5 Best Tours in Ouarzazate: Oases + Kasbahs + Desert Gorges
Looking for the best tours in Ouarzazate? Explore this curated collection of excursions, hikes and mountain biking adventures.
If you travel east from Marrakech through the Atlas Mountains, up and over the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, you eventually arrive in the desert city of Ouarzazate. For many people, it’s simply a destination they drive through en route to the Sahara.
I love descending into Ouarzazate and seeing the incredible desert scenery that stretches towards the horizon. Centuries-old kasbahs dot the surrounding landscape while clusters of earthen homes called ksour sprout from the sands.
Located in the Souss-Massa-Drâa region of Morocco, Ouarzazate provides the perfect backdrop for exploring the untamed beauty that lies beyond Marrakech.
In this article, discover 5 of the best tours in Ouarzazate, including half-day, full-day and multi-day trips. During these highly-rated experiences, you can hike through cinematic oases, ride camels across desert dunes and take a step back in time at ancient kasbahs.
For more information about visiting Ouarzazate, check out my Essential Travel Guide to Ouarzazate. You’ll find my top Ouarzazate hotel recommendations here.
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Private excursion to Dades Gorge, Valley of Roses and Skoura
Best tour to Dades Gorge from Ouarzazate
The Route of 1000 Kasbahs offers an unforgettable adventure. It takes in majestic fortresses and captivating desert landscapes seemingly lost in time.
Winding through palm groves overflowing with dates, the road takes in flower-filled valleys and monumental canyons carved over millennia. Ancient kasbahs emerge at every turn and the vistas are guaranteed to take your breath away.
This guided tour from Ouarzazate takes in a section of the Route of 1000 Kasbahs, including Dades Gorge, the Valley of the Roses and the oasis town of Skoura.
In air-conditioned comfort, you’ll stop at highlights like the Mansour El Eddahbi dam, completed in 1971 to help green the desert through irrigation. You’ll also visit the mud-brick Kasbah Amridil, still inhabited by the Naciri family.
I still remember the first time I travelled through this part of Morocco and just how jaw-dropping the scenery was.
A section of the Route of 1000 Kasbahs can be visited on a day trip from Marrakech. But starting and ending in Ouarzazate means you’ll spend less time in a vehicle and more time revelling in the area’s immense beauty.
“Beautiful kasbahs along the road towards the breathtaking Gorges Dades. Bachir, our guide, was highly knowledgeable and made the trip into a superb experience. Highly recommended.” (read more reviews here)
Fint Oasis private day hike
Best oasis tour from Ouarzazate
Just 12 kilometres outside the city of Ouarzazate is the Fint Oasis. For me, it packs immense natural beauty into its palm-dotted landscape. It comprises four tiny villages clustered with earthen buildings that blend seamlessly into the terrain.
Life moves slowly here and visiting on a guided tour from Ouarzazate is a fantastic way to experience it! Locals live in harmony with nature, just as their ancestors have done for centuries.
Meandering dirt paths wind through groves of date palms. They form a leafy green canopy that creates an ideal microclimate where plants and wildlife thrive.
Keep your eyes peeled for tiny desert finches and lizards scurrying underfoot. In short, the Fint Oasis is a wonderful place to take things slow and really soak up everything around you.
The focal point of Fint is the life-giving wadi that flows through the mountains, bringing water and fertility. Hiking along its banks with the help of a local guide not only rewards you with incredible views but also insights into the local Amazigh culture.
Despite the heat, there are plenty of shady rest spots to enjoy a picnic or a steaming cup of mint tea brewed the traditional way.
“A wonderful family day in the heart of the oasis! A great guide, attentive, with a very good knowledge of the fauna and flora. Very beautiful discoveries and great landscapes!” (read more reviews here)
Excursion to the Draa Valley, Zagora and Tinfou Dunes
Best Draa Valley tour from Ouarzazate
A rugged highway leads southeast from Ouarzazate into the breathtaking Draa Valley. It has formed over millennia by a river flowing from the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas Mountains.
This narrow ribbon of water has carved out a dramatic landscape of canyons and jagged rock formations, which give way to palm groves, oases and villages.
Led by multilingual guides, this full-day excursion into the Draa Valley promises to be an unforgettable experience. Most importantly, it can be tailored to your personal interests.
Visit the oasis town of Agdz and Tinfou’s expansive dunes before saddling up for an hour-long camel ride through the rippling sands.
After a poolside lunch in Zagora, take a leisurely stroll through a date palm grove. Then, begin the return journey north through the Draa Valley.
This highly-rated tour from Ouarzazate is all about getting off the beaten tourist track and exploring a part of Morocco where few other tourists venture.
