Ouarzazate City
Country |
Morocco |
Region |
Souss-Massa-Draâ |
Province |
Ouarzazate Province |
Code postal |
45000 |
Latitude |
30° 55' 18 North |
Longitude |
6° 55' 3 West |
Altitude |
1151 m |
Population |
(2006) 1 233 700 hab. |
Divers |
Population Amzigh |
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Get in
Buses from:
- Inezgane(close to Agadir) twice a day-40 dirham
- Marrakesh- CTM Bus 70 dirham(twice a day, morning, evening), grand taxi 100 per person
Regional bus is cheaper, but not as nice, and runs more often. Two bus stations.
Often two flights a day during the week from Casablanca.
Get around
The area around Mohammad V is very walkable. The CTM station is there as well. Petite taxis for within the city (no more than 10Dh from the airport to the hotel), grande taxis for between cities (no more than 300Dh to Ait Benhaddou and back...though you can probably get it lower), including to Ait Benhaddou and surrounding Kasbahs.
Ourzazate is very safe, but dont wander into weird corners at night. Crime throughout the Moroccan south is minimal, but its best not to take (too many) chances.
Do
- Ait Benhaddou - one of the best preserved Kasbahs . Taxi can take you there for 300 dirhams(probably possible to haggle cheaper prize), driver will wait couple of hours. Very picturesque place, lots of movies were shot there(Gladiator). 10 dirham to visit kasbahs. You don't need a guide, but locals will follow you pretending to help and at the end will ask for money. Careful not to get too wet from the river when crossing it, since there's been reports of Schistosomiasis contracted from the water.
- Walk along the central square behind Muhammad V at night when everyone comes out. The kids go out to play football on the square, people go eat and socialize, and youll get a feel for the community just walking around.
- Plan an expedition out to Merzouga, M'Hamid and the Dunes of Erg Chebbi. A night in the Sahara is unforgetable and can be the best part of your Moroccan adventure. Ourzazate is the last big town in the south where this is easy and cheap to do. There are lots of agencies around that can arrange a trek like this, though this is the more expensive way to do it. A cheaper way, if you dont mind worrying about a few details, is to rent a car, go out there yourself, and negotiate an overnight in the desert with a Merzougan auberge (most of them offer overnights in the dessert). Renting a car and driving the way is relatively easy if you drive a stick. The roads out that way are very good and easy to navigate. The overnight in the Dunes should only cost about 400-500Dh. A Grand taxi will also take you out that way and back for 1500-2000Dh. Everything out here is negotiable, so shop around for the best price.
Buy
Whatever you buy, it is likely you can't find it cheaper in Marrakech or Fes. Realize everything is negotiable!
Eat
Plenty of cheap restaurants along Mohammad V. Normal price for tagine should be about 30Dh.
Drink
Bottled water is cheap (10Dh) and widely available.
Sleep
Plenty of hotels of all ranges around town. Ask a cabby to bring you to one, but realize he'll pocket commission for bringing you there. La Gazella- clean, cheap hotel (156Dhm double room with hot shower), safe parking in the courtyard, ATM just next door, bakery across the road. Hotel Saghro A bit out of town across the river (youll need a grand taxi to get there), but the rooms are nice and there's a restaurant on site. They even have a pool.
Nearby
- I Roccha (Irocha), Tiseldey/Tisselday, Extremely friendly hosts and international mix of travellers. Quiet and relaxing place overseeing a valley in a small village of Tisselday. For New Year holidays, normally confirms booking only for those who visited previously (and hosts liked them).
Get out
Drive further through Zagora to M'Hamid for trips in the desert by camels, 4x4 or quad bikes.
source : http://wikitravel.org
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