Book hostels in Ouarzazate
Morocco's Hollywood. Kasbahs, film studios, gateway to the Sahara.
Ouarzazate is where Hollywood shoots its desert epics — Gladiator, Game of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia. South of the Atlas, it's also the gateway to the Dades and Draa valleys, Aït Benhaddou's UNESCO kasbah, and the road to Merzouga. Low on crowds, high on cinematic scenery.
Highlights
- Aït Benhaddou UNESCO kasbah
- Atlas Studios tour
- Taourirt Kasbah inside Ouarzazate
- Dades Valley day trip
- Sunset from Fint Oasis
Best for
- Film buffs
- Photographers of desert landscapes
- Travellers doing the overland route to Merzouga
- Budget travellers (cheaper than Marrakech)
When to visit
October–April. Summers are brutal (40°C+), winters cold at night but sunny days. Spring gives blooming oases in the Dades and Draa valleys.
Budget
Cheap. Hostel beds €6–12. Grand-taxi to Aït Benhaddou: €3 each way shared. Atlas Studios tour: €8–10. Traditional tanjia (stew) dinner: €5–7. Full day including kasbah visit: €20.
Getting there
4h bus (CTM/Supratours) from Marrakech across the High Atlas — one of Morocco's most scenic rides. Small airport (OZZ) has domestic flights from Casablanca. Shared grand-taxis to Merzouga (8h) or Zagora (3h).
Safety
Very safe — smaller town vibe, almost no hassle. Mountain roads around Ouarzazate can be slow; don't rush drives at night.
Where to stay — neighborhoods
Not all hostels are in the same part of town. Here’s how each area compares.
Ouarzazate centre
Best for: Bus station, hostels, cafés
Small walkable town centre with the Taourirt Kasbah, cheap cafés, and most hostels. Nothing flashy but practical.
Aït Benhaddou village
Best for: UNESCO kasbah sunrise, atmosphere
30 km from Ouarzazate. Sleep in an old kasbah-turned-guesthouse and see the earthen city glow at dawn with zero day-trippers.
Skoura Oasis
Best for: Quiet palm-grove riads, nature stays
40 km east of Ouarzazate. A lush palm oasis with restored-kasbah guesthouses — go here if you want quiet, not city.
Tips from us
- Stay in Aït Benhaddou itself (not Ouarzazate) for sunrise on the kasbah.
- Atlas Studios is more fun than you'd think — ask for the tour in English.
- Combine Ouarzazate with a Dades Valley + Todra Gorge loop if you have 3 days.
- Fint Oasis at sunset is a local secret — hire a taxi for €10 round-trip.
- The road to Merzouga is 8 hours but passes through epic Todra Gorge — worth a stop.