Aït Ben Haddou is a ksar, a fortified village of earth buildings climbing a hill above the Ounila river. It stood on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech, and it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Today only a few families still live inside the ksar; most of the village lives in newer houses across the river.
How far is Aït Ben Haddou from Marrakech?
169 km, about 3 h 15 of driving each way without stops. The road crosses the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass, signposted at 2,260 m (a 2022 GPS measurement gave 2,205 m). It is a winding mountain road, and snow can fall on the pass between November and March.
Films shot at Aït Ben Haddou
Aït Ben Haddou has appeared in films for more than sixty years, including:
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- The Living Daylights (1987)
- The Mummy (1999)
- Gladiator (2000)
- Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
- the television series Game of Thrones
In a day, or with a night?
As a day trip it means around six and a half hours of driving in total, most of it on the mountain road. It is doable if you leave early and do not mind a long day.
If you are heading on to the desert anyway, Aït Ben Haddou fits naturally into the first day of a Sahara trip. Our 3-day Sahara tour from Marrakech passes old kasbahs like Aït Ben Haddou on the way, and our guide Marrakech to Merzouga explains the whole route.
Tips
- Leave Marrakech early to have the most time at the ksar.
- Wear shoes you can climb in: the ksar is built up a hillside.
- Bring water and sun protection, and a warm layer for the pass in winter.
Book it
See our day trip from Marrakech (see all our day trips) or message us: WhatsApp +212 661 933 546.