Visiting Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate is a popular choice for many tourists on their way to or from the Sahara Desert, especially for film enthusiasts. It is one of the main attractions of this city, which, due to its cinematic tradition, was nicknamed by many as
What is Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate?
Atlas Studios are the main film studios in all of Morocco and, for many, in all of Africa. This can be said if we take into account the extensive filmography they boast: films as famous as Ben-Hur (its modern version from 2009), episodes of the series Game of Thrones, or even Gladiator, probably the most universal of all that have been recorded in these studios, have been filmed here.
It is an enclosed area located several kilometers outside the city, inside which there are pavilions and outdoor areas equipped with everything necessary to set a film. Specifically, a film that requires a desert location: very close to here you can find arid landscapes to shoot scenes in the open air, and in Atlas Studios, producers find the perfect complement for closer or interior scenes.
The light of Ouarzazate is the light of the Sahara, and the colors of its hills and landscapes are what any viewer associates with this great desert. If we add to this a site with the professionals and technical infrastructure to accommodate large production teams and a relatively large city (more than 120,000 inhabitants) with the necessary reception services, including an airport next to the urban area, the result is studios capable of hosting any filming, no matter how large and multitudinous it may be.
What’s in Atlas Studios
As we said, at Atlas Studios you will find an enclosed area, also surrounded by a fence in the form of a wall, so that the visitor begins to get into the role from the beginning. Upon entering, open areas and closed pavilions are distributed throughout the space, in some cases as prop storage spaces but in other cases authentic sets decorated in different ways.
The great specialty of Atlas Studios are films of Ancient Egypt, which is why there are structures that externally evoke the temples of Abu Simbel or interiors that resemble the hypostyle halls of Karnak or Edfu. But decorations are also recognized as a Berber kasbah, such as the one in the nearby ksar of Ait-Ben Haddou, conceived in this way to be able to complement the exterior filming in said walled village.
But in addition, many other sets can be built and assembled on request, such as architectures from the Roman, Greek or Chinese world, among other options already put into practice.
In addition, in a clear demonstration of adaptation to its tourist interest, Atlas Studios has a 4-star hotel, called Oscar Hotel, in a nod to the North American film awards. It also has a souvenir shop and other spaces for groups, as teambuilding activities are also carried out.
Practical information for the visit
Here is some information you should know if you are considering visiting Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate, something we can organize for you, with guided accompaniment if you need it:
- Address: Km 5, BP 28 Route de Marrakech, Ouarzazate 45000, Morocco. It is important to know that Atlas Studios is not the same as the Ouarzazate Film Museum, which is located just in front of the kasbah of Taourirt, in the city. Atlas Studios, on the other hand, are located outside the city.
- Price: 80 DH per person
- Hours: every day (including holidays), from 8:30 a.m. until sunset. These hours and the spaces to visit may be modified if there are filming sessions in progress.
