My Real Thoughts on the Marrakech to Ouarzazate Day Trip for 2025

My Real Thoughts on the Marrakech to Ouarzazate Day Trip for 2025

View from Marrakech towards Atlas Mountains

Okay, so you’re thinking about swapping the busy feeling of Marrakech for a day, right? To be honest, I get it. The idea of seeing huge mountains and old forts made of mud is a little appealing. This day-long trip to Ouarzazate is, you know, one of the most common outings you can book from the city. I decided to actually check it out for myself to see what the whole thing is really about, more or less. Honestly, you should know from the get-go that this is a very long day with a lot of time spent in a vehicle. Yet, the things you get to see are almost from a different world compared to the twisting little streets of the Medina. You pretty much exchange the smells of spices and the sound of bartering for wide-open spaces and a kind of quiet that feels incredibly old. So, in some respects, the question isn’t just if the places you visit are worth seeing, but if the time on the road is a fair trade for the sights you get to experience at the end of the day.

The Early Morning Start and the High Atlas Mountains Crossing

The Early Morning Start and the High Atlas Mountains Crossing

Frankly, the day begins before the sun is even up. Your ride often shows up when it’s still dark outside, which is a bit of a shock to the system. You’ll probably be in a small bus or a 4×4, basically with a few other people who are also a little sleepy. The first part of the drive out of Marrakech is, you know, not that exciting. But then, almost without you noticing, the flat ground starts to sort of rise up. This is where things get really interesting, as a matter of fact. You start climbing into the High Atlas Mountains, and you can literally feel the air getting cooler and fresher through the window. The road, which is called the Tizi n’Tichka pass, is just this ribbon of pavement that snakes its way up and up.

You know, your driver will almost certainly make a few stops along the way. First, there’s usually a spot for a quick coffee and to use the restroom, which is pretty needed at that point. After that, the stops are typically for looking at the views. And seriously, the scenery is absolutely wild. One minute you’re looking at green valleys, and the next you’re surrounded by huge rock faces that are all shades of red and brown. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel very, very small. For instance, you will likely see a few little Berber villages, made of the same earth as the mountains, clinging to the sides of hills. Honestly, the drive itself becomes a big part of the show, not just the way you get to the main attractions and stuff. It’s a little slow going because of all the turns, so if you tend to get carsick, you may want to sit near the front.

Stepping into a Movie Set: The Kasbah of Aït Benhaddou

Stepping into a Movie Set: The Kasbah of Aït Benhaddou

Alright, so after what feels like a good while on the road, you finally come around a bend and see it. Aït Benhaddou is just there, rising up from the ground like something out of a storybook. It’s pretty much a whole village made of reddish mud-brick, and it’s arguably one of the most amazing things you’ll see in Morocco. Now, a lot of people call it a Kasbah, but technically it’s a Ksar, which is like a fortified village. Basically, a Kasbah is more of a single large fort where a ruler would live, so that is that. This place has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since the 80s, and honestly, you can see why. It feels incredibly ancient, yet it also feels kind of familiar.

That familiar feeling, by the way, is because you’ve almost certainly seen it before. Aït Benhaddou has been the background for a huge number of movies and TV shows. Think Gladiator, think Game of Thrones… the list just goes on and on. As you walk across the little bridge over the mostly dry riverbed, you’re literally stepping onto a film set. You have to sort of clamber your way up through these twisting, narrow lanes. Some of the old houses are open, and you can peek inside to see how people used to live, which is really interesting. The whole climb to the very top is a bit of work, especially if it’s hot, but the view from the old granary at the summit is just amazing. You get this 360-degree look at the whole area, with the desert stretching out in one direction and the mountains you just crossed in the other. It’s a very picture-perfect moment, to be honest.

Ouarzazate: Morocco’s ‘Hollywood’ and Taourirt Kasbah

Ouarzazate: Morocco's 'Hollywood' and Taourirt Kasbah

So, after you’ve spent some time exploring Aït Benhaddou, the next stop is usually Ouarzazate itself. It’s about a 30-minute drive away, and the town has this nickname, the ‘Hollywood of Africa’, which is a little grand. You’ll drive past a couple of big film studios, like Atlas Film Studios, and your guide will probably point them out. Sometimes the tour includes a quick stop at one, but often you just see them from the outside, which is just a little underwhelming if you’re a big movie fan. To be honest, the town of Ouarzazate feels a lot more modern and spread out than you might think. It’s more of a functional, administrative place in some respects.

