Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou day trip

A day trip from Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate offers a fascinating combination of towering mountains, desert scenery, and an incredibly well-preserved Kasbah, one of the most beautiful in Morocco. You’ll follow up the Tizi n’Tichka pass, winding your way over the High Atlas Mountains and past sweeping views of traditional Berber villages. Your first destination will be the UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou, one of Morocco’s most renowned ksars, best known for its reddish-brown mudbrick structures that served as backdrops for movies as notable as Gladiator and Game of Thrones.

After a morning spent getting lost in its alleys and fortified walls, the journey then takes you on to Ouarzazate, also known as the “Hollywood of Africa”, and its famous Atlas Film Studios and historic Taourirt Kasbah. After a full day of exploration we drive back to Marrakech where your 1 day trip from Marrakech to ait ben Haddou Kasbah and Ouarzazate comes to an end.

Start your day by travelling from your accommodation in Marrakech on a memorable journey through the Rising High Atlas Mountains across the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, the highest major mountain pass of North Africa. En route, take breaks to snap photos at scenic lookout points and visit historic Berber villages for photo ops and an immersion in local culture.

Continue your journey onwards to the incredible Ait Ben Haddou, an UNESCO world heritage site and fortified village with mudbrick homes, the setting for a number of films including the big screen production of Game of Thrones. You will have time to explore the kasbah, stroll its narrow streets and climb to the top for stunning views of the desert beyond. After a meal at a local restaurant, the drive takes you to Ouarzazate, where you have the opportunity to explore the ancient Taourirt Kasbah and, if you like, the renowned Atlas Film Studios. In the afternoon you will then start the drive back to Marrakech to reach it in the evening after a full day of discovery, culture and mountain adventure.