Day Trip From Marrakech To Ait Ben Haddou
Overview:
- 1 Day
- Start in Marrakech
- Back To Marrakech
This day trip to Ait Ben Haddou is a great way to see the mountains and the history of morocco in just one day. we start from marrakech and drive through the high atlas mountains. the drive takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes to reach the kasbah. the road is very beautiful and has many nice views of berber villages, and we will stop at the tizi n’tichka pass to take photos.
the most important part of our trip is the kasbah of ait ben haddou. it is a very old place and unesco says it is a world heritage site. you might recognize it because many famous movies were made there, like gladiator or the mummy.
after we have lunch, we also visit ouarzazate to see the big film studios and the taourirt kasbah. it is a long day trip, but you will see many interesting things and learn about our culture. it is a perfect day for people who love history and nature.
Highlights of Trip:
- The high atlas mountains: you will see the highest mountains in north africa. the views are very big and beautiful.
- Tizi n'tichka pass: we stop at the highest point of the road (2260 meters). it is a great place for photos of the winding roads below.
- Traditional berber villages: you can see how people live in the mountains in small houses made of stone and mud.
- Ait ben haddou (unesco site): this is the best part. it is a famous "ksar" (fortified village) that is hundreds of years old.
- The movie sets: you will walk where famous actors filmed gladiator, game of thrones, and the mummy.
- Atlas film studios: we visit the "hollywood of africa" in ouarzazate where they keep big sets from many movies.
- taourirt kasbah: a beautiful old palace in ouarzazate with very nice architecture.
Trip Itinerary: Marrakech To Ait Ben Haddou Day Trip
08:30 am | pick up from your hotel
our driver will meet you at your riad or hotel in marrakech. we start the trip early so we have plenty of time to enjoy the day. we drive towards the mountains in a comfortable car.
morning | crossing the high atlas mountains
the drive is very beautiful and takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes to reach our destination. we will go through the famous tizi n’tichka pass. it is the highest point on the road. we will stop here so you can take amazing photos of the mountains and see the small berber villages where people live.
12:00 pm | exploring ait ben haddou kasbah
we arrive at the famous ait ben haddou. this place is a unesco world heritage site and it looks like a castle made of sand. you can walk through the narrow streets and climb to the top for a great view. you will see where movies like gladiator were filmed.
01:30 pm | lunch break
after walking around, we take a break for lunch. you can enjoy a delicious moroccan tagine or couscous in a local restaurant with a view of the kasbah.
03:00 pm | ouarzazate & film studios
after lunch, we drive a short distance to ouarzazate, which people call the “hollywood of africa.” we can visit the atlas film studios to see big movie sets. we also stop to see the taourirt kasbah, another beautiful old palace.
04:30 pm | driving back to marrakech
we start our journey back through the atlas mountains. the light in the afternoon is very nice for seeing the mountains again.
08:00 pm | arrival in marrakech
we will drop you off at your hotel or riad in the evening. you will have many memories and photos from a great day in the desert and mountains.
Day Trip To Ait Ben Haddou From Marrakech Includes & Excludes:
Includes:
- Private transport in a comfortable car for two days, we use good cars.
- Professional, local and safe driver/guide.
- Pick up and drop off at your accommodation
- Experienced english speaking driver/guide
- Braks at every beautiful panoramic view
- visit all the mentioned places above
- Free time for lunch
Excludes:
- Lunch and drinks during the trip
- Entrance Fees to monuments (optional)
- Tips for the driver (optional)
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Tips To Get Ready For Your Trip:
- wear comfy shoes: you will walk on old stones and climb some stairs in the kasbah. sneakers are better than sandals for this.
- bring layers of clothes: the mountains can be cold in the morning but the desert area is hot. it is good to have a light jacket you can take off.
- sun protection: the sun is strong even if it feels cool. please bring a hat sunglasses and some sunscreen.
- cash is king: many small shops and the local restaurants do not take cards. it is better to have some moroccan dirhams for lunch and small gifts.
- motion sickness: the road has many turns because we cross the mountains. if you get car sick easily it is a good idea to bring some medicine.
- respect the locals: the people are very friendly but always ask before you take a photo of someone or their shop.
Frequently Asked Questions:
yes, children can come! but remember it is a long day in the car. if your kids are very young, please let us know so we can bring a car seat for them.
yes, it is very safe. our drivers are very experienced and they know the mountain roads very well. we take care of you from the moment we pick you up until we bring you back home.
It is not very hard but there are many stairs and some rocks. It is better if you wear good walking shoes or sneakers not sandals.
If it rains the trip is still very beautiful. The mountains look green and the red earth of the Kasbah becomes very dark and pretty. But the roads can be a bit slippery so our drivers go very slow and safe. It is good to bring an umbrella or a light rain jacket just in case. Also some parts of the Kasbah might have some mud so good shoes are important.
Yes, usually we can stop in Ouarzazate to see the Atlas Studios. It is very famous because they filmed movies like Gladiator and Game of Thrones there