Planning a trip to Ouarzazate
Getting There
Ouarzazate is one of the major transport hubs of central Morocco and is well connected to the rest of the country by air or land. Most travelers arrive as part of an organized tour or on a self-drive holiday. Those traveling by public transport can easily reach the city by bus or grand taxi from the major cities of Agadir, Casablanca, and Marrakech, as well as the closer regional centers of Tinihir (from Er Rachidia or Erfoud) and Taroudannt.
By Plane -- Ouarzazate's small Taourirt Airport (tel. 0524/882383) is only 2km (1 1/4 miles) northeast of the town. Inside the arrivals/departure building is a Banque Populaire bureau de change, but it operates with very sporadic hours and isn't to be counted upon. There is also a small cafe and souvenir shop. There is no bus service from the airport, but petits taxis are always around to meet incoming flights and will charge around 30dh to take you to your hotel or into town. They will only accept dirham, but will stop at a bank in town or you can usually exchange money at your hotel. Most hotels will organize an airport pickup if you arrange this with them before your arrival. Remember that petits taxis are only authorized to travel within the town's environs, so if you intend to move on without staying in Ouarzazate, they can only take you as far as the bus or grand taxi station.
By Bus -- Ouarzazate is well served by the country's bus network, and buses arrive at least once a day from Agadir (8 hr.; 120dh-140dh), Casablanca (9 hr.; 170dh-190dh), Erfoud (7 hr.; 110dh), Er Rachidia (6 hr.; 85dh), Marrakech (5 hr.; 80dh-95dh), Fes (14 hr.; 200dh-260dh), M'hamid (7 1/2 hr.; 70dh), Rabat (14 hr.; 165dh), Taroudannt (5 hr.; 80dh-100dh), Tinerhir (5 1/2 hr.; 70dh), and Zagora (4 1/2 hr.; 55dh). CTM (tel. 0524/882427 or 0522/541010 central reservations; www.ctm.ma) buses operate from its own station in the center of town on avenue Mohammed V.
All other bus companies operate from Mahta gare routière, 2km (1 1/4 miles) northwest of town off the N9 road to Marrakech, from where it's an easy (though often hot) 20-minute walk into the town center, or you can catch a petit taxi for around 15dh.
By Grand Taxi -- Grands taxis for Marrakech (4 hr.; 100dh) and Zagora (3 hr.; 70dh) operate from the gare routière, while those heading for Zagora depart from both the gare routière and the satellite suburb of Tabounte, across the river and south of the city center.
By Car -- Ouarzazate is fairly easy to navigate thanks to the one main road, avenue Mohammed V, which runs the length of the town coming from either Marrakech or Tinerhir and from which the majority of hotels and restaurants can be accessed. About halfway along avenue Mohammed V, opposite the post office, is the well-signposted turnoff south to Zagora and the Dra Valley.
Visitor Information
The Delegation du Tourisme, at the turnoff to Zagora on avenue Mohammed V (tel. 0524/882485; fax 0524/885290), is open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, but doesn't offer much more than a list of the hotels and restaurants in Ouarzazate.
Ouarzazate is a relatively small city, and its center is very easy to navigate. Some travelers don't even venture out of their hotel while in Ouarzazate, but if you do, most services and sights are along avenue Mohammed V, the main road running west-east from Marrakech to Tinerhir, and the small rue du Marché running parallel 1 block north. Petits taxis operate within the city and can be useful if you are wishing to travel during the heat of the day between the Taourirt Kasbah and your hotel.
Fast Facts
Banks & Currency Exchange There is a string of banks along avenue Mohammed V with ATMs and bureaux de change (though they rarely exchange traveler's checks) open Monday to Friday 8:15am to 3:45pm. The Banque Populaire branch between the police station and the post office (tel. 0524/868573) has a separate bureau de change open Monday to Thursday 8am to noon and 2 to 6pm, Friday 8am to noon and 3 to 7pm, and Saturdays and public holidays 9am to noon and 3 to 6pm.
Car Rentals There are quite a few car-rental firms based in Ouarzazate. The local companies can often have the best deals, but make sure they offer a 24-hour assistance service and that your car is equipped with a good spare tire and the tools with which to change it. Also, be sure to read the fine print with regard to driving off the tarred road. If you want to drop the car off in Marrakech or elsewhere, you may have to shop around.
Most companies are found on avenue Mohammed V or coming off its west end at place du 3 Mars. Avis is just east of place du 3 Mars on avenue Mohammed V (tel. 0524/888000 or 0661/491459); Budget is at 28 av. Mohammed V (tel. 0524/884202); Europcar (tel. 0524/882035) and National/Alamo (tel. 0524/885244 or 0666/782786) are both at place du 3 Mars; and Hertz (tel. 0524/882084) is at 33 av. Mohammed V.
