Why it is called the hidden oasis
In Tamazight, fint means hidden, and the name is accurate. For most of the drive you cross a bare stony plateau with nothing green in sight, because the oasis lies below the horizon. Around kilometre 10 the track starts to zigzag downward and the palm valley suddenly appears between the hills.
A morning in the village
Fint is a lived-in oasis. Early in the day children walk to the primary school, women bake bread in outdoor ovens or wash clothes in the river, men work the gardens and some ride motorbikes into Ouarzazate. Respect people’s privacy and ask before taking portraits.
It is an easy place to slow down: lunch in a small guest house, a picnic in the shade of the palms, or a few hours walking along the water.
Things to do in Fint
Most visitors come for a day. Staying overnight is rewarding if you enjoy quiet evenings and early walks.
- Wander through the palm grove and its irrigated gardens.
- Hike from the lower river up to the upper end of the valley.
- Spend a night with a local family to see village life up close, often cheaper than a hotel.
How to get to Fint from Ouarzazate
The oasis is only 12 km south of Ouarzazate, but the last part is an unpaved rocky track, so plan on about 45 minutes. A small car can manage if driven slowly and carefully; a four wheel drive is more comfortable. Grand taxis leave from near the bus station and Place Al Mouahidine, and the driver usually waits while you visit. Track conditions and fares change, so ask locally first.
On the way back, turn left at the main road to reach the Kasbah of Tifoultoute, more than 300 years old, whose roof looks over the Ouarzazate river, the town and the Atlas. The film studios are close by too; some scenes of The Way Back were shot at Atlas Studios on the set built for Kundun.
Riding to Fint with Ouarzazate Tours
The track to Fint is a classic off road route. We run three hour quad, buggy and horse rides to the oasis across the plateau and along the Ouarzazate river, with tea in the village, and the full day quad, buggy and horse tours include Fint as well.
In 2018 snow fell on Ouarzazate, a rare event, and covered the palms of Fint. The snow photographs in our gallery were taken by Abdellah Azizi.
Questions and answers
How far is Fint oasis from Ouarzazate?
12 km to the south, but the rocky track means the drive takes about 45 minutes.
Can I drive to Fint in a normal car?
A small car can reach it if driven slowly and carefully. A four wheel drive is recommended. Grand taxis also make the trip from near the bus station and Place Al Mouahidine.
Which Ouarzazate Tours trips go to Fint?
The three hour quad, buggy and horse rides to Fint, and the full day quad, buggy and horse tours.
More places nearby
All destinations
Ait Ben Haddou
A fortified village of packed earth from the seventeenth century, on the old caravan road and on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987. Thirty kilometres from Ouarzazate.
Telouet Kasbah
A weathered earthen palace from 1860 in the High Atlas, home of the Glaoui family, with painted cedar ceilings and Andalusian style rooms behind its crumbling walls.
Taourirt Kasbah
The kasbah at the heart of Ouarzazate, a former Glaoui residence on Boulevard Mohamed V with Amazigh patterns outside and carved cedar, painted walls and zellige inside.