Ait Ben Haddou is a ksar, a fortified village built of earth and stone, about 190 km from Marrakech near Ouarzazate. It is one of Morocco’s most iconic places and a must-see on the road to the desert.
A little history
These fortified villages were once large Berber communities, walled to protect homes, crops and palm groves. They stood on the caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech and were important farming and trading centres. In 1987 UNESCO made Ait Ben Haddou a World Heritage Site: today it is one of the best-preserved ksour in the country, with unique architecture and panoramic views from the top of the hill.
A film set
Ait Ben Haddou and its surroundings have been chosen for many productions, including:
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- Jesus of Nazareth (1977) and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
- The Mummy (1999)
- Gladiator (2000)
- Alexander (2004)
- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
- Game of Thrones (TV series)
How to visit
Ait Ben Haddou is included in almost all our tours between Marrakech and the desert: you cross the river, climb the alleys to the granary at the top and walk back down at your own pace. You can also visit it on a day trip from Marrakech.
See our tours from Marrakech and from Ouarzazate.
More about Aït Benhaddou on Wikipedia.
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