Add dates

Ait Benhaddou Meet the locals

Our most recommended Ait Benhaddou Meet the locals

Marrakech: Ait Benhadou Kasbah & Ouarzazate

1. Marrakech: Ait Benhadou Kasbah & Ouarzazate

the day begins with pickup from Marrakech and leaves the city behind as you head towards the Atlas Mountains. Stop at the famous Tichka Pass, the highest road pass in Morocco, and admire breathtaking views of the scenery. Once You have worked up a bit of an appetite, enjoy lunch at a local eatery before arriving at the UNESCO listed Ait Benhaddou Kasbah (lunch and drink costs are not included). At Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, enjoy a guided tour (for a surcharge) or take free sightseeing and learn about its fascinating history and architecture. The kasbah dates back to the 17th century. Stop for a short visit of Ouarzazate, known as the Hollywood of Morocco. At the end of an unforgettable day, sit back, relax, and soak up stunning views of the landscape on the way back to Marrakech. Please consider travelling long distances and sharing with other people. Please make sure you don't have any airport departure today as the drive will be long

From Marrakech: Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou Day Trip

2. From Marrakech: Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou Day Trip

Discover the magic of cinema at the Atlas Film Studios, visit a small community in Ait Ben Barka, and explore the Kasbah Ait Benhaddou fortification. Stay connected in your air-conditioned van with wifi connection on this day tour from Marrakech. Begin your day trip bright and early and be picked up from your hotel in Marrakech. Head into the Atlas Mountains and take in the beautiful landscape outside. Make your first stop at the small community of Ait Ben Barka, not far from the hilly region of Toufliht, and learn about the local culture. Explore the area with your driver from the comfort of your vehicle. Cross the Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass which connects southeast Marrakesh to the city of Ouarzazate. Pause to take pictures of the mountain peaks on the pass from the elevation of 7,415 feet (2,260 meters). Next, drive to the largest film studio in the world, the Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate, which is famous for appearing in the television series Game of Thrones. Spend some free time exploring on your own or visiting the studios. Capture some shots of the area's distinctive, rocky terrain. Get lunch at a local eatery offering breathtaking panoramic views and great prices. From here, adventure on to the well-known Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, one of Morocco's most remarkable kasbahs (fortresses) and a designated UNESCO monument. Admire the Moroccan earthen clay architecture before going home.

From Marrakesh: 4-Day Private Atlas Mountains & Desert Tour

3. From Marrakesh: 4-Day Private Atlas Mountains & Desert Tour

Immerse yourself in the mountains and desert of Morocco with this 4-day guided trip from Marrakesh. See scenic landscapes, stay in a charming guest house and a desert camp, and tour the movie sets of Ouarzazate. An example of the itinerary you will follow: Day 1: Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Dades Valley Your driver will pick you up from your accommodation and you will set off on your 4 day adventure. Pass through the Tizi n'Tichka pass in the High Atlas mountains and from Marrakech to Ouarzazate you can enjoy the scenic route, the landscapes with changing colors and terrain and the Berber villages along the way. You will have free time to visit the Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate and have lunch on site. Then, on to the green valley of Dadès and the valley of roses by the palm grove of Skoura. You will have dinner and stay overnight at a charming guest house in the valley. Day 2: Dades Valley, Todra Gorges, Dunes of Merzouga After breakfast, you will set off on the road to the 1000 Kasbahs, then check check out Tinghr with its magnificent palm groves. At Todra Gorge, the bravest explorers can trek along the canyon, 300 metres above the ground. Then continue towards Merzouga and the erg Chebbi dune in the Sahara desert. In the largest desert in the world, you can experience the sunset on the back of a camel as you ride towards the oasis where the camp is located. You may spend the night in the nomadic tents or under the stars and play music or sing along with the locals and become immersed in true nomadic culture. Day 3: Merzouga, Tazarine, Agdz, Ouarzazate Watch the sunrise over the dunes of erg Chebbi, followed by breakfast in the camp. Return to a hostel via camel trek for a quick shower then drive to Rissani, a small town in southern Saharan Morocco where you can stop to visit a fossil workshop, before continuing to the junction of the Drâa and Agdz valley. Enjoy a relaxing dinner and hotel stay in Ouarzazate. Day 4: Ouarzazate, Aït ben Haddou, Telouet, Marrakech Go on a tour of the movie sets and studios located in Ouarzazate: the "Hollywood of Africa". Visit the Ksar of Aït ben Haddou, a world heritage site. Aït ben Haddou has been used to date as a backdrop for more than twenty films, including "Gladiator", "Indiana Jones "and" Lawrence of Arabia ". Take advantage of this walk through the area to admire the traditional architecture of the kasbahs. Continue on home to Marrakech through the mountains.

