Family Quad Rides and Adventure Excursions in Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate is an easy base for a family holiday with some adventure in it. Distances are short, the scenery changes quickly from gravel plains to palm groves, and the region has film sets, kasbahs and oases that children remember long after the trip. Here is how we would plan a few active days with kids, from a first short ride to a full day out with lunch in a village.

Start with a short route

The shortest outings are the best way to see how everyone feels. The one hour quad ride to the Kingdom of Heaven film set leaves Ouarzazate across desert and rocky ground to the fortress where the battle scenes of the film were shot. It is short enough for a first experience, the guide tells the story of the film along the way, and the fortress walls make a great family photo.

If the first ride goes well, the two hour Tifoultoute and cinema studio tour adds more variety: an eighteenth century kasbah overlooking the valley, then the cinema studio, where you walk among sets from productions such as Gladiator, The Mummy and Game of Thrones. Walking around the sets gives everyone a break from riding halfway through. Both routes are also offered by buggy.

Every ride includes a personal guide who rides with you, safety equipment including a helmet, and a pace and route adapted to your experience. With children, that flexibility matters: tell the guide if someone is nervous and the group simply slows down.

What to ask before you book

We do not publish a minimum age, and whether a child can ride, drive or sit as a passenger depends on the activity and on the child. Rather than guess, give the team the ages of your children when you send your request and ask directly:

• Which activities and routes suit each age in your group.
• Whether a child can ride with a parent or needs to ride separately.
• Which helmet sizes are available.
• Where the ride starts and how you get there from your hotel.
• For day trips by car, whether you should bring your own child seat.

Clear answers before the day mean no surprises when you arrive. Prices shown for quad, buggy and horse rides are starting prices, so ask for a quote for your exact family.

Horse rides at a calmer pace

Not every member of the family wants an engine. Our horse rides follow the same landscapes at a gentler rhythm, on horses matched to each rider's experience. The one hour ride to the Kingdom of Heaven set and the two hour ride to Kasbah Tifoultoute, along desert trails and palm groves, are the natural starting points. For families with mixed tastes, one option is to split up for the morning, with part of the group on quads and part on horseback, and meet again for lunch. Ask the team whether two activities can be timed to start and finish together.

A day out with lunch in a village

For a full day without long hours in the saddle or behind handlebars, the Amethyst and Berber villages day trip is a strong family choice. You leave by Toyota Land Cruiser for the village of Tiggert in the High Atlas foothills, among almond trees, with some off road driving on the way. After a short tea break you ride mules with a villager in search of amethyst stones, then share a home cooked lunch with a local family. The private vehicle, an English speaking driver, the mules and the lunch are included.

Families who want to touch real sand in one day can look at the Zagora and Draa Valley trip, which ends at the first dunes of Tinfou, reached by camel or on foot. It is a long day in the car, so it suits children who travel well. Our article on choosing between a day trip or a desert tour compares all the options.

Film studios and the cinema museum

Ouarzazate belongs to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for film, and children who know a few adventure films love recognising the scenery. Atlas Film Studios, about 3 km west of the city on the road toward Marrakech, offers guided visits of indoor and outdoor sets. Because the studio is still in use, you may even cross a film crew at work. In the centre of town, the Cinema Museum faces Taourirt Kasbah, so you can visit both on foot in a single outing. Check current opening days and times before you go, as they can change.

Practical tips for riding with children

• In the hot months, ask for a morning departure. In winter, bring a warm layer: January lows in Ouarzazate are around 3 °C.
• Dress everyone in long trousers, closed shoes and sunglasses, with a scarf against the dust.
• Carry more water than you think you need, plus a snack for the stops.
• Plan one active outing per day and leave time to rest at your hotel.
• Keep the first ride short. You can always book a longer route later in your stay.

Tell us the ages in your family and the days you have in Ouarzazate, and the team will suggest a plan that fits. Send a reservation request, or ask your questions on WhatsApp first.