Ait Benhaddou is a historic fortified village, or “ksar,” located in the Ouarzazate province of Morocco. It’s situated along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech.
The ksar is a striking example of traditional Moroccan earthen clay architecture. It features high defensive walls, several tall towers, and kasbahs (fortified houses), all constructed from red mud bricks. The layout and construction techniques have remained largely unchanged for centuries. Because of that, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
The ksar has been used as a backdrop for numerous films and TV shows, including “Gladiator,” “Lawrence of Arabia,” “The Mummy,” and “Game of Thrones”. Actually, the filming of “Gladiator II” began on the 8th of May 2023 in Ouarzazate, 30 kilometres away from Ait Benhaddou. How cool is that?!
Most residents have moved to more modern accommodations across the river, and traditional houses have been transformed into souvenir shops. Yes, it is touristy but the atmosphere is magical, especially in the morning or evening, without masses of tourists from organized trips.
How to get there?
To get to Ait Benhaddou in Morocco, you have several options depending on your starting point and preferred mode of transport:
By Car
The best option is to rent a car either in Marrakesh or Agadir. There are several interesting places to see en route and the landscape is phenomenal. The distance to Ait Benhaddou is 180 kilometres (3 hours) from Marrakesh and 341 km (5-6 hours) from Agadir.
If you decide to start from Agadir, I recommend using the service of Click’n’Go Car Rental. Amiable guys and easy to contact on WhatsApp. I rented a Renault Clio for the whole month and got a nice price.
By Bus
Take a bus from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and then take a local bus or a shared taxi to Ait Benhaddou. CTM and Supratours are the most popular bus companies.
By Shared Taxi
Shared taxis (called “grand taxis”) are available for longer distances. You can take a shared taxi from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and then another shared taxi from Ouarzazate to Ait Benhaddou.
By Organized Tour
Many travel agencies in Marrakech offer day trips to Ait Benhaddou, often combined with a visit to Ouarzazate. These tours include transportation, a guide, and sometimes lunch.
The best time to visit
The best time to visit Ait Benhaddou is spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). The weather is pleasantly warm, with daytime temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C. This makes exploring towns, hiking, and enjoying outdoor activities comfortable.
Summers can be scorching, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C. While some travellers can handle the heat, it may be uncomfortable for extended outdoor activities. Winters are mild to cool, with daytime temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C. Nights can be quite cold, especially in the desert areas.
How long to stay there?
Visiting Aït Benhaddou takes a few hours at a slow pace but it rather isn’t a full-day destination. However, it can be easily combined with a visit to nearby Ouarzazate.
What to see in Ait Benhaddou?
There is plenty of roadside parking so find your spot and pay the fee to one of the guys. Then, proceed towards the ksar, crossing over the Ounila River, which most likely will be completely dry, depending on the month and weather conditions. Please do not use the secondary entrance to the town but only the official one just after the bridge. Otherwise, you will be charged an entrance fee by local scammers. Entrance to Ait Benhaddou is free and don’t let anyone fool you!
You will most likely be offered a guide service several times and it is up to you if you decide to hire one. I decided not to as I did my research about the town before the visit and more or less I knew its history. If you decide to take a guide, don’t forget to negotiate the price. It’s perfectly normal here so don’t be shy, otherwise you will be scammed.
The small streets of Ait Benhaddou are so pretty that photographers can get busy for many months. The ksar itself is not big, an hour or two is enough to walk around it and look into every nook.
The ksar site has been fortified during the Almoravid era, since the 11th century. Although it is thought that none of the existing structures were constructed before the 17th century, they were built using the same materials and designs that had been in use for centuries prior. The building materials used in the ksar were wood, adobe, clay bricks, and rammed earth (compressed earth and mud, usually mixed with other materials to aid adhesion, e.g. straw) as they were very useful and affordable.
Unfortunately, the willingness of locals to sell foreigners everything that comes to mind can be tiring. Don’t get involved in conversations like: “Where are you from?” as these are just marketing tricks, and you will only waste time and nerves. Explore at your own pace and enjoy the views.
Next, walk to up the granary, for a 360-degree panoramic view of the village and surrounding landscape. It’s best to do it in the early morning and late afternoon as otherwise it’s really hot.
Another magnificent viewpoint is located on a small hilltop, to the east of Ait Benhaddou. You will need to exit the wall and climb up but it’s so worth it. First of all, it’s far less popular than the viewpoint at the granary and what’s more, you will get a panorama of the whole village and the dried riverbed just right next to it.
You can come back to the parking leaving Ait Benhaddou by the secondary entrance (scammers won’t charge you for the exit) crossing the dried riverbed and heading towards La Terrazza Restaurant.
To sum up, Ait Benhaddou is a very beautiful and historical place, although I had the feeling that I was in a place that serves purely as a tourist attraction. It’s definitely not an authentic Moroccan village where you can observe the local lifestyle and get smiles from friendly people. Nevertheless, it’s worth checking out as the views and architecture are simply amazing!
