Ouarzazate & the Southern Desert Holidays

Four to five hours south-east of Marrakech by road, the town of Ouarzazate is known as the gateway to the south of the country. The scenery around Ouarzazate and the Great Moroccan South is filled with valleys and gorges, with the Draa Valley extending southwards and providing plenty of greenery. Think date palm oases that line the road to Zagora and beyond, where the Sahara begins, and the roads and towns run out. Red brick ksars are draped in sunlight, surrounded by arid mountains and rolling dunes, ready for you to head out to explore on foot or by 4x4. Film buffs can indulge in a few guilty pleasures between the camel treks and Bedouin cultural experiences as Ouarzazate is also home to the Atlas Film Studios, where a host of A-list movies have been made, from Lawrence of Arabia to Gladiator. The region's dramatic scenery and traditional Kasbah buildings do indeed lend themselves wonderfully well to film sets, as anyone who plans an Ouarzazate and the Southern Desert holiday will appreciate. Read more