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Hollywood of Africa

Morocco Film Locations

From the gladiator arenas of Ait Benhaddou to the Game of Thrones ramparts of Essaouira — walk through five centuries of cinematic history in a single journey.

Book a Film Location TourBrowse All Tours

500+

International Productions

60+

Years of Film History

300,000 m²

Atlas Studios Area

20+

Films at Ait Benhaddou

Why Filmmakers Choose Morocco

The country that has doubled as ancient Rome, medieval Arabia, biblical Judaea, and the far corners of a fantasy continent.

Unmatched Landscape Diversity

Within a five-hour drive, a production can move from the snow-capped High Atlas mountains to the golden Sahara dunes, from the blue medinas of Fes to the Atlantic battlements of Essaouira. No other country offers this range within such a compact geography.

The World's Largest Film Studio

Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate covers over 300,000 square metres and maintains permanent sets ranging from Egyptian temples to Roman arenas. The studio has hosted every major Hollywood production filming in North Africa since the 1980s.

Competitive Tax Incentives

Morocco offers substantial production tax credits and reduced import duties on equipment for international productions. The Centre Cinematographique Marocain (CCM) facilitates permits efficiently, and the government actively courts major studios.

World-Class Local Crews

Decades of major productions have built an exceptional local industry. Morocco has trained thousands of experienced grips, set builders, stunt performers, costume makers, and extras who have worked on Oscar-winning productions across every genre.

The "Hollywood of Africa" Title

Ouarzazate earned this name organically. When Ridley Scott, David Lean, and Martin Scorsese all chose the same valley for their landmark epics, the infrastructure followed. Today the city of 50,000 has multiple full-service studios, hundreds of professional set builders and drivers, an international airport, and a community of artisans who have built everything from Roman legionary armour to Game of Thrones dragon props. The title is not marketing — it is industrial fact.

10 Iconic Productions and Where They Filmed

Each entry includes the specific locations used and what remains visible for visitors today.

Gladiator

2000 — directed by Ridley Scott — Epic / Historical

Ait BenhaddouOuarzazate

The ancient ksar of Ait Benhaddou stood in for the city of Zucchabar in Roman North Africa, where Maximus fights as a slave gladiator. The production used the entire lower village as its backdrop. Ridley Scott was drawn by the authentic earthen architecture and unaltered skyline.

What You Can See Today

The ksar of Ait Benhaddou is open daily. Walk the same terraced streets seen in the film. The lower village and grain storage tower are unchanged.

Game of Thrones (Season 3)

2013 — directed by Various (HBO) — Fantasy / Drama

Essaouira (Astapor)Ait Benhaddou (Yunkai)

Essaouira's dramatic Atlantic ramparts and the Skala du Port became the slave city of Astapor, where Daenerys acquires the Unsullied army. Ait Benhaddou's hilltop kasbah became Yunkai, the Yellow City, stormed by the Unsullied in a pivotal season finale scene.

What You Can See Today

Walk the Essaouira ramparts at sunset — the exact viewpoint where Daenerys stood with her army. At Ait Benhaddou, the southern gate and upper terraces were the primary set pieces.

Lawrence of Arabia

1962 — directed by David Lean — Historical Epic

Ouarzazate regionDraa Valley

David Lean's Oscar-winning masterpiece used the vast pre-Saharan landscapes around Ouarzazate to depict the Arabian Desert. The sweeping dune sequences and desert town scenes established Morocco as a serious film destination decades before Atlas Studios existed.

What You Can See Today

The Draa Valley and the landscape between Ouarzazate and Zagora retain the same timeless quality. The region is largely unchanged from what Lean's cameras captured.

The Mummy

1999 — directed by Stephen Sommers — Action / Adventure

ErfoudMerzouga dunesOuarzazate

The ancient Egyptian city of Hamunaptra rose from the dunes near Erfoud, the gateway to the Merzouga erg. Massive sets were constructed in the desert to complement the natural environment. The sandstorm sequences used genuine Saharan conditions.

