Ouarzazate Road Trip: A 7-Step Journey You’ll Fall in Love With
- Apr 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 3
Welcome to Ouarzazate and the Southern Oases!
Ouarzazate opens the door to a striking mineral world of arid plateaus, hidden valleys, and desert winds once crossed by nomadic tribes. Yet along the Drâa, Dadès, and Ziz rivers, life thrives again, orchards, farmland, and palm groves create a lush ribbon shaped by centuries-old water management.
Further south, the Drâa Valley unfolds through a chain of villages and ksour, from Agdz to M’Hamid via Zagora, the last stop before the vast expanse of the Sahara.
Ouarzazate
Gateway to the Desert
Located at the crossroads of the Drâa and Dadès valleys, Ouarzazate is one of the main gateways to the desert. Easy to explore in a day, the city blends ksar-inspired architecture, Berber heritage, and iconic landmarks such as the Taourirt Kasbah, its old town, and famous film studios.
Once a military garrison, Ouarzazate now thrives on tourism and the film industry, having hosted major international productions for decades : from Gladiator to Prince of Persia, as well as Asterix & Obelix and Alexander.
Good to know
Despite its elevation (1,160 m / 3,800 ft), summers here can be extremely hot ... and that’s no movie !
What to See and Do in Ouarzazate?
TAOURIRT KASBAH & KSAR
CINEMA MUSEUM & ATLAS CORPORATION STUDIO
KSAR AÏT BENHADDOU
Skoura
And the Beginning of the Dadès Valley
Skoura, the first stop between Ouarzazate and the Tafilalet region, opens up the Dadès Valley. Its 140,000 palm trees stretch over 50 km², forming one of Morocco’s largest palm groves, dotted with douars, picturesque kasbahs, and rammed-earth buildings, some remarkable for their architecture. Among its treasures are salt caves, pottery workshops, and traditional villages. The palm grove can be explored from several access points around Skoura, but its vast size can make it tricky to know where to start.
HOW TO GET THERE?
To explore Skoura, it’s recommended to have your own car or join a tour, like those offered by Allmoov, to go straight to the most interesting spots.
What to See and Do in Skoura?
PALM GROVE
ARTISANS OF OULED AÀRBIYA
OASIS & GORGES OF SIDI-FLAH
El-Kelaa Des M'Gouna
Starting Point for Iconic Sites
Located at the junction of the M'Goun and Dadès valleys, El Kelaa des M'Gouna mainly serves as a supply stop and the gateway to the famous Roses Valley, Morocco’s main rose-producing region. It’s also the access point to the M'Goun Gorges and, for the more adventurous, the ascent to the 4,071-meter peak.
What to see and do ?
VALLÉE DES ROSES
M'GOUN & GORGES
AMESKUR WATERFALL
Valley & Gorges du Dadès
A Must-See in Southern Morocco
The Dadès Gorges Valley is one of the most spectacular in southern Morocco. Over approximately 70 km, the paved road runs alongside the Dadès River, passing through stunning landscapes where rammed-earth buildings blend seamlessly with the surrounding rocks. It first winds along the middle valley, with its ksour and small orchards, before diving into the gorges themselves, finally opening onto the limestone plateaus of the Central High Atlas. At sunset, the route becomes truly magical.
Caution: after rain, the river can quickly become dangerous in its narrowest sections.
The Dadès Gorges also make an excellent starting point for hiking or e-bike adventures. A fit walker can reach the Roses Valley from the gorges in 3 to 4 hours.
Todgha Gorges
Narrower, More Dramatic
Carved into the thick limestone of the High Atlas, the Todgha Gorges are narrower than the Dadès and particularly impressive. Their cliffs rise up to 200 meters and stretch for several kilometers before gradually opening into a valley.
According to an old legend… a thirsty man struck a rock to bring forth a spring, and on the second strike, fish supposedly emerged.
Merzouga & Erg Chebbi Dunes
The Sahara dunes
The Merzouga region includes two small villages, Merzouga and Hassi Labied, both situated at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes. The scattered homes and accommodations offer peace and tranquility, allowing direct access to the desert.
Erg Chebbi, with its impressive dunes that change color with the light, is a true miniature Sahara and a postcard-perfect landscape, where everyone can experience the desert—whether as photographers or adventure enthusiasts inspired by the Dakar spirit.
Drâa Valley
Ouarzazate South
The paved road continues down to M’Hamid, the last stop before the “great” desert. Between Agdz and Zagora, it runs alongside the famous Drâa palm grove—a Moroccan jewel with 1.5 million date palms, one of the largest in the world. The route unfolds as an almost continuous chain of rammed-earth villages, dotted with watchtowers, remnants of a time when monitoring the crops was vital. The scenery is breathtaking, offering countless opportunities for photography or to discover local products, such as dates in October.
For those seeking more…This stretch forms the heart of Allmoov’s 4x4 tours, allowing full immersion into the dunes and vast desert expanses under the expert guidance of local guides.
Discover all theses steps in our tour packages
Plan Your Ouarzazate Tour with Us
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