Day Tour From Marrakech To Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate is relatively small (~60 000 habitants) and, for Morocco, a quiet town, built mostly along the main street – Avenue Muhammed V. Ouarzazate is situated at an elevation of 1,135 metres. Its name comes from a Berber phrase meaning “without noise” or “without confusion”. In the past, Ouarzazate was a crossroad for African traders seeking to reach northern cities in Morocco and Europe. During the French period, Ouarzazate expanded considerably as a garrison town and administrative centre. It is the largest town in the Moroccan Sahara.

 day trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate & Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou is ideal for those of you who cannot spare more than one day to get a sneak of Morocco Sahara desert. Take this round trip of 400 km across the Atlas mountain range via the Tizin’nTichka pass at an altitude of 2269 meters above sea level. Marvel at the brilliant landscape views dotted with Berber villages.

Visit Ait Benhaddou village (where Star Wars were filmed). UNESCO as one of the world’s cultural treasures has classified the fortified village of Ait Benhaddou. It is studded with crenelated towers and its buildings decorated with geometrical motifs and are considered to be one of the most beautiful villages of this kind in Morocco. A program of restoration work is currently under way to encourage the population of the village, which is at present inhabited by just five families.

From here, continue to Ouarzazate, which marks the beginning of the Sahara desert. Visit Taourirt Kasbah. This former Glaoui residence, situated on the edge of the town, on the road to Morocco Sahara desert, is considered to be one of the most beautiful kasbahs of Morocco. It consists of a maze of luxury apartments, simple clay houses and crenelated towers, which are lavishly decorated with geometric motifs. Part of the fortified village is open to the public.