Holiday in Ouarzazate

What makes Ouarzazate special as a destination?

Ouarzazate is the gateway to the Sahara and Morocco's Hollywood at the same time - a fascinating desert city at the foot of the High Atlas, which has gained worldwide fame as a film set for blockbusters like Gladiator, Game of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia, and The Mummy. The city is located on a high plateau at an altitude of 1,160 meters, where the last foothills of the Atlas transition into the endless expanse of the stony desert, offering a landscape of almost extraterrestrial beauty with red clay castles, deep gorges, and palm groves. The Kasbah Taourirt in the heart of the city is a labyrinthine clay structure from the 19th century that once served as the residence of the powerful Glaoui pashas. Its nested towers, winding corridors, and ornamented facades provide insight into the life of the Berber princes. Just thirty kilometers southwest lies Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and probably the most photogenic kasbah in the world. The fortified clay village on the riverbank against the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains has served as a film set for countless productions and is a must-see for any traveler to Morocco. The Atlas Film Studios, the largest film studios in Africa, can be visited and offer a fascinating behind-the-scenes look: here, the sets of Egyptian temples, medieval castles, and biblical cities stand side by side in the desert sun. The famous Road of the Kasbahs (N10) leads from Ouarzazate through the Valley of Roses to the Todra and Dadès gorges and is one of the most spectacular drives in Morocco. For German travelers, Ouarzazate is an essential stop on the way from Marrakech to the desert. The drive over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) takes about four hours and offers breathtaking mountain panoramas. The small airport in Ouarzazate has seasonal connections, but most visitors arrive as part of a multi-day Morocco tour.