Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate is a city in south-central Morocco and a base for trips to the Draa Valley and the Sahara. Visit its historic Kasbah Taourirt, explore film-related sights or travel west to Aït Benhaddou.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Ouarzazate is a city in Morocco’s Drâa-Tafilalet region, on a plateau south of the High Atlas Mountains. Travelers use it as a base for trips into the Draa Valley and the Sahara. A short distance west, Aït Benhaddou is a fortified village and UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the city, Kasbah Taourirt is a historic fortified residence built mostly from rammed earth. The Cinema Museum, across from the kasbah, displays film sets, props and equipment. Ouarzazate is also known for film production: the area has hosted movies including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.
Allow time to see the kasbah and film-related sights, or stay longer if Ouarzazate is part of a trip to Aït Benhaddou, the Draa Valley or the Sahara. Summers are hot and dry. Winters can be very cold, with icy winds from the High Atlas, and snow occasionally falls in the city; pack warm clothes for a winter visit. The Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass connects Ouarzazate with Marrakesh, and Ouarzazate Airport serves the city.
Ouarzazate in five
- Visit Atlas Studios on the guided tourThe studios operator lists a guided studio tour at 130 MAD per person, from 8:30 until sunset, with free entry for children under 5 and no advance booking needed. Other websites quote lower prices, so confirm at the gate.
- Use it to split the Marrakech driveThe tourist board puts Marrakech 194 km and about 3 hours 45 minutes away. That makes Ouarzazate the natural overnight on a Marrakech to Sahara route, and a poor target for a same-day round trip.
- Give Aït Benhaddou its own half dayThe ksar lies off the Marrakech road rather than in town, so a fast stop in the city does not count as seeing it. Visit on the way in or out, and book your night where you finish the day.
- Drive the Tizi n Tichka pass in daylightThe UK government warns of poor lighting at night and hazardous mountain roads in bad weather. Cross the pass between Marrakech and Ouarzazate in daylight and check conditions in winter.
- Pick your onward route before you bookMerzouga lies far to the east, the Dadès and Kelaat M'Gouna to the north-east and the Draa valley to the south. Choose one direction per trip.Merzouga travel guide
Need to know
- Airport
- Ouarzazate (OZZ), small; Marrakech (RAK) is the main gateway
- Getting there
- Road from Marrakech, 194 km, about 3 hr 45 min by the tourist board's figures
- Getting around
- Taxis and short walks; a car or tour for kasbahs outside town
- Best base
- The town center, or a kasbah-style hotel for atmosphere
- Time needed
- A half day to one night; 2 days with Aït Benhaddou
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear1 rainy dayHigh17°Low4°Cool daysJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool days
- FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh18°Low6°MildFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 23 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- MarchClear2 rainy daysHigh22°Low8°Warm, goodMarchClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, good
- AprilClear1 rainy dayHigh26°Low12°Warm, goodAprilClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, good
- MayClear2 rainy daysHigh30°Low16°HotMayClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 7 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- JuneClear0 rainy daysHigh35°Low20°HotJuneClear
Mixed
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 2 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh38°Low23°Very hotJulyClear
Poor
- High
- 38°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh37°Low23°Very hotAugustClear
Poor
- High
- 37°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- SeptemberClear3 rainy daysHigh32°Low19°Hot, easingSeptemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 16 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, easing
- OctoberClear2 rainy daysHigh27°Low15°Warm, goodOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 12 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, good
- NovemberClear2 rainy daysHigh21°Low9°Mild, goodNovemberClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, good
- DecemberClear1 rainy dayHigh17°Low5°Cool daysDecemberClear
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool days
Average daily high and low in Ouarzazate, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Ouarzazate
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
17
- Feels like
- 16°
- Humidity
- 59%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 38%
Ouarzazate
08:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today22°14°38%Monday: Rain. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 38%.
- Tue21°13°38%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 21°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 38%.
- Wed22°11°23%Wednesday: Fog. High 22°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Thu22°11°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri24°10°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat24°11°3%Saturday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sun22°14°25%Sunday: Rain. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 25%.
Updated 05:14 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 9.842 MAD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Aït Benhaddoua short drive from townThe best-known ksar of the south, and a film location the tourist board lists among its must-sees.Read the guide
- Dadès and Kelaat M'Gounaby road, north-east of the cityValleys the tourist board lists among the region's top five, best with a full day or a night.Read the guide
- Marrakech194 km, about 3 hr 45 minA long day rather than a day trip; plan it as the end of a loop over the Atlas.Read the guide
Before you go to Ouarzazate
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Ouarzazate, checked
Plan around Ouarzazate
The Sahara dunes, a long day east of here
Read the guideMarrakech travel guideThe usual starting point, over the Atlas
Read the guideAll of MoroccoCities, desert, coast and entry basics
Read the guideBest time to visit MoroccoWhich months suit the south and the desert
Read the guideGetting around MoroccoRail, coach and rental options
Read the guideAit Ben HaddouUNESCO ksar, a short drive from town
Read the guideSkouraFirst palm-grove oasis east of town
Read the guideDraa ValleyKasbah valley south toward Zagora
Read the guideOuarzazate FAQ
Is Ouarzazate worth visiting?
Yes as a stop on the way to the Sahara or the Dadès, and for the film-studio and kasbah angle. It is not worth a long detour for its own sake. One night is enough unless you add Aït Benhaddou.
How much is Atlas Studios?
The studios operator lists the guided tour at 130 MAD per person, free for children under 5, from 8:30 until sunset, and says there is no need to reserve. Third-party websites list other figures, so check at the ticket desk.
How far is Ouarzazate from Marrakech?
The tourist board gives 194 km and about 3 hours 45 minutes by road. The route crosses the Tizi n Tichka pass, so allow extra time and travel in daylight.
Can you visit Ouarzazate as a day trip from Marrakech?
Technically, but it means about seven and a half hours of driving for a short visit. Overnight, or combine it with Aït Benhaddou on a two-day loop, to make the road time worthwhile.
What films were shot around Ouarzazate?
The tourist board names Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, Kundun and Babel among the productions that used the region. Atlas Studios lists Gladiator and Game of Thrones among its sets.