Things to see and do Ouarzazate & Area

Listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1987, the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou is one of the best preserved ksour of the Ounila valley. It has been the subject of numerous restoration works. The ksar, a style of traditional pre-Saharan habitat, is built on the left bank of the valley of Mellah, on a hillside. Its exceptional location has made it the main location for the shooting of films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth or Gladiator. This fortified village with collective dwellings has two main entrances: one on the east and the other on the west. Count on at least two hours of visit to walk the narrow streets and enjoy the site, remember to take a bottle of water with you. Within the ramparts, houses of one or two floors and tighermin of three to four floors. To visit the ksar, you do not necessarily need a guide. On the other hand, do not hesitate to ask for information to the inhabitants of the village, for a few dirhams of course; some of them will show you their houses. Each door, each interior courtyard conceals its architectural treasure, and the terraces on top of the buildings offer superb views of the village and the wadi below. The mosque, made of earth, like the rest of the village, no longer has a minaret because of the rain. The ksar of Aït Ben Haddou is very frequented by tourists, and also by souvenir sellers, that's why it is recommended to go there at off-peak hours (early morning, late evening).

The largest pre-Saharan erg extends 13 km long and 5 km wide, with the highest dune at an altitude of 150 m. Here you can ride a camel or take a sand bath with healing properties. For which diseases? A little bit all of them! Several hostels offer "skiing" on the dunes. Be careful, here there is no lift or snow map, and the successive ascents can be challenging. But the best is the simplest: you can watch the beautiful sunsets or sunrises from the top of the dunes.

A great opportunity to discover the Gnaoua culture. Dar Gnaoua means "the house of the Gnaoua" is a pleasant stop, the ideal place to enjoy a tea. Within the establishment some photos and instruments are displayed, but the interest here is to witness a true demonstration, a dozen Gnaouis welcome you with traditional songs. They will bring you through the history of the Haratins, subsaharan slaves exported to the Maghreb during triangular slavery. A mystical experience not to be missed.

A great classic of any trip to Morocco. The gorges are really superb. They extend from Tinghir to the village of Tamtatouchk, but the most spectacular part is at Tizgui, 14 km from Tinghir. At this place, two gigantic walls of pink granite face each other on nearly 300 m height, leaving just to the wadi Todra to accommodate its bed and tourists a small path to pass. Contrary to appearances, the cars pass. The water is absolutely clear, and you can go up the course of the wadi during beautiful excursions in the High Atlas. Just before and after the entrance to the gorges, a few hotels invite you to linger in the splendor of the site, although the invasion of concrete in this wonder of nature is regrettable. You can climb the wide, steep walls of the gorge, but for safety reasons we recommend that you bring your own equipment.
After the gorges, the tar continues to Tamtatouchk, where inns are beginning to be established, and even to Aït Hani, 52 km from Tinghir. Cars of tourists and nuisances of incessant constructions inside the gorges spoil a little the spectacle... but are the proof of its value! We therefore advise you to visit the gorges in the early morning or late afternoon. A Frenchman, Julio, who runs the guesthouse Secret Garden, organizes climbing trips and rents out equipment in excellent condition. He has created a via ferrata and re-equipped many routes in the area.

It is located behind the mosque and you can walk through its streets and underground, lit by some wells of light.

Many mountain guides at your disposal, for à la carte hikes from day to 15 days. Very few on-site documentation.

It was on his return from Mecca in the 17th century that Mohammed Ibn Nasir founded the Qur'anic school(madrassa) of Tamegroute and its famous library. The latter houses nearly 4,000 works on subjects as varied as Koranic law, astrology, medicine, history, poetry, theology, philosophy and the interpretation of the Koran, as well as Turkish-Arabic dictionaries and collections of Berber poetry written phonetically in Arabic.