From Marrakech: Private 3-Day Desert Trip to Merzouga

4. From Marrakech: Private 3-Day Desert Trip to Merzouga

Discover the edge of the Sahara Desert on a 3-day budget tour from Marrakech. Explore the dramatic landscapes of the Dades Valley and the Kasbah of Ourzazate. Ride across the dunes of Erg Chebbi by camel and sleep at a desert camp surrounded by high sand dunes. • Day 1: Marrakech - Boumalne Dades Following an early pickup from your hotel in Marrakech, travel across the High Atlas Mountains to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ait Ben Haddou. See the fortified Kasbah, used as a location set for some famous Hollywood epics, such as Lawrence of Arabia. Enjoy some time in the Kasbah before driving to Ouarzazate, known as the Gate of the Sahara. Following lunch, continue to the Boumalne Dades via the Valley of the Roses. Upon arrival at Boumalne Dades, take the back roads through the Dades Canyons, passing stunning rock formations and fortified Kasbahs along the Dades River. Continue to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. • Day 2: Boumalne Dades - Erg Chebbi Following breakfast at your hotel, drive the Road of 1001 Kasbahs to the small oasis town of Tinghir. Continue through the dramatic Todgha Gorges, pausing for some free time to explore the canyons and enjoy lunch at a local café. Continue to Merzouga to meet your camel caravan. Then, experience the Erg Chebbi dunes on camel-back and watch the sunset change the color of the sand. Reach your desert camp before nightfall and enjoy an authentic Moroccan dinner under the stars. Local nomads will provide entertainment and show you how to play the tam tam drums. • Day 3: Erg Chebbi - Marrakech Wake early to watch the sunrise before breakfast. Then, ride your camel back to the main road. Your driver will be waiting to pick you up for the transfer back to Marrakech. Stop half-way for lunch in Ouarzazate.

Marrakech: Day-Trip to UNESCO Kasbahs and Ouarzazate Tour

5. Marrakech: Day-Trip to UNESCO Kasbahs and Ouarzazate Tour

Departing early in the morning from your accommodation in Marrakech, you will drive towards Ouarzazate through the High Atlas before reaching the Tizi N'Tichka pass. Sitting 2,260 meters high, this is the highest road crossing in Morocco. It connects the Marrakech Saharan regions, of which Ouarzazate is the crossroad. You will then stop for a visit to the famous fortified city of Ait Ben Haddou. This city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its Kasbah has been the backdrop for many films including the Diamond of the Nile, Lawrence of Arabia, Sodom and Gomorre, the Jewel of the Nile, Jesus of Nazareth, the Mummy, Gladiator and Babel. After this visit of the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, you will continue to the city of Ouarzazate to explore another Kasbah built in the 17th century. Here you will visit the cinema studios, before stopping for lunch in a local restaurant. Following lunch, you can enjoy free time to enjoy a mint tea and enjoy the green valley and beautiful views of the High Atlas peaks. In this area, between the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert, one can find several Kasbahs, all the color of the sand and forming small Berber villages that take advantage of the abundance of water from the Atlas to its small crops and animals. At the end of the day, you will be returned to your accommodation in Marrakech.

