Ouarzazate sits where the High Atlas gives way to the open plains of the south, which is why it is called the gateway to the Sahara. It lies on the main road between Marrakech and the deep south, with kasbahs, wide plateaus and Berber villages on every side.
The town is also nicknamed the Hollywood of Africa: its large film studios and desert scenery have hosted international productions for decades. For most travellers it is a base for Aït Ben Haddou, the Draa valley, Zagora and the dunes of Merzouga or Erg Chegaga.
