Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate is a quiet, refreshing stop after the chaos of Marrakech or Fez. With just 60,000 inhabitants, it's nicknamed 'without noise' from Berber roots—you can walk freely without constant hassle. The city serves as the main gateway to Saharan Morocco, with easy access to Ait Benhaddou, desert excursions, and the Valley of Dadès.

Ouarzazate Airport (OZZ) sits on the outskirts with a small cafe inside. CTM buses connect to major cities including Marrakech (150-180 dirham, 4 hours) and Fez (260-300 dirham, 8-10 hours). Gare Routière handles grand taxis for regional destinations. Private taxis from the airport run about 10 dirham within the city.

The area around Mohammed V is very walkable. Petit taxis serve within the city—no more than 10 dirham from airport to hotel. Grand taxis handle between-city trips including to Ait Benhaddou (no more than 150 dirham round trip, though you can likely negotiate lower). Parking tip: red and white curbs mean no parking, green and white are OK.

Best visited in spring or fall to avoid extreme heat. Summers can be very hot for sightseeing. Winters get cold, especially at night, and some budget hotels have inadequate heating. The Saturday market in El Hay Mohamadi draws locals and nomads selling crafts and animals—worth timing your visit.

Hotels of all ranges cluster around town. Budget options include Hotel Atlas (Rue du Marche no.13, singles 60-90 dirham, doubles 110-160 dirham) with English/French spoken and WiFi, and Hotel Amlal (Rue du Marché Nº24-25, 200 dirham single, 250 dirham double) in the town center with private bathrooms. La Gazelle offers clean rooms at 156 dirham with hot shower and ATM next door. Those with transport can consider Zaghro Hotel on Route de Zagora with pool and breakfast from €7-20 per person.

Cheap restaurants line Mohammad V street and around the central square. Standard tagine costs about 30 dirham, with complete meals including drinks available for 30-40 dirham (May 2019 prices). A supermarket near Place de Mouahidine sells 5L bottled water for 11.50 dirham. Two western-style shops with fixed (but high) prices near the town center sell alcohol including local wine and Judeo-Berber vodka.

Kasbah Taourirt (20 dirham) is a well-preserved kasbah inside the city with exhibition spaces and labyrinth-like rooms. Atlas Studios (4km away, 80 dirham) and CLA Studios (combined ticket 110 dirham) showcase movie sets from films like Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and Kingdom of Heaven—Egyptian decorations remain impressive though deteriorating. Oasis de Fint makes a half-day trip—150 dirham round trip by grand taxi or 120 dirham bicycle rental from Tabount. Solar Park with its mirror array can be visited by bicycle or car. Public pool between Tammasint and Gar routier costs 20 dirham for a refreshing break.

Ouarzazate is very safe overall, though don't wander into weird corners at night. Be wary of taxi drivers who ask to 'transfer taxis' or mention picking up a 'friend'—these schemes involve persistent sales pitches for desert tours to Erg Chebbi near Merzouga or Zagora. Throughout southern Morocco, crime is minimal but take reasonable precautions.

WiFi is available at some hotels including Hotel Atlas. Check with your accommodation for current availability and speeds. Morocco uses European-style Type C/F plugs (220V). Local SIM cards from providers like Maroc Telecom, Orange, and Inwi are widely available for data needs.

Backpackers can get by on 200-350 dirham per day covering dorm bed or budget double (80-160 dirham), simple meals (30-40 dirham each), local transport (10-30 dirham), and attraction entry (20-80 dirham per site). Add 80-150 dirham for Atlas Studios or CLA Studios visits. Water costs around 11.50 dirham for 5 liters.

Aït-Benhaddou is 15 dirham by grand taxi from nearby Gare Routière (or 300 dirham for private taxi, 220 dirham after haggling)—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and filming location for Gladiator with 20 dirham entrance (2023). Local agencies offer Valley of Dadès tours by 4WD jeep where you'll see spectacular mountain views, shepherds with herds, and numerous kasbahs. Oasis de Fint is a lush paradise 10km from town via unpaved roads—150 dirham return by grand taxi or 120 dirham full-day bicycle rental.

Drive further to Zagora and M'Hamid for desert adventures by camel, 4x4, or quad bikes. Er Rachidia is a mid-sized administrative town and launching point for Merzouga and Erg Chebbi—reached by bus, though touts will try to sell you 'discounted' desert tours along the way. The Valley of Dadès is accessible via local agencies offering full-day 4WD jeep tours with spectacular mountain scenery and kasbah visits. Skoura, about 40km away, offers expensive but distinctive accommodations like Dar Ahlam.