The real point of interest here, in my opinion, is another old fort called the Taourirt Kasbah. Unlike Aït Benhaddou, which is a whole village, this one is pretty much a single, huge, and very complex building. It was actually the home of the Glaoui family, who were once very powerful rulers in this whole part of Morocco. You can pay a small fee to go inside and wander around, and it’s kind of like a maze in there. You’ll find yourself in empty courtyards, up and down steep staircases, and in rooms with painted ceilings and decorated windows. It’s a bit more contained than Aït Benhaddou, but it gives you a different feeling, you know? It shows you the kind of wealth and power that used to control the old caravan routes that passed through this area. It feels less like a village and more like someone’s actual, giant, fortified home, which is a neat contrast, anyway.

Lunch, Local Life, and the Long Road Home

Traditional Moroccan tagine for lunch

Now, by this point in the day, you’re almost certainly getting pretty hungry. The lunch spot is usually some place in or near Ouarzazate that is set up for tour groups. Honestly, you should not expect some small, hidden local gem. These places are pretty much designed to serve a lot of people quickly and efficiently. The menu is often a set deal, and you’ll most likely be having a classic Moroccan tagine, either with chicken and lemon or maybe a beef and prune version. It’s usually fairly tasty and does the job, you know? It’s a chance to just sit down, rest your feet, and chat with the other people from your group about what you’ve seen so far and stuff.

Then comes the long drive back to Marrakech, which is, at the end of the day, the same way you came. This part of the day has a very different mood, however. In the morning, everyone is full of energy and looking forward to what’s ahead. On the way back, things are a lot quieter, more or less. People are often a little tired, looking at their pictures, or maybe just staring out the window as the afternoon light makes the mountains look completely different. You see the colors soften as the sun gets lower. It’s a good time to sort of process everything you’ve just seen. Arriving back in Marrakech, usually in the early evening, feels a little strange. The noise and energy of the city hit you all at once after a day of quiet and wide-open spaces, and you are pretty much reminded of just how different these two parts of Morocco really are.

Is This Day Trip Right for You? A Few Honest Thoughts.

Is This Day Trip Right for You? A Few Honest Thoughts.

Okay, so let’s get real about whether you should actually do this trip. If you absolutely love history and seeing dramatic landscapes, then yes, this trip is almost definitely for you. People who love photography will also have a field day, I mean, the photo opportunities are just endless. It’s also a really good option if you’re in Marrakech for a little while and want to see that there’s more to Morocco than just the city itself. It provides a kind of context for everything, you know? You get to see the mountains that are always on the horizon and the kind of places where people have lived for hundreds of years. So, in that case, it’s very much worth your time.

On the other hand, if you get bored easily on long drives, this might be a little tough for you. We’re talking about maybe eight to nine hours of driving in total, so that is a big chunk of your day. It’s also probably not the best choice for families with really young kids who might get a bit antsy. If you decide to go, you should definitely wear comfortable shoes because there is quite a bit of walking and a little bit of climbing, especially at Aït Benhaddou. Also, it’s a good idea to bring some water, a hat, and sunglasses, as it can get very sunny and hot, even if it’s cool in the mountains. A little cash is also handy for drinks, tips, or maybe buying a little souvenir from one of the vendors. At the end of the day, it’s a huge commitment of time, but what you see is truly unique and something you’ll probably remember for a very long time.

“I found the day to be very long, yet the sight of Aït Benhaddou rising against the sky was something I will not forget. It felt like stepping back in time. You just have to be ready for the amount of time you will spend on the bus, honestly.” – A fellow traveler’s opinion.

Key Takeaways for Your Trip:

  • Frankly, be ready for a very early start and a late return to Marrakech; it’s a full 12-hour day, more or less.
  • The drive through the Tizi n’Tichka pass in the High Atlas Mountains is almost as impressive as the destinations themselves.
  • Aït Benhaddou is an amazing fortified village, you know, and you should definitely make the effort to climb to the top for the views.
  • Ouarzazate gives you a peek into Morocco’s film industry and the history of powerful kasbahs like Taourirt.
  • Honestly, this trip is best for people who enjoy landscapes and history and don’t mind spending a significant amount of time traveling in a vehicle.

Read our full review: Day Trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate Full Review and Details

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Check Tour Options)