Newloc Cars & 4X4 Rental, 30 rue du Marché (at the western end of the pedestrian-only section; tel. 0524/887853 or 0662/836864; kabbajnfl@hotmail.com); Galaxy Car, 8 av. Moulay Rachid (opposite Obelix restaurant; tel. 0524/885598 or 0667/595854); and Desert Evasion, 2 av. Mohammed V (tel. 0524/888682 or 0661/243106), are very reputable local firms with both sedans and 4X4s. Plan on paying up to 450dh per day for a small, four-door sedan, less for rentals of 7 days or longer. Some companies offer 4WDs for around 1,350dh to 1,500dh per day, and about an extra 400dh per day for a driver/guide.
Doctors Dr. Kabir Lahcen is located in the Clinique Chifa, avenue Moulay Rachid (tel. 0524/883588), above Pharmacie Chifa.
Drugstores Pharmacies are dotted throughout the city center and open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 12:30pm, 2:30 to 7:30pm, and 8 to 10:30pm, and Saturday 8:30am to 12:30pm. Pharmacie Centrale is located at 31 av. Mohammed V (next to Hertz; tel. 0524/882601), and Pharmacie Chifa is on avenue Moulay Rachid, next to the Supermarché Dadès (tel. 0524/883588). The all-night Pharmacie du Nuit (tel. 0524/882490) is located at the beginning of avenue Mohammed V, opposite the post office, open nightly 10:30pm to 8:30am.
Hospitals The public hospital, Hôpital Bougafer (tel. 0524/882444), is located at the far east end of avenue Mohammed V between the city center and Taourirt Kasbah.
Internet Access Ouarnet is at 19 av. Mohammed V; Cyber Marché (tel. 0524/887853) is within Newloc Car Rentals, 30 rue du Marché, at the west end of the pedestrian-only section; and Cyber Vallée des Kasbahs is on avenue Moulay Rachid, next to the Supermarché Dadès. All are open daily from around 9am to midnight, and charge 10dh per hour.
Laundry The small Point d'Eau Lavanderie (tel. 0524/882809) is next to Hotel Amlal on rue du Marché, open Saturday to Thursday 8:30am to 8pm. There are only a couple of washers and one dryer; an attendant will wash, dry, and fold a 5-kilogram (11-lb.) bag for 50dh.
Maps & Newspapers Supermarché, 13 av. Mohammed V, sells a selection of country maps and guidebooks, as well as 1- to 5-day-old U.K. and U.S. newspapers.
Photographic Needs Labo Ennakhil, 16 av. Mohammed V, and Agfa Image Centre, 2 av. Moulay Rachid (opposite Obelix restaurant), are open daily 9am to noon and 3 to 8pm and sell a range of film and a few memory cards.
Police The Commissariat de Police (tel. 19) is on avenue Mohammed V, 100m (330 ft.) west of the post office.
Post Office The main post office is on the corner of avenue Mohammed V and rue de la Poste, opposite the turnoff south to Zagora. It's open Monday to Friday 8am to 4:15pm and Saturday 8 to 11:45am. There's a small postal agency next to the Taourirt Kasbah with the same hours.
Restrooms There are no public toilets in the city center. Your best bet is to ask at Restaurant Dimitri or the cafe-restaurant next to Hotel Amlal.
Safety The city center of Ouarzazate is a very safe place to walk around day or night. If you are self-driving, be sure to lock your car as there has been an increase in petty theft and car break-ins.
Telephone Ouarzazate's city code has recently changed to 0524.
Tour Operators There are many tour operators located in the center of Ouarzazate, all offering the same excursions down the Dra Valley to the Saharan sands south of M'hamid. Abdelouahid Aabi's Desert Evasion, 2 av. Mohammed V, opposite the police station (tel. 0524/888682 or 0661/243106; www.desert-evasion.net), is one of the most reputable. I also recommend Ahmed Hajja's Zbar Travel, 4 Bab Sahara, place al Mouahidine (tel. 0524/885610 or 0668/517280; www.zbartravel.com). For a private tour of the region, contact Nawfal Kabbaj (tel. 0524/882809 or 0662/836864; kabbajnfl@hotmail.com). A very amiable and relaxed guide, Nawfal speaks excellent English and specializes in themed tours of the region such as archaeology, birding, and botanical tours, along with the other mainstream destinations.
