Ouarzazat

Ever since Lawrence of Arabia was shot there in 1962, Ouarzazate has been a top spot for filming. The vicinity is full of surreal scenery: steeples, Roman temples, Egyptian statues, a Tibetan temple and even the temple of Jerusalem in full-size! Ouarzazate really thumbs its nose at the course of time! Of course the town has its share of luxury hotels, expensive restaurants and shops. The recently restored Kasbah has been used as a movie set many a time. The town has an Artisan Cooperative with some very nice rugs worth seeing. However, shopping in Ouarzazate is pricey and the merchants inflexible. Ouarzazate lies in a valley at the foot of the Atlas Mountains and is popular with tourists on their way to the Sahara Desert. Scenic day trips into the surrounding regions offer a glimpse of time gone by in the ancient ruins of Kasbahs. It's also a good place to stock up on provisions for desert treks.Ouarzazat is a good place to make daytrips from to nearby highlights .