Atlas Film Studios, Ouarzazate: Inside Morocco's Hollywood (2026)

In a sun-baked basin south of the High Atlas, the desert town of Ouarzazate has earned a nickname that sticks: Ouallywood. For more than forty years, its vast skies, ochre kasbahs, and endless horizons have stood in for ancient Rome, Jerusalem, Tibet, and a dozen imaginary kingdoms. At the heart of it all is Atlas Film Studios, one of the largest film studios in the world — a place where you can walk between the very sets that framed some of cinema's most famous scenes.

#At a Glance

• What it is: A working film studio in Ouarzazate, one of the largest in the world, open to the public by guided tour
• Nickname: "Ouallywood" — Morocco's Hollywood
• Founded: 1983; in continuous use as a shooting location ever since
• Famous productions: Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Game of Thrones, The Mummy, Babel, Lawrence of Arabia, The Passion of the Christ, Prince of Persia and more
• Hours: Open daily, roughly 8:30am until sunset (confirm current hours before visiting)
• Entry: Guided tour around 80 dirhams per person; an optional add-on (around 30 dirhams) for the Kingdom of Heaven set and museum (hedge — confirm current pricing)
• Tour length: A little under an hour, with tours departing frequently through the day
• Nearby: The UNESCO kasbah of Aït Benhaddou, about 30 minutes away

#Why Ouarzazate Became "Ouallywood"

Geography did the casting. Ouarzazate sits at the meeting point of dramatic landscapes — the snow-dusted Atlas to the north, the rust-red pre-Sahara to the south, palm-filled valleys and crumbling kasbahs all around. The light is famously clear and constant, the skies reliably cloudless, and the terrain can pass convincingly for the deserts of the Middle East, the plains of ancient Europe, or somewhere entirely invented.

Filmmakers noticed early. Atlas Film Studios opened in 1983, and the town has hosted major international productions almost without pause since. A second major complex, CLA Studios, opened nearby in the 2000s, cementing Ouarzazate's status as a genuine global production hub with sound stages, workshops, and standing sets spread across the desert floor.

#The Films Shot Here

The roll-call of productions tied to Atlas Studios and the surrounding region reads like a film-buff's wish list. Among the best known:

• Gladiator — Ridley Scott's Roman epic
• Kingdom of Heaven — the Crusades drama, whose set still stands as a visitable attraction
• The Mummy — the desert adventure franchise
• Game of Thrones — the city of Yunkai and other Essos scenes were filmed in the area
• Babel — Alejandro González Iñárritu's Oscar-winning drama, partly shot in Morocco
• Lawrence of Arabia, The Passion of the Christ, Prince of Persia, Kundun, and many others

Standing among the weathered plaster columns and timber facades, it's easy to picture the cameras rolling. Many sets are deliberately one-sided — grand from the front, scaffolding behind — a reminder that this is the magic of moviemaking laid bare.

#The Studio Tour

You can only explore the studio grounds with a guided tour, which is part of the appeal: a guide leads you between the standing sets, points out which scene was shot where, and explains the tricks of the trade — how a flat painted backdrop becomes a temple, how the same courtyard plays Rome one year and Jerusalem the next. Tours run frequently through the day, so there's rarely a long wait, and the whole experience takes a little under an hour.

Expect to wander past Egyptian statuary, Tibetan monastery facades, Roman frontages, and aircraft props left behind from various shoots. The optional Kingdom of Heaven set and museum, an extra ticket, is the most complete and impressive standing set on site and well worth the small add-on if it's available during your visit.

For travellers who want to go deeper into Morocco's on-screen story — the locations, the history, and how to see them — our dedicated Morocco film locations guide maps out the full picture.

#Combine It with Aït Benhaddou

Here's the planning tip that makes the day sing: the studios pair perfectly with Aït Benhaddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar around 30 minutes away. This fortified earthen village is itself one of the most filmed locations on earth, appearing in Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and countless others. Where the studios show you the constructed magic of cinema, Aït Benhaddou is the real, lived-in thing — a thousand-year-old crossroads on the old caravan route. See our full Aït Benhaddou guide for what to expect.

Together, the two make an ideal half- to full-day around Ouarzazate, often slotted into the journey between Marrakech and the Sahara.

#Practical Tips

• Go earlier in the day. Mornings are cooler and the light is kinder for photography, before the desert heat builds.
• Bring sun protection. The sets are exposed, with little shade — a hat, sunglasses, and water are essential.
• Carry small cash. For tickets, the optional museum add-on, and any tips.
• Don't expect Hollywood polish. Part of the charm is the worn, behind-the-scenes honesty of the place — it's a working studio, not a theme park.

#Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to visit Atlas Film Studios? The guided tour is around 80 dirhams per person, with an optional extra (around 30 dirhams) for the Kingdom of Heaven set and museum. Prices can change, so please confirm current rates on arrival.

What films were shot at Atlas Studios? Productions associated with the studios and the surrounding Ouarzazate region include Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Game of Thrones, The Mummy, Babel, Lawrence of Arabia, The Passion of the Christ, and Prince of Persia, among many others.

Do I need to book in advance? Generally no — tours depart frequently throughout the day, so you can usually turn up and join the next one. On a private tour, your guide handles the timing for you.

How long does the tour take? The guided tour runs a little under an hour. Add time if you want to explore the optional Kingdom of Heaven set as well.

Can I combine it with Aït Benhaddou? Yes, and we recommend it. Aït Benhaddou is about 30 minutes from Ouarzazate, and the two together make a rich half- to full-day for anyone interested in Morocco's film heritage.

#See the Sets the Smart Way

Ouarzazate sits on the classic route between Marrakech and the dunes, which makes the studios and Aït Benhaddou an effortless addition to a wider Moroccan journey — if your itinerary is built around them. With a private driver-guide, you arrive at the right hour, skip the logistics, and hear the stories behind the scenes from someone who knows the locations first-hand.

Explore our private tours to design a film-lover's route through southern Morocco, dive into the full Morocco film locations guide, or browse all our tours to start shaping your trip.