Ait Ben Haddou is the postcard image of southern Morocco: a fortified village of earthen houses and towers climbing a hill above the Ounila river, with the High Atlas behind it. Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1987, it sits about 30 km from Ouarzazate on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. This guide covers its history, the films shot there, how to get there and how to make the most of your visit.
Ait Ben Haddou is a ksar: a group of earthen buildings protected by walls, with houses, kasbahs (fortified family residences), a mosque, public squares and a communal granary at the top of the hill. Everything is built from rammed earth and mud brick, the traditional architecture of the pre-Saharan valleys.
For centuries the village was a stop for caravans travelling between the Sahara and Marrakech. Today most families live in the newer village on the other side of the river, but a few households still live inside the old ksar, and many of the houses now host small shops and art galleries.
Its timeless look has made Ait Ben Haddou one of the most filmed places in Morocco. Productions shot here include The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander, Kingdom of Heaven and Prince of Persia, as well as scenes of the series Game of Thrones. Many visitors combine it with nearby Ouarzazate, home of the Atlas Film Studios; see our Ouarzazate guide.
From Marrakech: the drive takes around 3.5 hours each way and crosses the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m), one of the most scenic roads in the country. It can be done as a long day trip, but most travellers see it on the way to the desert. Our private day trip from Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou also stops in Ouarzazate.
From Ouarzazate: about 30 km, roughly half an hour by car.
On a desert tour: Ait Ben Haddou is the classic first stop on the road to the Sahara, for example on our 2-day tour from Marrakech to the Zagora desert. See also our Zagora guide.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) bring the most comfortable temperatures. Summer days are hot, so plan your walk to the granary early in the morning or in the late afternoon. In winter the days are often clear and pleasant, but nights are cold and snow can occasionally slow traffic on the Tizi n'Tichka pass. For a month-by-month overview, read the best time to visit Morocco.
It is one of the best preserved earthen ksars in Morocco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, and the setting of many films and series, including The Mummy, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven and Game of Thrones.
Around 3.5 hours each way by road, crossing the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass. From Ouarzazate it is only about 30 km.
Yes. A private day trip leaves Marrakech in the morning, visits Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate and returns in the evening. It is a long day, so many travellers prefer to include it in a 2 or 3-day desert tour.
Allow one and a half to two hours to cross the river, explore the lanes and climb to the granary at the top for the view.
A few families still live inside the old ksar. Most residents moved to the newer village across the river, and many old houses now host shops and galleries.
Want to see Ait Ben Haddou with a private driver, at your own pace? We include it in our day trips and desert tours from Marrakech. Contact us with your dates and we will build the itinerary around you.
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