Report on tourist places in Ouarzazate , Morocco
Ouarzazate is a pleasant base of operations for local touring. Most of what you need to see is not in Ouarzazate, but around it. You do not need to enter the centrally located Taourirt Kasbah, as it is empty, crumbling & unimpressive (& will overcharge you). You will get the best impression of it from the street (free). The kasbahs outside the city, such as Ait-Benhaddou, are much better. Spend your time planning day journeys from the city, & you'll see what the city itself has to offer by staying there, eating & passing through.
- Ait Benhaddou of the best preserved Kasbahs & an wonderful day trip from Ouarzazate. It's been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. A beige grand taxi can take you to Ait-Benhaddou, wait for you for a couple of hours (you pay the full amount when you arrive back in Ouarzazate) & drive you back for 200 dirhams. See Ait-Benhaddou for more infos about bus. picturesque place, plenty of movies were shot there (Gladiator), & more recently, hit HBO series "Game of Thrones". ten dirham to visit kasbahs (or use exit). You don't need a guide, but locals will follow you pretending to help & at the finish will ask for money. Be cautious not to get wet from the river when crossing it, since there is been reports of Schistosomiasis contracted from the water. Be prepared to climb stairs! For the best pics, climb the round hill next to the city. Arriving here in the coursework of the sundown call to prayer is magical.
- Walk along the central square behind Muhammad V at night when everyone comes out. Kids play footy on the square, people go eat and socialise, and you'll receive a feel for the community running around.
- Plan an expedition out to M'Hamid. A night in the Sahara is unforgettable & can be the best part of your Moroccan adventure. Ourzazate is the last giant town in the south where this is simple & cheap to do. There's plenty of agencies around that can arrange a trek like this, though this is the more pricey way to do it. A less pricey way, in case you don't mind worrying about a few details, is to rent a automobile, go out there yourself, & negotiate an overnight in the desert with a Merzougan auberge (most of them offer overnights in the desert). Renting a automobile & driving the way is comparatively simple in case you drive a stick. The roads out that way are excellent & straightforward to navigate. The overnight in the Dunes ought to only cost about 300-400Dh. A grand taxi will also take you out that way & back for 150-200Dh. Everything out here is negotiable, so shop around for the best cost. Local agencies also offer journeys to mountain valley of Dades. Be prepared to negotiate hard otherwise they will rip you off!
- CLA Studios. CLA Studios aka Dino de Laurentis Cinecitta Studios, is along the same road as Atlas Studios about a kilometer closer to Marrakech. In case you can go to of the studios, this is the to go to. The Atlas Studios tour is mosly TV movies & The Mummy Returns remake. CLA has the Jerusalem set from "Kingdom of Heaven," & a host of props. 9 euro
- Make a half-day trip to stunning Oasis de Fint. A tiny paradise of vegetation in the midst of the dry hills surrounding Ouazarzate. Cross the river in to Tabount, then take the road direction Agadir. After about1 km there is a signpost, from here it is about 10km by mostly unpaved roads. At the Oasis there is a auberge with restaurant. You can get there by automobile, taxi or rent a bicycle in Tabount.