“It’s a must-do for anyone seeking a magical adventure in Morocco.” (read more reviews here)
Half-day mountain biking tour of Skoura
Best biking tour from Ouarzazate
As the morning sun peeks over the horizon, set off on a mountain biking adventure into the Palmeraie de Skoura. For centuries, this fertile palm grove acted as a crucial intersection of trade routes linking the Sahara Desert with the imperial cities of the north.
Caravans laden with gold, salt and prized ostrich feathers would arrive in Skoura after weeks of arduous travel. It’s here that the cameleers would stop to rest and refuel.
This active guided tour from Ouarzazate will see you pedalling along winding dirt trails, breathing in the earthy scent of palm trees and desert plants. Cycle past local farmers busy at work and sip on sweet mint tea during a rest stop beside a burbling stream.
Throughout the adventure, your guide will share fascinating details about the local culture and the desert ecosystem that allows the oasis to thrive. There is also the opportunity to visit the workshop of a local ceramicist to see Moroccan pottery being made firsthand.
I absolutely love Skoura! And honestly, I think a leisurely bike ride is the perfect way to explore its oasis and rural life. If you want to stay overnight, there are also some amazing kasbah hotels in Skoura that offer incredible hospitality.
“This was a fantastic time! We learned so much about Skoura, the fascinating mixture of new and old lifestyles...and had great conversation over tea after the bike ride.” (read more reviews here)
Marrakech to Merzouga Sahara Desert Adventure
Best multi-day desert tour from Ouarzazate
While this three-day tour doesn’t start or end in Ouarzazate, it does pass through the desert city en route from Marrakech to Merzouga. It comes with more than 8,000 glowing reviews on Viator, with 99% of travellers recommending the experience.
The journey begins with a drive through the Atlas Mountains, stopping to take in the spectacular views from the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. Continuing on, you’ll have time to explore Ouarzazate and visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ksar of Ait Benhaddou.
The first day ends in the Valley of Roses – one of Morocco’s most enchanting destinations.
Begin the following day with an excursion through the dramatic Todra Gorge before visiting the Amazigh villages of Tinejdad and the “Capital of Fossils”, Erfoud. In the late afternoon, you’ll arrive in Merzouga, a gateway to the Moroccan Sahara.
Embark on a camel ride to a traditional Amazigh encampment for a night under the stars. Trust me, this is a truly unforgettable North African experience!
After waking to watch the sunrise over the Sahara (and maybe test your skills at sandboarding), it’s time to slowly make your way back to Marrakech.
The last day of this Moroccan desert tour include a stop in Kalaat M’Gouna before passing once again through Ouarzazate and the Atlas Mountains.
If you don’t want to return to Marrakech, it’s possible to stop in Ouarzazate to spend a couple of days exploring the area. You’ll find my top Ouarzazate hotel recommendations here.
“Incredible adventure. You will see so much of the country, outside of the cities. Very well organized and super friendly and hospitable hosts and guides.” (read more reviews here)
Tips for finding the best Ouarzazate tours
Finding the best tours in Ouarzazate requires careful consideration to ensure an enriching and memorable experience. If you’re short on travel planning time, it’s easy to just book the first tour that piques your interest, without doing adequate research.
Begin by finding reputable tour operators, prioritising those with strong positive reviews on platforms like Viator and GetYourGuide. Check to see what other travellers have said about their experience with the guides and the service offered.
Next, make sure the tour aligns with your interests and the destinations you want to visit, whether that’s Ait Benhaddou, the Atlas Film Studios or the gorges of Dades and Todra. If you want to venture as far as the Sahara, remember that you’ll need more than one day to do it justice!
Before booking, always clarify what’s included, such as transportation, meals, guide fees and entrance tickets. This will ensure you aren’t lumped with any unexpected costs on the day of the tour.
Also, consider the group size, as smaller groups usually offer a more personalised and immersive experience. If you want a completely private tour, focus your search on the best Ouarzazate tours that can be customised for you and your family/friends.
Finally, prioritise Ouarzazate tours led by knowledgeable, local guides who can provide authentic insights into the region’s history and culture. This will significantly enhance your overall understanding and enjoyment throughout the day.
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About Me
I’m Malika, a global traveller who first visited Morocco in 2014 before marrying a local and settling down in a little village on the Atlantic coast. Over the years, I’ve developed an intense love for Morocco, its incredible landscapes, storied cities and the exceptionally generous hospitality of its people.
Malika in Morocco is a place to share my years of experience exploring the country, from north to south and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Sahara Desert. As a resource for travellers visiting Morocco, I want to encourage others to experience this captivating destination the way they desire, whether that’s independently or under the expert guidance of local tour operators.
I believe strongly in supporting responsible and sustainable tourism initiatives while inspiring travel experiences that are life-impacting and mutually beneficial for both travellers and locals.
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