Taourirt Kasbah (Ouarzazate): opening hours, price and visit

Updated on October 8, 2026

Taourirt Kasbah stands east of the centre of Ouarzazate, beside the wadi. This large fortified mud-brick residence, home to the Glaoui family, lords of the region under the protectorate, watched over the caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. It is easier to reach and better kept than the Telouet kasbah, with decorated reception rooms, courtyards and terraces. It is Ouarzazate's cultural stop, often combined with the town's film studios.

Highlights

The mud-brick walls and towers

Seen from outside, the kasbah is a pile of buildings, crenellated towers and ochre walls that blend into the colour of the earth. The silhouette is especially beautiful at the end of the day.

Practical info

Tips

There is no published official fee: the sources consulted give 20 to 60 dirhams depending on the date, payable in cash; confirm the price at the entrance. The visit is usually done with a local guide, who is tipped. No official opening hours are published either: the kasbah is open during the day, so go in the morning or early afternoon and ask your hotel the day before. Allow about an hour for the visit, and another hour if you wander the lanes of the old quarter nearby. Flat shoes are advisable for the stairs and uneven floors.

How to get there

Ouarzazate is about 200 km from Marrakech via the N9 and the Tizi n'Tichka pass, which means 4 h 30 to 5 h by road. People come by car, with a private driver, on a multi-day desert tour or by scheduled bus. Once in town, the kasbah is a few minutes by car or petit taxi from the centre. As a day trip from Marrakech the distance is long: it is better to sleep locally or combine it with Aït-Ben-Haddou.