What You Can See Today

Erfoud remains a centre for fossil tourism and Saharan exploration. The Merzouga dunes (Erg Chebbi) where certain sequences were filmed are a dramatic 56-metre-high erg easily accessible from Erfoud.

Babel

2006 — directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu — Drama

OuarzazateTataTaguenza village

Inarritu used the remote Berber village of Taguenza, near Ouarzazate, and the deep south around Tata for the Morocco-set storyline involving a Berber family caught in a tragic incident. The film won the Best Director award at Cannes and brought intense international attention to rural Morocco.

What You Can See Today

Taguenza village is a 45-minute drive from Ouarzazate. The landscape is dramatically preserved. Local guides can identify the exact locations used in the production.

Inception

2010 — directed by Christopher Nolan — Sci-Fi / Thriller

Tangier medinaTangier waterfront

Nolan chose Tangier's labyrinthine medina for the dream-within-a-dream city folding sequence. The narrow alleys, whitewashed walls, and multilayered urban geography made Tangier the perfect psychological landscape. The Kasbah rooftops provided the chase sequences.

What You Can See Today

The Tangier medina and Kasbah are freely walkable. The specific alley used for the folding city CGI base plate is in the upper medina near the Kasbah museum.

John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum

2019 — directed by Chad Stahelski — Action / Thriller

EssaouiraMarrakech El Badi PalaceMarrakech medina

The High Table confrontation sequences and the Continental Casablanca were filmed in Essaouira's fortified ramparts and in the ruins of El Badi Palace in Marrakech. The horseback fight sequence used stunt riders through Essaouira's medina streets.

What You Can See Today

El Badi Palace is open to visitors and retains the ruined grandeur used in the film. In Essaouira, the rampart walkways and the main square near Bab Doukkala featured prominently.

Kingdom of Heaven

2005 — directed by Ridley Scott — Historical Epic

OuarzazateAit Benhaddou

Scott returned to Morocco for his Crusades epic, using Ait Benhaddou as Jerusalem and the Ouarzazate region for broader Middle Eastern landscapes. The production employed over 1,500 Moroccan extras and built additional fortification sets that temporarily expanded the ksar.

What You Can See Today

The main gate of Ait Benhaddou seen in the film is the same gate visitors pass through today. The upper ksar and defensive towers are unchanged.

Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation

2015 — directed by Christopher McQuarrie — Action / Spy

CasablancaRabatRabat train station

The Morocco sequences involve Ethan Hunt and Ilsa Faust in a cat-and-mouse through Casablanca and Rabat. Rabat's elegant French colonial architecture doubled convincingly for multiple European locations. The train station chase used Rabat's Agdal station.

What You Can See Today

Rabat Agdal train station is fully operational. The Casablanca corniche and central business district used in street chase scenes are easily explored on foot.

Sex and the City 2

2010 — directed by Michael Patrick King — Comedy / Romance

Marrakech (Jemaa el-Fna, riads, souks)Ouarzazate desert

While portions were shot in Abu Dhabi, significant sequences including the souk scenes, riad interiors, and camel ride sequences were filmed in Marrakech and the Ouarzazate desert. The film brought enormous attention to Moroccan luxury hospitality.

What You Can See Today

Jemaa el-Fna square, Marrakech's souks, and the Palmeraie area used for resort scenes are all accessible. Several riads used as production bases offer guest accommodation.

Atlas Studios, Ouarzazate

The World's Largest Film Studio

Founded in 1983 and covering more than 300,000 square metres of the pre-Saharan plateau south of Ouarzazate, Atlas Studios — also operated under the name CLA Studios — is an extraordinary place to visit. The sheer scale is difficult to absorb: permanent stone sets the size of city blocks stand against a backdrop of desert mountains and blue sky.

Productions including Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, Kingdom of Heaven, Jewel of the Nile, Kundun, Alexander, Babel, and Game of Thrones have all used these stages. The Egyptian temple complex constructed for various productions remains one of the most photographed landmarks in the region.

