Things to Do in Ouarzazate, Sorted by the Time You Have
A local planner for Ouarzazate: what fits into two hours, half a day, a full day or an overnight trip, from Taourirt kasbah to the dunes.
Ouarzazate travel guide
Our travel guides answer the questions visitors ask us most: what to do with one or several days, when to come, how to get here and how to choose between a ride, a day trip and a night in the desert. They are written by our team in Ouarzazate and link to the activities and places they mention.
How Many Days in Ouarzazate? Sample Plans for 1 to 5 Days
One night or a full base for exploring the south? Day by day plans for Ouarzazate, from a single day to a stay with a desert night.
Best Time to Visit Ouarzazate: What Each Season Means for Your Trip
Hot days, cold desert nights and a roses festival in May. How each season in Ouarzazate changes rides, valley trips and nights in a camp.
Ouarzazate Film Studios and Movie Locations You Can Visit
Studios you can walk into, a museum of film decors and sets out on the desert tracks: how to visit the places that made Ouarzazate a city of cinema.
Quad, Buggy or Horse in Ouarzazate: How to Choose Your Ride
The same five routes, three very different experiences. Compare quad, buggy and horse rides around Ouarzazate by price, pace and the kind of day you want.
Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga: Choosing Your Dunes from Ouarzazate
Golden dunes by a paved road, or a remote erg at the end of an off road track? How the two big dune seas compare when you leave from Ouarzazate.
Marrakech to Ouarzazate: Road, Bus, Taxi and Flights
About 200 km and the High Atlas between them. Every way to travel from Marrakech to Ouarzazate, with indicative fares, times and the stops worth making.
What to Pack for Ouarzazate, Desert Rides and a Night in Camp
Strong sun by day, cold air after dark and dusty tracks: a practical packing list for rides, day trips and a desert camp, adapted to the season.
Planning around the climate
Ouarzazate stands at 1,119 m and has a dry desert climate. July is the hottest month, at around 38 °C, while January nights can drop to around 3 °C. Rides in the morning or late afternoon are the most comfortable in summer, and warm layers matter for a winter night in the dunes.
Using the guides
Each guide is practical rather than promotional. Where a guide mentions one of our rides or trips, the link takes you to its page with the current starting price and what is included.
Questions and answers
When is it hottest in Ouarzazate?
July is the hottest month, at around 38 °C.
Can it get cold?
Yes. In January temperatures can drop to around 3 °C, and desert nights are cold in winter.
Who writes these guides?
The Ouarzazate Tours team, based in Ouarzazate.