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.
Around Ouarzazate the same five routes can be ridden three ways: on a quad, at the wheel of a buggy or on horseback. The destinations stay the same, from the Kingdom of Heaven film set to Fint oasis and Ait Ben Haddou, but the experience changes a great deal. This guide compares the three so you can pick the one that fits your group, your budget and the way you like to travel.
The five routes
Every ride leaves from Ouarzazate with a local guide, and each route grows with the time you have:
- Kingdom of Heaven film set, 1 hour.
- Kasbah Tifoultoute, 2 hours, combined with the cinema studio by quad or buggy.
- Fint oasis, 3 hours.
- Ait Ben Haddou, half day.
- Full day, combining the main sites.
Starting prices side by side
- Film set, 1 hour: horse from 25 USD, quad from 30 USD, buggy from 100 USD.
- Tifoultoute, 2 hours: horse from 50 USD, quad from 55 USD, buggy from 180 USD.
- Fint oasis, 3 hours: horse from 70 USD, quad from 75 USD, buggy from 220 USD.
- Ait Ben Haddou, half day: quad from 85 USD, horse from 90 USD, buggy from 250 USD.
- Full day: horse from 140 USD, quad from 150 USD, buggy from 400 USD.
These are starting prices for each route and duration. The final price is confirmed in writing when our team answers your request.
Choose a quad if
- You want to drive yourself and feel the terrain under the handlebars.
- You want the widest choice of routes at a moderate price.
- You enjoy a little speed on gravel and rocky plateaus, with a guide who sets the pace to match your experience.
The quad is the classic way to discover the area. The quad ride to Fint oasis is a good first choice: three hours, arid plateaus and viewpoints, then the palms and a mint tea stop in the villages.
Choose a buggy if
- You prefer a steering wheel and a seat to handlebars.
- You want a more powerful machine and accept the higher price that comes with it.
- You want adrenaline and sightseeing in the same outing.
Buggies follow the same routes. The buggy tour to Fint crosses rocky ground to the springs and Berber villages of the oasis, and the full day buggy tour includes time for an optional tea break and local lunch.
Choose a horse if
- You want a quieter ride, where you hear the river and village life around you.
- You are looking for the lowest starting prices on most routes.
- You enjoy the rhythm of a long day outdoors, with breaks and tea along the way.
Horses are matched to your experience. The horse ride to Fint follows old paths through palm groves, and the full day horse ride links the film set, Kasbah Tifoultoute and the oasis.
What every ride includes
- A personal guide who rides with you from start to finish.
- A well maintained all terrain quad or buggy, or a well trained horse.
- Safety equipment, including a helmet.
- A pace and route adapted to your experience.
Groups of 1 to 20 riders are welcome. On longer rides such as the full day quad tour, the day begins with a safety briefing before departure.
What each route feels like
Kingdom of Heaven set
Rugged trails, rocky hills and wide open ground lead to the fortress walls. It is the shortest outing and the easiest to fit into a busy day.
Kasbah Tifoultoute
Desert trails toward an old kasbah overlooking the valley, with panoramic views from its walls. By quad or buggy the route adds a cinema studio; on horseback it follows palm groves instead.
Fint oasis
The landscape grows wilder over arid plateaus and rocky hills, then the green valley appears between the mountains, with Berber villages, palm groves and flowing water. Mint tea with locals is part of the stop.
Ait Ben Haddou
The longest single destination: plateaus, dry riverbeds, valleys and remote villages, then free time to walk the alleys of the ksar and climb toward the granary for the view.
Full day
Three sites in one outing, starting with a safety briefing. Plan for a long day outdoors and pack accordingly.
Questions to ask yourself
How much time do you have?
One or two hours fit before or after a visit in town. Fint needs a morning or an afternoon; Ait Ben Haddou and the full day need proper planning. Our guide to how many days to spend in Ouarzazate can help you fit it in.
Who is coming?
When you send your request, tell us the ages and riding or driving experience of everyone, and any health condition or pregnancy. This lets the team confirm which activity suits each person and adapt the pace and route.
When are you travelling?
In summer, early or late slots are more comfortable, and shaded oasis routes suit horses well. In winter, the warm middle of the day is best. See the best time to visit Ouarzazate.
If your group cannot agree
Ask whether part of the group can ride horses while others take quads on the same route; the team will tell you what is possible for your date. Explain what you have in mind when you send a reservation request, and read the packing guide to know what to wear for each.
Places in this guide
Fint Oasis
A date palm oasis 12 km south of Ouarzazate that stays out of sight until the track drops into its valley. Village life, a river and easy walks.
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.