Unlike many studio facilities, Atlas Studios actively welcomes tourists when productions are not underway. The visit is one of the most unusual travel experiences available in North Africa.

Visitor Information

  • Opening Hours8:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily
  • Admission~70 MAD per person
  • Guided Tour Duration2 – 3 hours
  • Distance from Ouarzazate5 km (10 min)
  • NoteAccess restricted when active shoot

What the Tour Includes

  • Egyptian temple complex — one of the largest film sets ever built in Africa
  • Roman gladiator arena used in Ben Hur and Gladiator productions
  • Tibetan monastery set from Kundun (Martin Scorsese, 1997)
  • Medieval fortification walls used in Kingdom of Heaven
  • Costume and prop museum with original pieces from major productions
  • Guided narrative explaining the history of each set
  • Photography permitted throughout (no tripod restrictions)

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Ait Benhaddou: The Most Filmed Location in Africa

A fortified earthen village that has appeared in more major international productions than any other African site — and remains almost completely unchanged from its medieval form.

Why This Specific Village?

Ait Benhaddou sits above a seasonal river on the ancient caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. Its ksar — a fortified cluster of earthen kasbahs, granaries, and dwellings — was built over centuries using the same pisé (rammed earth) technique. The result is a structure that looks simultaneously ancient, Middle Eastern, African, and otherworldly.

The warm ochre tones absorb light beautifully at any time of day. The skyline is completely unpolluted by modern construction. And the scale — an entire fortified hilltop city — provides production designers with a ready-made environment that would cost tens of millions of dollars to construct elsewhere.

UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site in 1987, partly because international film exposure had drawn attention to its architectural significance. Today approximately 10 families still live within the ksar alongside guesthouses and artisan workshops.

20+ Productions Filmed Here

Gladiator (2000)
Game of Thrones (2013)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
The Mummy (1999)
Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
Jewel of the Nile (1985)
The Living Daylights (1987)
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
Kundun (1997)
Alexander (2004)
Babel (2006)
Body of Lies (2008)
Agora (2009)
The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
Hidalgo (2004)
Three Kings (1999)
Astérix et Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre (2002)
Man of Fire (2004)
Jesus of Nazareth (1977 TV)

Practical Visiting Information

Getting There

30 km from Ouarzazate (40 minutes by car). Taxis available from Ouarzazate centre. Day trips from Marrakech possible via Tizi n'Tichka (3.5 hours each way). Best combined with an Ouarzazate overnight.

Best Photography Times

Golden hour before sunset from the opposite (east) riverbank gives the classic postcard view. Morning light illuminates the north-facing kasbah walls. Avoid midday in summer — harsh overhead light and extreme heat.

Admission and Guides

No entrance fee to the ksar itself. Official guides available at the site entrance for approximately 150 MAD. A film-location specialist guide will identify exact filming positions from Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and other productions.

5-Day Morocco Film Location Tour

A self-guided or private-guided itinerary covering the most important film sites in Morocco, from the imperial city to the Atlantic coast.

1

Day 1: Marrakech

Imperial city used in multiple productions

  • Arrive in Marrakech, gateway to the film trail
  • Jemaa el-Fna square — used in Sex and the City 2 and numerous productions
  • El Badi Palace — John Wick 3 High Table sequences filmed in these ruins
  • Majorelle Garden — featured in multiple fashion and film productions
  • Evening in the medina souks

Accommodation: Luxury riad in the medina

2

Day 2: Marrakech to Ouarzazate

The dramatic Tizi n'Tichka crossing

  • Depart Marrakech at sunrise for the High Atlas crossing
  • Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) — photographed in dozens of productions
  • Roadside Berber villages used in documentary and documentary-style filming
  • Arrive Ouarzazate — check in and orient yourself to the film capital
  • Evening walk along the Ouarzazate river kasbah

