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Experience the real Morocco with expert guides
Top-Rated On Tripadvisor Trips for All Budgets Experience the real Morocco with expert guides
The ancient and stunning gateway to the Sahara Desert, and the backdrop to many a blockbuster Hollywood movie, the town of Ouarzazate tours is a firm tourist favourite in Morocco. Over the High Atlas Mountains, southeast of Marrakesh, it lies in a breathtakingly beautiful and historically fascinating area of the country.
It is perfectly possible to take just a Ouarzazate day trip with us but of course, even longer ones from Marrakech, Fes, Rabat or Agadir. An alternative is to travel to Ouarzazate and stay in one of the many lovely hotels in and around this little town whilst you explore this fascinating and otherworldly part of Morocco.
But here is a sample of what you can see and do in Ouarzazate itself:
Kasbah Taourirt
The town’s main landmark, Taourirt Kasbah, is a main tourist attraction in Ouarzazate. This impressive 19th-century fortress has nearly 300 rooms and 20 riads, or traditional houses, built around a courtyard in the centre. It is open to the public from Monday to Saturday, and although partly in ruins, several areas have been beautifully restored. People still living there will be all too happy to show you around for a small fee.
Another important stop in Ouarzazate is the Cinema Museum, just opposite Kasbah Taourirt. Both can easily be visited on the same day — and it is a good way to see the area’s rich film history apart from the larger film studios on the edge of town. The Cinema Museum is packed with authentic sets, props and old equipment that have been used to make these famous films.
Just outside Ouarzazate lie the sprawling Atlas Film Studios, said to be the largest in the world, and where such films as “the Kingdom of Heaven”, “Gladiator”, “Body of Lies” and a “Star Wars” film, plus numerous others were made. Spread over 20 hectares, you’ll see massive sets and props you might recognise from these film sets. This is where “Ouallywood” began, when the Atlas Studios became the first ones to open in North Africa back in 1983.
These include the hilltop Kasbah of Tifoultoute, about 8 km away, and a striking sight as you approach it, the CLA Studios, another place of major film heritage in Ouarzazate, as well as the Old Synagogue in Kasbah Tarourirt, now a museum housing a large amount of Jewish artefacts.
With the mighty Sahara Desert just on the doorstep, Ouarzazate is the perfect starting-off point to head out and explore one of the most spectacular places on the planet. The challenging environment of the Sahara, however, means it is not a place you should set out to discover on your own but only with a professionally organised tour, in the company of expert local guides, who can give you the best possible time amid the vast and timeless sands.
if you wish to experience the wonderful Sahara Desert, there’s no better place to be than Ouarzazate. Book your experience with Desert Majesty today.