Marrakech: Full-Day Tour to Aït-Ben-Haddou & Telouet

6. Marrakech: Full-Day Tour to Aït-Ben-Haddou & Telouet

Immerse yourself in the incredible Moroccan landscape on a private full-day tour to Aït-Ben-Haddou and Telouet. Ride from Marrakech over the Tizi-N-Tichka-Pass and get a glimpse of the way people have traditionally lived in the area with a bit of roadside chat. Visit a cooperative run by women in the Atlas Mountains, where the famous argan oil is produced by hand and organic delicacies and beauty products are sold.  Just before Ouarzazate, the gateway to the desert, enjoy the unique chance to visit the Aït-Ben-Haddou Kasbah. This little old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is perpetually used as a location for Hollywood films. Follow your guide on a 1-hour walking tour and hear about traditional life there. Stop for lunch in a local restaurant with a panoramic terrace in a newer part of Aït-Ben-Haddou and continue through the breathtaking landscape to Telouet. This fortress was occupied by Thami el Glaoui before he was expelled by independence efforts. One section has unfortunately disintegrated into red sand, but you can still visit the beautiful rooms with mosaic tiles and wood carvings. Cross the High Atlas mountains for a tea and coffee break and return to your accommodation in Marrakech around 19:00.

Ait Benhaddou and Telouet Kasbahs: Day Trip from Marrakech

7. Ait Benhaddou and Telouet Kasbahs: Day Trip from Marrakech

Experience Ait Benhaddou and Telouet Kasbahs day trip from Marrakech. Criss-cross the Atlas Mountains and take the road to the Sahara Desert on the old caravan routes. See colorful villages with houses erected from mud. See trading outposts, local art, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites featured in Hollywood blockbusters. Ride over the famous Tizi-n-Tichka, see Berber villages, and watch as the landscape changes drastically, becoming semi-arid and desert-like as the chain of the Atlas mountains acts as barrier against the Mediterranean climate of the north. Take a side road to the Telouet Kasbah, which belonged to the Pacha of the Atlas, the Glaoui, and was left to ruin after the departure of the French armies. Marvel at the tiled walls, fluted pillars, painted wooden ceilings, and colored glass windows of the reception rooms. Enjoy lunch at Ait Ben Haddou along the newly asphalted road. Once in the village, get a closer look at the Kasbah's turrets, grilled windows, and soft peach coloured adobe walls. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou, the most famous of all Moroccan kasbahs, due to its appearance in many Hollywood blockbusters. This was one of the most important fortress strongholds on the old Salt Road caravan routes, where traders brought slaves, gold, ivory, and salt from sub-Saharan Africa to Marrakech and beyond. Before leaving Ait Benhaddou, take one last glimpse of the village from a distant point offering a panoramic view.

From Marrakech: 3-Day Sahara Desert Trip

8. From Marrakech: 3-Day Sahara Desert Trip

Start your trip with a morning pickup from you hotel in Marrakech. Drive through the Tizi n’Tichka Pass of the High Atlas Mountains and enjoy the remarkable views. Pass by Berber villages and arrive in the desert to see a riverside oasis and barren hillsides clustered with kasbahs. Stop for lunch and then drive a little further to the Valley of the Roses. Stop in the fortified village Ait-Ben-Haddou before ending the day in Dades. Enjoy an over night stay in a guesthouse there.  After breakfast, drive to the Todra Gorge and marvel at its depth. From here head out to the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Arriving at approximately 4:00 PM, take a short break before riding camels into the dunes. End your evening with a mesmerizing sunset and fantastic dinner before retiring into your Berber tent.  Wake up early to see a beautiful sunrise and have breakfast at the campsite. Ride the camels to a Moroccan inn and catch your ride back to Marrakech. Relax on your drive back and revisit the gorgeous views of the Tizi n’Tichka Pass.