Accommodation: Boutique hotel in Ouarzazate

3

Day 3: Ouarzazate

Atlas Studios and the film city

  • Morning: Full guided tour of Atlas Studios (3–4 hours)
  • Egyptian temple set, gladiator arena, Ben Hur chariot circuit
  • Costume and prop museum — original pieces from major productions
  • Afternoon: Taourirt Kasbah in central Ouarzazate — used in multiple productions
  • Film museum reviewing Morocco's cinematic history
  • Sunset from the hotel terrace overlooking the valley

Accommodation: Boutique hotel in Ouarzazate

4

Day 4: Ait Benhaddou

The most filmed location in Africa

  • Drive 30 km to Ait Benhaddou (45 minutes)
  • Guided tour of the UNESCO ksar with film location context
  • Gladiator: Zucchabar gate and lower village
  • Game of Thrones: Yunkai upper terraces and southern approach
  • Kingdom of Heaven: main fortification walls
  • Free exploration and photography — golden hour from the opposite riverbank
  • Optional: overnight in a gite within the ksar itself

Accommodation: Gite within Ait Benhaddou or return to Ouarzazate

5

Day 5: Essaouira

Atlantic ramparts and Game of Thrones

  • Long drive west to the Atlantic coast (4.5 hours via scenic route)
  • Arrive Essaouira — the former Astapor and Pentoshi set
  • Skala du Port ramparts — where Daenerys stood with the Unsullied
  • Medina alleys used in John Wick 3 horseback sequences
  • Sqala de la Kasbah — used in multiple period productions
  • Seafood dinner in the port before returning to Marrakech or flying out

Accommodation: Riad in Essaouira or transfer to Marrakech for flight

Serenity Morocco Tours can arrange private transportation, expert film-location guides, and luxury accommodation throughout this itinerary.

Get a Custom Film Tour QuoteContact Our Team

Visiting Tips for Film Location Tourism

Getting the most from Morocco's cinematic landscape requires some planning — here is what experienced visitors recommend.

Best Time to Visit

October through April is ideal for southern Morocco film sites. Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou experience extreme heat (40°C+) from June through August. March and November offer perfect temperatures (18–25°C), golden light, and far fewer visitors. Avoid school holiday periods in Europe (July, August, Christmas) when sites are crowded.

Photography Strategy

Shoot Ait Benhaddou from the riverbank opposite the ksar for the classic wide view used in Gladiator. Early morning (7–9 AM) gives warm side-lighting with almost no other visitors. For Atlas Studios, natural light is best — avoid midday when the sun is directly overhead and sets lose their shadow depth. Bring a polarising filter for Saharan locations.

Hire Film-Knowledgeable Guides

Standard licensed guides know the architecture and history. Film-specialist guides — available through operators like Serenity Morocco Tours — can position you at the exact camera angles used in specific productions, explain production decisions, and share on-set stories passed down through the local crew community. The difference in experience is substantial.

Respect the Living Sites

Ait Benhaddou is not a museum — families live within the ksar. Do not enter private residences, even if doors appear open. Ask permission before photographing individuals. Purchase artisan items from the workshops inside the ksar rather than from touts at the entrance. Your spending directly supports the preservation of the site.

Combine with Desert Experiences

The film location circuit through Ouarzazate naturally connects to the Draa Valley, Dades Gorge, and the Sahara at Merzouga. A 7–10 day itinerary allows you to cover all major film sites while also experiencing camel treks, desert camps, and traditional Berber villages — contexts that explain why these landscapes have captivated directors for six decades.

Check Studio Schedules in Advance

Atlas Studios may restrict visitor access during active productions. During major shoots, certain sections are closed for weeks. Contact the studios or your tour operator before visiting if the studio tour is a priority. Local operators maintain contacts within the studio and can often arrange special access or advance notice of closures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions most commonly asked by film tourism visitors planning their Morocco itinerary.

Which famous movies and TV shows were filmed in Morocco?

