Ouarzazate: Morocco's desert gateway and film capital
Between the Atlas and the Sahara, Ouarzazate brings together Aït Ben Haddou, film studios and the Kasbah trail. The essential stop for any crossing of deep Morocco.
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Why visit
Between the Atlas and the Sahara, Ouarzazate brings together Aït Ben Haddou, film studios and the Kasbah trail. The essential stop for any crossing of deep Morocco.
- Cinema and kasbah lovers
- Transition towards the desert
- Arid landscape photography
- Berber earthen architecture
Practical info
Good to know
3h–3h30 from Marrakech via Tizi n'Tichka
Pass at 2,260 m — closed in heavy snow
Aït Ben Haddou: arrive before 9am or after 4pm
Ideal: 2 nights
Quick read
Before you go
Between the Atlas and the Sahara, Ouarzazate brings together Aït Ben Haddou, film studios and the Kasbah trail. The essential stop for any crossing of deep Morocco.
Useful cues
3h–3h30 from Marrakech via Tizi n'Tichka
Pass at 2,260 m — closed in heavy snow
Aït Ben Haddou: arrive before 9am or after 4pm
To experience
Why visit Gateway to the Desert
Gateway to the Desert at its most vivid: atmosphere, pace and the reasons it deserves real time.
Ouarzazate earns its visit. The road crossing the Tizi n'Tichka pass from Marrakech is one of Morocco's most spectacular — switchbacks on the mountain face, Berber villages clinging to rock.
After 3 hours, the arid plateau opens and Morocco's 'Hollywood' appears.
Ouarzazate & Aït Ben HaddouOuarzazate
Ouarzazate & Aît Ben Haddou Depuis Marrakech
Tichka pass crossing, Aït Ben Haddou and film studios in one day from Marrakech.
From
35 EUR
Aït Ben Haddou, UNESCO-listed, served as a set for Game of Thrones, Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia. To enjoy it without crowds, arrive at dawn or late afternoon.
To experience
What to see and experience in Gateway to the Desert
The places, habits and experiences that give Gateway to the Desert real depth.
The Atlas Studios explain why Ouarzazate attracts productions from around the world: constant light, spectacular natural backdrops, skilled local workforce.
Frequently asked questions
Everything about Ouarzazate: Morocco's desert gateway and film capital
200 km (3 hours by road) crossing the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m). The road is spectacular and is part of the experience.
Experiences to prioritize
The strongest options for this destination
Ouarzazate & Aît Ben Haddou depuis Marrakech
La porte du désert, kasbahs millénaires et studios de cinéma.
Destination guide
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