Marrakesh: Ait ben Haddou & High Atlas Day Trip

9. Marrakesh: Ait ben Haddou & High Atlas Day Trip

Take a breathtaking drive through the High Atlas Mountains before diving into the history of Morocco in Ait Benhaddou on this sightseeing day trip from Marrakesh. You'll begin the tour with stunning views while crossing the Tizi n’Tichka Pass on your way to Telouet; a village on the caravan route from the Sahara to Marrakech. Visit one of the most spectacular kasbahs in Morocco. Next, you'll arrive at Ait Benhaddou, where you can explore the historic Ksar with a guide and learn more about this striking example of southern Moroccan architecture. Walk up to the high point for some spectacular views.

From Marrakech: 3-Days Private Desert Tour

10. From Marrakech: 3-Days Private Desert Tour

Embark on a three-day tour from Marrakech through the beautiful scenery of southern Morocco. This journey passes through many interesting towns and villages, where you will get a look into authentic Moroccan life. Sleep in authentic nomad tents or under the stars. Day one: Marrakech - Tisi n'Tichka - Ait Ben Hadou - Ouarzazat - Skoura - Rose Valley Distance: 180 miles  Depart Marrakech and drive through the High Atlas Mountains, via the twisting Tizi n’ Tichka mountain pass to Ouarzazate. Visit the exotic Casbah of Aït Benhaddou, then continue to Ouarzazate center, where you can tour the Atlas Studios, the largest movie studio in Africa.  Enjoy lunch at the Casbah of Tourirt, the former residence of the Glaoui Dynasty. Continue to Rose Valley and the Casbah of Amerhidil in Skoura, situated by the Amerhidil River and one of the largest in Morocco. Settle in for the night in Rose Valley. Day two: Rose valley - Boumalen Dadès – Tinghir – Todra Gorge – Arfoud – Merzouga Dunes Distance: 167 miles After breakfast, depart for the Dadès Gorges and stop to enjoy the spectacular scenery while sipping on mint tea, also known as “Berber Whiskey.” Continue to Tinghir via Boulman Dadès, and see beautiful palm trees and lush landscapes. The journey then moves on the Todra Gorges for a leisurely lunch. After lunch, drive to Merzouga to trek by camel across the wind-blown Erg Chebbi Dunes, and to experience a classic Saharan desert straight from the picture books. Spend the evening in a bivouac (camp) with a typical Moroccan dinner. Sleep in a traditional nomadic tent in the dunes of Erg Chebbi under the stars. Day three: Erg Chebbi - Marrakech Distance: 347 miles Wake up early for the sunrise and a mint tea before a camel ride to a casbah hotel for breakfast and a shower. Then, return through the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech, where your adventure ends.

12 activities found
Sort by:

Other Sightseeing Options in Ait Benhaddou

Want to discover all there is to do in Ait Benhaddou? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Ait Benhaddou

Overall rating

4.9 / 5

based on 28 reviews

What a life experience! Me and my girlfriend had the best local tour ever with Aziz Talaoul, having the opportunity to discover Marocco and the Berber culture with locals through all the 5 senses. Even the food was delicious, in particular the lunch we had in an authentic Berber house (“chez L’habitant”) with Hicham and his family around At Tamdakhate. We would totally recommend it to all the adventurers who want to go back at home richer of experience and full of great memories!

We had an excellent time on this tour. Our guide Aziz was very enthusiastic showing us the different aspects of Berber culture. On top of that, he was very attentive to our well-being and a good, safe driver. The sights (desert!!) were amazing as well. I would definitely recommend this tour when you have the time in your schedule.

Long but beautiful trip. Very nice viewing of the Atlas mountains and of the villages. We had a private trip with a 4 wheel car which is much better than traveling with a minibus. The driver was excellent and took care of all our needs on the way

Hassan was an incredible guide. Very knowledgeable about the area and customs. He was very well organized and flexible. Superbly professional and authentically hospitable.

Magnificent road trip Surprising landscapes. Our driver Larby gave us lots of explanations and made us discover his country To do by private car because many roads