Ouarzazate

The Hollywood of Africa — film sets, kasbahs, and desert landscapes.

Known internationally as the gateway to the Sahara and the 'Hollywood of Africa', Ouarzazate is where the Atlas mountains give way to desert. Blockbusters from Lawrence of Arabia to Gladiator and Game of Thrones have filmed here, and the Atlas Film Studios and Taourirt Kasbah make an easy half-day of sightseeing. For most Morocco Grand Adventure journeys it is a practical waypoint — close enough to Aït Ben Haddou for an afternoon visit, and the jumping-off point for the Draa Valley road south or the Dades road east toward Merzouga. Come for the kasbahs and film history, stay for the light: the surrounding stony desert turns gold at the end of every day.

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Ouarzazate in Pictures

Ouarzazate, Morocco — kasbah architecture under a wide desert sky on the edge of the Sahara
Ouarzazate — the gateway city between the High Atlas and the Sahara.
Footbridge over the Ounila river below the village of Aït Ben Haddou, seen from above
Aït Ben Haddou, about 30 minutes away, is an easy side trip from Ouarzazate.

Ouarzazate through our lens

Weathered mud-brick towers of an ancient Berber kasbah in southern Morocco
Ruins of an old Berber kasbah along the Route of the Kasbahs.

Things to do in Morocco