Morocco has hosted over 500 international productions since the 1960s. The most famous include Gladiator (2000) at Ait Benhaddou, Game of Thrones Season 3 in Essaouira and Ait Benhaddou, Lawrence of Arabia (1962) in the Ouarzazate region, The Mummy (1999) in Erfoud, Babel (2006) in Ouarzazate and Tata, Inception (2010) in Tangier, John Wick: Chapter 3 (2019) in Essaouira and Marrakech, Kingdom of Heaven (2005) in Ouarzazate, and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) in Casablanca and Rabat.

What is Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate and can tourists visit?

Atlas Studios (also known as CLA Studios) is the largest film studio in the world by area, covering over 300,000 square metres outside Ouarzazate. Tourists can visit on daily guided tours costing approximately 70 MAD per person. The tour includes Egyptian temple sets, a Roman-style gladiator arena, large-scale props from Ben Hur and other productions, and a costume museum. Opening hours are typically 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily, though access may be restricted when active productions are underway.

Why is Ait Benhaddou so popular for filming?

Ait Benhaddou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising a fortified village (ksar) of earthen clay architecture on the edge of the Sahara. Its ancient Middle Eastern aesthetic, dramatic hilltop silhouette, warm ochre tones that film beautifully in any light, and proximity to Atlas Studios make it the most filmed location in Africa. Over 20 major international productions have used it as a set, from Lawrence of Arabia to Game of Thrones.

Can I visit Game of Thrones filming locations in Morocco?

Yes. Game of Thrones Season 3 was filmed at Essaouira (which doubled as the slave city of Astapor) and Ait Benhaddou (used as Yunkai, the Yellow City). The ramparts of Essaouira where Daenerys walked with the Unsullied are freely accessible. Ait Benhaddou where the city siege sequences were filmed is open daily. Local guides in both locations offer Game of Thrones-specific tours identifying exact filming spots and camera positions.

Why is Morocco called the Hollywood of Africa?

Morocco earned the title because of its exceptional combination of assets for filmmakers: the world's largest film studio (Atlas Studios), extraordinary landscape diversity across a compact geography, competitive tax incentives for international productions, a large and experienced pool of local crew and extras developed over sixty years of major productions, and a stable political and logistical environment. The country has hosted more than 500 major international productions since the 1960s.

What is the best time of year to visit Morocco film locations?

October through April is ideal for visiting Ouarzazate, Ait Benhaddou, and the pre-Saharan regions where most film locations are clustered. Temperatures are comfortable (15–28°C), the light is golden and cinematic, and dust storms are rare. Summer (June–August) sees extreme heat (40°C+) that makes outdoor exploration of desert film sites uncomfortable. Spring (March–May) is particularly beautiful with wildflowers in the mountain valleys.

How do I get to Ouarzazate and Atlas Studios from Marrakech?

Ouarzazate is approximately 200 km from Marrakech via the dramatic Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m altitude). By private car or chauffeur, the journey takes 3.5–4.5 hours depending on stops. The road crosses the High Atlas Mountains with exceptional scenery and frequent photo opportunities. There are also daily flights from Casablanca (1 hour) and a CTM bus service from Marrakech (4–5 hours). A private chauffeur is strongly recommended for the mountain road, particularly for those unfamiliar with Moroccan driving conditions.

Are there guided film location tours in Morocco?

Yes. Serenity Morocco Tours offers private film location tours combining Atlas Studios, Ait Benhaddou, Essaouira, and other key sites. Our guides are deeply knowledgeable about specific film productions and can show you exact locations used in Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and other productions. A dedicated 5-day film location itinerary covers Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Ait Benhaddou, and Essaouira with behind-the-scenes context. Contact us to customise your film tour.

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Walk Through Living Cinema

Morocco's film locations are not theme parks — they are living landscapes, ancient kasbahs, and working studios that happen to have hosted the greatest productions of the past sixty years. Let our expert team design a private itinerary that puts you inside the frame.

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