Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate sits at the threshold between the High Atlas and the Sahara, a town whose name means 'without noise' and whose surroundings feel almost impossibly cinematic. Indeed, this is Morocco's film capital — the ochre kasbahs and endless horizons have doubled for ancient Rome, Egypt and mythical kingdoms in countless epics, and the vast Atlas Studios can be visited to see the sets first-hand.

The true star, however, is nearby Aït Benhaddou, a spectacular fortified village of packed-earth towers rising from the riverbank. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Morocco's most iconic sights, it is at its most magical in the low light of early morning or dusk. In the town itself, the Taourirt Kasbah offers a labyrinth of clay chambers that once housed the powerful Glaoui dynasty.

For the luxury traveller, Ouarzazate is both a destination and a gateway — the natural stop on the legendary road over the Tizi n'Tichka pass towards the dunes of the deep south. The scenery en route, through the Ounila Valley and the palm-filled oases, is among the most beautiful in the country, and comfortable kasbah-style hotels make an atmospheric base.