Things to do · Atlas Film Studios
On the edge of Ouarzazate, Atlas Studios is one of the largest film studios in the world by surface area, founded in 1983 by Mohamed Belghmi. Decades of epics have left behind a backlot of pharaonic temples, Tibetan monasteries and Roman streets. Here is how to make the most of a visit.
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Atlas Studios can only be visited on a guided tour, included with the entrance ticket. Guides walk you through the standing sets and explain how the desert light and low costs drew producers here from the early 1980s onward.
Towering plaster pharaohs, hieroglyph-covered walls and a temple gateway recall productions such as 'The Mummy' and 'Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra'. The ancient-Egypt sets are among the most photographed corners of the lot.
Ridley Scott built large medieval and Crusader-era sets here for 'Kingdom of Heaven'. Sections of fortified walls and gates remain on the backlot, giving a sense of the scale of the structures raised in the desert.
A reconstructed Tibetan monastery built for Martin Scorsese's 'Kundun' survives on the lot, an unexpected sight against the bare hills. It is a favourite stop on the tour for its detailed painted interiors.
Pair the studios with the Musée du Cinéma opposite Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate, which displays props, cameras and reconstructed sets. Together they explain why the region earned the nickname 'Ouallywood'.
Guides describe how Ouarzazate's 300-plus days of sun, varied desert and mountain backdrops and skilled local crews made it a stand-in for ancient Rome, Egypt, Tibet and the Holy Land for major international productions.
Because many sets are built of plaster, wood and polystyrene rather than stone, close inspection reveals the tricks of film-making. The contrast of fake grandeur against real desert makes for striking, slightly surreal photographs.
Ouarzazate's second major facility, CLA Studios, opened in 2004 and has hosted shoots such as 'Prison Break', 'Game of Thrones' and 'Exodus: Gods and Kings'. Film enthusiasts can take in both studios in a single day.
Around the lot you can see leftover chariots, statues, weapons and set dressing from past productions. It is a hands-on way to understand the craft and recycling behind big-budget historical films.
The studios sit on the road out toward Aït Ben Haddou, 30 km away, so the two pair naturally in one outing. Many half-day tours from Ouarzazate cover the backlot in the morning and the UNESCO ksar after lunch.
The adjoining Oscar Hotel lets film fans sleep beside the backlot, with rooms overlooking the desert sets. It is a quirky base for an early start before the tour buses arrive from Marrakech.
Beyond the sets, the open hammada plateau and distant Atlas peaks form the natural scenery that made the studios famous. Late afternoon light over the lot and the surrounding desert is especially photogenic.
Atlas Studios lie about 5 km northwest of central Ouarzazate on the road toward Marrakech and Aït Ben Haddou. They are an easy taxi ride or short drive from town and are usually combined with the ksar of Aït Ben Haddou.
No. The studios are working production facilities, so access to the backlot is only by guided tour, which runs at set times through the day and is included in the entrance fee. Tours pause when filming is in progress.
The guided tour lasts roughly 45 minutes to an hour. Allowing time for the museum in town and travel, set aside about half a day, or a full day if you also want to see CLA Studios or continue to Aït Ben Haddou.
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