Ait Ben Haddou, Dades and Todra: visiting tips

Ait Ben Haddou at a glance

Ait Ben Haddou is a fortified mud-brick village, a ksar, on the Ounila river south of the High Atlas. In the past, caravans travelling between the Sahara and Marrakech passed through here. Since 1987 the ksar has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Houses and granaries cling to the hillside, and at the very top stands the old communal granary with a wide view over the valley.

Today only a few families still live in the old ksar. Most residents have moved to the new village across the river, where you also find the cafés and shops.

Getting there from Marrakech

From Marrakech it is about 190 kilometres over the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m), Morocco’s highest mountain road. With photo stops the drive takes about 4 hours. A detour to the kasbah of Telouet on the way is worth it. Ouarzazate, the “gateway to the desert”, is only about 30 kilometres further.

A day trip from Marrakech is possible but long. It is nicer to visit Ait Ben Haddou on the way to the desert and then stay overnight in Ouarzazate, Skoura or the Dades Valley.

Tips for your visit

Best time of day: late afternoon, when the light turns the mud walls red. Mornings are quieter and cooler.
Time needed: allow about 1 to 2 hours to climb through the lanes to the granary at the top.
Entrance: walking through the ksar is usually free. Some families show you their house for a small tip.
Shoes: the paths are steep and stony, so sturdy shoes are better than sandals.
Where to stay: from the small kasbah hotels opposite the ksar you watch the sunset right from the terrace.

Films and series

Ait Ben Haddou is one of the most famous film sets in the world. Among others, Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator and scenes from the series Game of Thrones were shot here. In Ouarzazate there are large film studios you can visit on the way.

Dades or Todra Gorge?

Beyond Ouarzazate, the Road of the Kasbahs leads to two famous gorges only about an hour’s drive apart. Many people ask which one is more beautiful. The honest answer: they are very different.

	Dades Gorge	Todra Gorge
Landscape	Wide valley with red rock formations	Narrow canyon with walls up to about 300 m
Highlight	The hairpin road and its viewpoint	A walk by the river between the rock walls
Best	By car, with photo stops and a night in the valley	On foot, in the morning
Nearby	Valley of Roses at Kelaat M’Gouna	The palm oasis of Tinghir

Path through the Todra Gorge — In the Todra Gorge you walk along the river between high rock walls.

Our tip: you don’t have to choose. On our 3-day desert tour you spend the night in the Dades Gorge and walk through the Todra Gorge the next morning before heading to Merzouga.

Our tours via Ait Ben Haddou

Almost all our tours to the south pass through Ait Ben Haddou:

3 days Marrakech, Merzouga, Marrakech: Ait Ben Haddou, Dades, Todra and desert camp
3 days Marrakech, Merzouga, Fes: the same route, ending in Fes
4 days Erg Chegaga: Ait Ben Haddou, the Draa Valley and quiet dunes
6 days Oases and Sahara: with a night in a kasbah in Skoura
8 days Imperial cities and desert: Ait Ben Haddou on the last day

More routes are in our article Private Morocco tour: itineraries from 3 to 16 days.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Ait Ben Haddou from Marrakech?

About 190 kilometres over the Tizi n’Tichka pass in the High Atlas, which is about 4 hours’ drive with photo stops. Ouarzazate is only about 30 kilometres away.

Is there an entrance fee for Ait Ben Haddou?

Walking through the ksar is usually free. Some families show you their house or the view from their terrace for a small tip.

Which films were shot in Ait Ben Haddou?

Among others Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator and scenes from the series Game of Thrones. Many film crews work in the studios of nearby Ouarzazate.

Dades or Todra: which gorge is more beautiful?

The Todra Gorge is narrow and high, ideal for a walk. The Dades Gorge is wider, with red rock formations and the famous hairpin road. On our desert tours you usually see both.