 °F) | 9.5 (0.4 in) | 250 | ⚠️ Sunny, cold nights |
- The largest gap occurs in July: 16.1 °C (29 °F) between afternoon and night. Bring a proper warm jacket for the evenings, especially at a desert camp.
- In January, 17.3 °C (63 °F) in the afternoon but 1.8 °C (35 °F) at night on average: nights in a tent require good equipment.
- In July, 38.8 °C (102 °F) in the afternoon: sightsee early in the morning and late in the day.
- Sunshine: 262 hours in January; on December 15, the day lasts 10 h 09 min in Ouarzazate (NOAA calculation).
In short, go from March to May or from October to November. Winter is sunny and fine for sightseeing, provided you bring warm clothes; summer is best avoided for the desert. To compare with the rest of the country, see the best time to visit Morocco and the best time to visit Marrakech, and for packing, what to pack.
Budget for visiting Ouarzazate
The budget depends mainly on accommodation (a hostel or simple guesthouse, or a riad or kasbah-hotel with a pool) and on transportation: buses and shared taxis, or a rental car and driver. A night at a desert camp, often sold as a package with transport and meals, comes on top.
Getting around Ouarzazate and the south
- By plane: Ouarzazate airport is close to the center; check current routes with the airlines (according to Wikipedia, Royal Air Maroc Express links it to Casablanca).
- By bus: CTM and Supratours link Ouarzazate to Marrakech, Zagora and the Dades Valley; there is no train in the south.
- By car: the best way to follow the valleys. The U.S. Department of State describes traffic accidents as a significant hazard, rural secondary routes as narrow and poorly paved, and flash flooding as frequent from November to March; avoid driving at night and do not go off-road.
- With a driver or on a tour: convenient for the desert loop, especially on a first trip.
Where to stay in Ouarzazate
| Area | Best for | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Center (around Taourirt) | Tight budget, no car | Restaurants, bus station, walking distance to the kasbah |
| Ait Ben Haddou | Photographers | Sunrise and sunset over the ksar, without the groups |
| Skoura palm grove | Couples, quiet | Guesthouses in old kasbahs |
| Zagora road / lakeside | Travelers with a car | Hotels with pools, views of the Atlas |
Entry requirements, health and safety
- US citizens: according to the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, last updated July 30, 2026), you need a valid passport with at least one blank page; no visa is required for visits of less than 90 days. If you stay beyond 90 days without requesting an extension, you will have to appear before a judge before leaving. Carry a copy of your passport at all times.
- UK citizens: according to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 19 August 2026), you can visit without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you arrive and must not be damaged; make sure it is stamped on entry. A polio vaccination certificate is required if you come from a polio-affected country.
- Drones: flying a drone requires permission from the Directorate General for Civil Aviation, or you risk fines and confiscation (UK FCDO); customs may also strictly regulate drones (U.S. Department of State).
- Terrorism: the UK FCDO considers that terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Morocco, including in places popular with tourists and in crowded places; stay aware of your surroundings and follow the advice of the local authorities. Protests can occur without warning in large cities.
- Earthquakes: earthquakes are a risk in Morocco; the 2023 earthquake killed almost 3,000 people. Familiarize yourself with the safety instructions in your hotel (UK FCDO).
- Health: check vaccine recommendations at least 8 weeks before your trip (TravelHealthPro for UK travelers, the CDC for US travelers). Rabies is present and stray dogs are common: do not approach them and seek medical advice immediately after a bite or scratch (UK FCDO). In many areas tap water is not drinkable and ice may be made with tap water (U.S. Department of State).
- Insurance: most medical providers only accept cash and may require a deposit before admission (U.S. Department of State): insurance covering medical costs and repatriation is essential (see our travel insurance guide).
- Emergencies: police 190, gendarmerie 177, ambulance and fire 150 according to the UK FCDO; the U.S. Department of State gives 15 for emergency services and 190 for police from a mobile phone. Check locally on arrival.
Practical tips for Ouarzazate
- Money: the dirham is a closed currency that cannot easily be exchanged outside Morocco (UK FCDO); keep your exchange receipts, as dirhams can be changed back into US dollars only with proof that you exchanged them in Morocco (U.S. Department of State). Be alert at ATMs. Our currency converter helps you estimate your spending. There are ATMs in Ouarzazate, but they are rarer in the villages: withdraw cash before heading into the valleys.
- Guides: at Ait Ben Haddou and in the kasbahs, guides offer their services; agree on the price first. The UK FCDO advises using guides with an official badge.
- Photos: always ask before photographing someone.
- Internet: check your carrier’s roaming rates for Morocco, or use a local SIM card or an eSIM (see our eSIM guide).
- Ramadan: during this month some restaurants close in the daytime and opening hours may change; eating or drinking in public in the daytime may cause offense (UK FCDO).
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need to visit Ouarzazate?
One to two days for the town and Ait Ben Haddou. Four to six days for the loop of the Dades and Draa valleys, or to continue to the desert.
What is the best time to go to Ouarzazate?
March-April and October-November: 22 to 27 °C (72 to 81 °F) in the afternoon, cool nights, very little rain.
Is Ouarzazate cold in winter?
Days are mild (17 to 19 °C / 63 to 67 °F from December to February) but nights are cold: an average low of 1.8 °C (35 °F) in January.
How do you get from Marrakech to Ouarzazate?
By the Tizi n’Tichka road, by CTM or Supratours bus, by car or with a driver. Plan stops at Telouet or Ait Ben Haddou, and travel by day: the U.S. Department of State describes Atlas roads as steep and dangerous.
Which airports serve Ouarzazate?
Ouarzazate has its own airport, close to the center; otherwise, fly into Marrakech and continue by road over the Tizi n’Tichka pass. Check current routes with the airlines.
Ouarzazate or Merzouga for the desert?
Ouarzazate is a base for kasbahs and valleys, not for the big dunes: those are at Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) or beyond Zagora (Erg Chigaga).
Our sources
- Direction générale de la Météorologie du Maroc, via the World Meteorological Organization and NOAA: 1991-2020 normals for the Ouarzazate station (airport); sunshine 1981-2010, via the climate table of the Wikipedia article « Ouarzazate »
- Destination de Voyage calculation: day/night range, length of day in Ouarzazate (NOAA solar algorithm)
- Wikipedia: article « Ouarzazate Airport » (routes)
- Entry, health and safety information read on 26 October 2026: U.S. Department of State, Morocco country information (travel.state.gov, last updated July 30, 2026), and UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for Morocco (GOV.UK, updated 19 August 2026)
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.
To go further, see our Morocco travel guide, our pages on Marrakech and Agadir, and our comparison Morocco or Tunisia.
