The tiny Moroccan town of Ouarzazate is a caramel-colored oasis set against a clear blue African sky. Be inspired by Ait Benhaddou, a beautifully preserved Kasbah that's a UNESCO World Heritage site, or walk in the starry path of celebrities by taking a tour of one of Ouarzazate's two movie studios.
Vacation Overview
Exotic and fascinating, the Kingdom of Morocco is rich in history and culture, offering travelers intriguing historical sites, authentic cuisine, and changing scenery that is perfect for travelers wanting to explore and learn about a new destination. In Marrakesh, step back in time as you wander through the Jemaa-el-Fna, a square and exotic bizarre offering some of the greatest open-air entertainment. Listen to the storytellers—an integral part of the culture—and browse for handicrafts. It’s not hard to imagine what it was like in the past, a time when caravans loaded their camels with food and goods to sell at the markets.
In Fez, take an optional tour to see the ancient medina. Founded in the 9th century, it is one of the largest medieval cities in the world and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through its souks (markets) and alleys, which are virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages. Taste authentic Moroccan cuisine and take in the sites and sounds of this fascinating city.
On this tour you’ll also visit Casablanca, Meknes, Ouarzazate, Ifrane, Erfoud, and Rabat, Morocco’s vibrant capital. Admire changing scenery as the Middle Atlas mountain range transforms to desert as you approach the Erfoud oasis. This affordable vacation to Morocco is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Always feeling free to write about travel ideas, I now come up with a nice new hotel in Ouarzazate, 200km south of Marrakech in Morocco. This new hotel is called Riad Dar Rita and is a 7 room private guest house – bed & breakfast style located in the old district of Tassoumaat, on the entrance of the city of Ouarzazate.
This Ouarzazate hotel now holds the 1st position in Trip Advisor (please check out the Trip Advisor page here: Hotel Ouarzazate). This position is not surprising taking in consideration the extreme care and total professional service of the manager Mrs. Rita. This guest house in Ouarzazate fully opened back in February 2011 and is now working and offering comfort and exceptional accommodation.
Ouarzazate Morocco
Dar Rita Ouarzazate
- Address: Rue de la Mosquée 39
- Tassoumaât district, city of Ouarzazate, Morocco
- Phone: +212.654.164.726
- Email: darritamaroc@gmail.com
- Web: Ouarzazate Hotel
More tips about Morocco: If you’re looking for more riads in Morocco try the website 31best (Guest House Marrakech), or directly visit the website of Riad Paula located in the old Medina of Marrakech (Riad Marrakech). Enjoy your vacations in Morocco.
Get in
Buses from:
Inezgane (close to Agadir ) twice a day 80 MAD (prices are negotiable, can be reduced till 50 MAD)
Marrakesh- C.T.M Bus 70 MAD (twice a day, morning, evening), grand taxi 100 per person
Regional bus is cheaper, but not as nice, and runs more often. Two bus stations.
often two flights a day during the week from Casablanca. Note that as with the rest of the town, the airport shuts down in the middle of the day for siesta (at least during the summer), so make sure you have cash with you when you arrive, or you may find yourself stranded at the airport!
Get around
The area around Mohammad V is very walk able. The C.T.M station is there as well. Petits taxis for within the city (no more than 10Dh from the airport to the hotel), grands taxis for between cities (no more than 300Dh to Ait Benhaddou and back...though you can probably get it lower), including to Ait Benhaddou and surrounding Kasbahs.
Don't be surprised if during a local taxi ride the driver requests you to "transfer taxis" or has "a friend to pick up on the way." When this happens, a friendly English (or other language) speaking person will start pitching you outings, most of them to Erg Chebbi near Merzouga or Zagora. If you are not interested, just politely tell them so, but if you are, you can negotiate a reasonable price with them.
Ouarzazate is very safe, but don't wander into weird corners at night. Crime throughout the Moroccan south is minimal, but its best not to take (too many) chances.
Do
Visit Ait Benhaddou - one of the best preserved Kasbahs . Taxi can take you there for 300 MAD (probably possible to haggle cheaper price), driver will wait couple of hours. Very picturesque place, lots of movies were shot there (Gladiator). 10 dirham to visit kasbahs. You don't need a guide, but locals will follow you pretending to help and at the end will ask for money. Careful not to get too wet from the river when crossing it, since there's been reports of Schistosomiasis contracted from the water.
Walk along the central square behind Muhammad V at night when everyone comes out. The kids go out to play football on the square, people go eat and socialize, and you'll get a feel for the community just walking around.
Plan an expedition out to Merzouga, M'Hamid and the Dunes of Erg Chebbi. A night in the Sahara is unforgettable and can be the best part of your Moroccan adventure. Ourzazate is the last big town in the south where this is easy and cheap to do. There are lots of agencies around that can arrange a trek like this, though this is the more expensive way to do it. A cheaper way, if you don't mind worrying about a few details, is to rent a car, go out there yourself, and negotiate an overnight in the desert with a Merzougan auberge (most of them offer overnights in the dessert). Renting a car and driving the way is relatively easy if you drive a stick. The roads out that way are very good and easy to navigate. The overnight in the Dunes should only cost about 400-500Dh. A grand taxi will also take you out that way and back for 1500-2000Dh. Everything out here is negotiable, so shop around for the best price.
Buy
Whatever you buy, it is likely you can't find it cheaper in Marrakech orFes. Realize everything is negotiable!
Eat
Plenty of cheap restaurants along Mohammad V. Normal price for tagine should be about 30Dh.
Drink
Bottled water is cheap (10Dh) and widely available.
Sleep
Plenty of hotels of all ranges around town. Ask a cabby to bring you to one, but realize he'll pocket commission for bringing you there.
La Gazella- clean, cheap hotel (156Dhm double room with hot shower), safe parking in the courtyard, ATM just next door, bakery across the road.
Hotel Saghro A bit out of town across the river (you'll need a grand taxi to get there), but the rooms are nice and there's a restaurant on site. They even have a pool.
Nearby
Dar Ahlam is a spectacular 10-room hotel in Skoura, about 40 km from Ouarzazate. It is expensive, but distinctive in every element: architecture, style, service, and food. Possibly the best hotel in Morocco. Ask to stay in one of the villas.
I Roccha (Irocha), Tiseldey/Tisselday. Extremely friendly hosts and international mix of travellers. Quiet and relaxing place overseeing a valley in a small village of Tisselday. For New Year holidays, normally confirms booking only for those who visited previously (and hosts liked them).
Ouarzazate is a city on the Saharan side of the Atlas Mountains. It is also known as "Quallywood". The city, its studios, film museum, and landscape are the reasons why such movies as "Babel", "Gladiator", "Kundun", "Lawrence of Arabia". and other desert-themed movies are made here.
The person who sold me the tour assured me the van would be air-conditioned and the driver would speak English. It van was air-conditioned. It just didn't work. As for the driver he was good and safe, his English consisted of "Huh?".
The trip in a rented van takes four hours one way over the Atlas Mountains with hundreds of switchbacks, missing guard rail sections, trucks, and large tour buses. Of the starting eight people, one couple got out early to catch a bus back to Marrakesh after the woman vomited at the side of the road for twenty minutes, another young man passenger simply vomited in the van and continued.
Mary took and passed out to others her Peace Corps motion sickness pills. Other than bruises on my thigh and her gasps, the trip went well.
