Ouarzazate Film Studios and Kasbahs

At a glance

Ouarzazate at a glance

Where: South of the High Atlas, Morocco
From Marrakech: About 4 hours by road over the Tizi n'Tichka pass
Airport: Ouarzazate (OZZ), flights from Casablanca
UNESCO: Ksar of Aït Benhaddou, listed 1987
Best months: March to May, October to November
US passports: No visa for stays up to 90 days

From the United States

Ouarzazate for travelers from the US

The essentials for American travelers, at a glance.

Entry for US passports: Visa-free; up to 90 days; no fee. Visa details
Getting there: Nonstop to Casablanca from New York, Washington, Miami and Los Angeles on Royal Air Maroc (about 7 hr from New York). All nonstops
Time difference: 5 hours ahead of New York (6 in the US winter; an hour less during Ramadan)
Money: Moroccan dirham, about 9 to 10 to the dollar. Cards in hotels; cash in medinas and souks.
Power plugs: Types C and E (European two-pin), 220 V: bring an adapter (most phone and laptop chargers are dual voltage)
Weekend: Saturday and Sunday

Checked October 18, 2026. Rules and schedules change, so confirm on the official portal before you book. Connecting on a Gulf or Turkish carrier? See stopover programs, and plan with your first trip.

Why go to Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate sits on a high, sunlit plateau where the snowy Atlas Mountains give way to the stony desert. For centuries it was a crossroads for caravans heading to and from the Sahara, and its earthen kasbahs and fortified villages, built of rammed earth the color of the land, still stand along the river valleys.

That same light and landscape drew filmmakers. Since the 1960s, epics and series from around the world have been shot here, and the town is home to large studio lots that welcome visitors. Our guide to film locations in the region traces the productions.

Ouarzazate is also a symbol of the new Morocco. On its outskirts, the Noor Ouarzazate solar complex is one of the largest concentrated solar power plants in the world, a flagship of the kingdom's clean-energy ambitions described in space and clean energy.

The earthen ksar of Ait Benhaddou seen from a shaded terrace with patterned cushions, near Ouarzazate. — Photo: Elena Tatiana Chis · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What to see and do

Atlas Studios

Ouarzazate

One of the largest film studios in the world by area, with sets of temples, palaces and ancient cities left from famous productions. Guided tours run daily and walk you through the backlots.

Ksar of Aït Benhaddou

About 20 miles northwest

A UNESCO-listed fortified village of earthen houses climbing a hill above a river, among the finest examples of southern Moroccan architecture. Cross the river at dawn and climb to the granary at the top for the view.

Kasbah Taourirt

Ouarzazate

A rambling earthen palace complex in the town center, once a seat of the powerful Glaoui family. Its restored rooms show painted ceilings and fine plasterwork.

Skoura palm grove

About 25 miles east

A green oasis of date palms, olive trees and old kasbahs, crossed by shaded walking paths. Kasbah Amridil, partly open to visitors, is the landmark.

Dades Gorge

Dades Valley

A road of hairpin bends climbs through red rock formations above a green valley. Stay overnight in a kasbah lodge to see the cliffs at sunset.

Todra Gorge

Near Tinghir

Sheer canyon walls rise hundreds of feet above a narrow river, popular for walking and rock climbing. It is a natural stop on the way to Merzouga and the Sahara dunes.

Noor Ouarzazate solar complex

Outskirts of Ouarzazate

Fields of mirrors and a tall solar tower are visible from the road. Visits are by arrangement, but the scale is striking even from a distance.

Where to stay: luxury kasbah hotels

Dar Ahlam

Skoura, Morocco

A restored kasbah in the palm grove and one of Morocco's most celebrated hideaways, with no fixed menu and dinners staged in a different setting each night. It is often the starting point for private desert journeys.

Official site ↗

Le Berbère Palace

★★★★★ Ouarzazate, Morocco

The town's leading five-star, a low-rise complex of earthen-toned buildings around palm gardens and pools, long a favorite of visiting film crews.

Ksar Ighnda

Near Aït Benhaddou, Morocco

A boutique hotel built in traditional ksar style, with gardens, a pool and views toward Aït Benhaddou. Ideal for seeing the ksar at first light.

Stay in the Atlas

High Atlas, Morocco

Many travelers break the journey from Marrakech at one of the Atlas Mountains' kasbah lodges.

Getting there

From the US, Royal Air Maroc flies nonstop from New York to Casablanca, with onward flights to Ouarzazate in a little over an hour. Most visitors, though, arrive by road from Marrakech, a spectacular drive of about four hours over the Tizi n'Tichka pass. A private driver lets you stop at viewpoints and at Aït Benhaddou on the way.

US citizens do not need a visa to visit Morocco for up to 90 days. See visas and entry for details.

Best months to visit

Spring (March to May) and autumn (October and November) bring warm days, cool nights and clear skies. Winter is sunny but cold after dark, with snow on the Atlas passes; summer is hot. See when to go.

Weather

Ouarzazate weather by month

Average day highs, night lows and rainy days for each month, in Fahrenheit and Celsius side by side. The months in gold are the most comfortable for visiting.

Ouarzazate weather by month, in Fahrenheit and Celsius
Month	Day high		Night low		Rainy days
Month	°F	°C	°F	°C	Rainy days
Jan	63°	17°	36°	2°	2
Feb	67°	19°	41°	5°	3
Mar	72°	22°	46°	8°	2
Apr	81°	27°	53°	11°	1
May	88°	31°	60°	15°	1
Jun	95°	35°	65°	18°	0
Jul	102°	39°	73°	23°	0
Aug	101°	38°	72°	22°	0
Sep	91°	33°	63°	17°	3
Oct	81°	27°	55°	13°	2
Nov	72°	22°	45°	7°	2
Dec	65°	18°	39°	4°	1

Averages for 2020–2024, Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5). Rainy days: days with at least 1 mm (0.04 in) of rain. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.

Questions travelers ask

Can I visit Ouarzazate as a day trip from Marrakech?

It is possible, but the drive is long. Two or three nights let you see Aït Benhaddou, the studios and Skoura without rushing.

Can you tour the film studios?

Yes. Atlas Studios offers guided tours of its sets most days; check times locally before you go.

How far is the Sahara from Ouarzazate?

The great dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga are about six to seven hours' drive, usually broken with a night in the Dades or Todra gorges.

Is Aït Benhaddou still inhabited?

A few families still live within the old ksar, while most residents have moved to the modern village across the river. Visitors are welcome to walk its lanes.

Travel TodayBefore you travel, check the US State Department's current advice for Morocco. See the advice ↗

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Ouarzazate Film Studios, Kasbahs and the Gateway to the Sahara