Aït Ben Haddou Ksar
2 hEveryoneDog-friendly
A fortified mud-brick village of the 17th century, a World Heritage site since 1987: a free climb of about 2 h to the granary at the top.
From Marrakesh4 h · 190 km via Tichka
To Ouarzazate30 min
Best timeMar · Apr · Oct · Nov
Minimum timeHalf a day
PassTizi n'Tichka, 2,260 m
The road from Marrakesh crosses the province of Al Haouz The N9 over the Tizi n'Tichka crosses Al Haouz, one of the provinces affected by the 2023 earthquake that the Spanish Foreign Ministry advises against travelling to (advice updated on 9 July 2026). Check it before leaving; if it is still in force, consider arriving via Ouarzazate, which has an airport.
What to do
What to do in Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Tizi n'Tichka Pass
30 minEveryone, with stops for car sickness
The N9 pass between Marrakesh and Ouarzazate, at about 2,200 m: bends, lorries, cafés at the top and possible snow from November to March.
Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate
1 hEveryone
The Glaoui mud-brick kasbah in the centre of Ouarzazate: rooms with painted cedar ceilings; visited in 1 h for about 25 DH.
Plan the trip
Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate
In spring and autumn. In July and August Ouarzazate exceeds 38 °C. In winter the Tizi n'Tichka pass may close for a few hours because of snow: check road conditions before setting out.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Where to stay
Where to stay in Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate
Small hotel
Kasbah Tebi
Why we like it: For sleeping inside the ksar, in old houses with towers. At night, when the visitors leave, the village is all yours.
Riad Ksar Ighnda
Why we like it: A large kasbah-style hotel on the outskirts of the village, with a pool for the afternoon and parking.
Le Berbère Palace
Why we like it: Ouarzazate's classic hotel, with a garden and pool, for sleeping in comfort before or after the desert.
Nearby
Near Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Arrive in the afternoon or sleep here
The tour groups arrive mid-morning. At sunset and first thing, the ksar is yours.
- 2Cross by the new bridge
You no longer need to wade the river. The shops on the other side offer "guides": you don't need them.
- 3Climb to the granary at the top
From the top you see the Ounila valley and the plain towards Ouarzazate.
What is Aït Ben Haddou?
A ksar, a fortified village of mud-brick houses packed onto a hillside, on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. Few families live inside today and almost everything is shops and houses that can be visited. You know it even if you don't know it: dozens of films and series have been shot here. It can be seen in two or three hours.
How to get there from Marrakesh
It is about 190 km and about four hours along the N9 and the Tizi n'Tichka pass, at 2,260 m, with many bends and lorries. Stop at the pass and, if you have time, detour to the Telouet kasbah. Without a car, the CTM and Supratours buses go to Ouarzazate and from there a grand taxi drops you at the ksar in half an hour.
It is the logical first night of the trip to the desert: the next day you continue to the Dadès and Todra gorges.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to pay to enter Aït Ben Haddou?
The ksar itself is free to walk through. Some houses charge a small fee to show their interior or terrace.
Is it worth sleeping here?
Yes, if you are on the way to the desert. You see the ksar without groups and split the long journey from Marrakesh.
What is there in Ouarzazate?
The Taourirt kasbah, the Atlas film studios and the biggest choice of hotels in the south. It is a functional town, one you pass through.
Can you do it in a day from Marrakesh?
You can, but it is eight hours on the road for two or three of sightseeing. It is much better to sleep here.