How to Visit Ait Ben Haddou

If you’re wondering how to visit Ait Ben Haddou during your visit to Morocco, this post is for you.

Ait Ben Haddou is an ancient village near the popular desert town of Ouarzazate and is a must for first time visitors to Morocco.

Ait Ben Haddou was built along a former trading route between the Sahara desert and Marrakech. The village is estimated to have existed from the 17th century and features traditional Morrocan earthen architecture.

It’s neighbor, Ouarzazate, is known for it’s many movie studios and is considered the Hollywood of Morocco.

Ait Ben Haddou itself has been the setting for many major films including Gladiator, Babel, Prince of Persia and many more.

Currently, there are only four families that continue to reside in Aït Ben Haddou. The remaining families have moved across the river into more modern homes. 

In 1987 Ait Ben Haddou was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A visit to Ait Ben Haddou provides a unique opportunity to see ancient Moroccan architecture and observe how locals previously lived. 

In this Ait Ben Haddou travel guide I’ll share everything you need to know to plan your visit. I’ll also share a few important Ait Ben Haddou travel tips to help your visit go smoothly.

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How to Visit Ait Ben Haddou

In this complete guide to Ksar Ait Ben Haddou I’ll help you plan your first visit to this important historical site. I include how to get to Ait Ben Haddou, where to stay in Ait Ben Haddou, and what to expect when you arrive.

Ait Ben Haddou is utterly unforgettable. This ancient fortress town in southern Morocco has been used as a backdrop for Hollywood movies like Gladiator and Prince of Persia, and with its dramatic sandstone buildings and winding streets, it’s not hard to see why.

If you’re looking for a unique travel destination that’s off the beaten path, then put Ait Ben Haddou on your list – you won’t regret it.

Ait Ben Haddou Day Trip from Marrakesh

The easiest way to visit Ait Ben Haddou is to take an Ait Ben Haddou day trip from Marrakesh.

An Ait Ben Haddou day tour will take a full day, about 13 hours, but comes with hotel pick up and drop off and a guided tour once you arrive at Ait Ben Hadddou.

The Ait Ben Haddou day tour includes stops at Ait Ben Barka, Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate (this is where Game of Thrones was filmed), and finally explore Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou.

After visiting Ait Ben Haddou you’ll head back to your accommodations in Marrakesh.

How to Get to Ait Ben Haddou from Marrakech

To get to Ait Ben Haddou from Marrakesh you can either fly into the local airport in Ouarzazate or make the drive from Marrakech through the Atlas Mountains and Tichka Pass.

If flying, there are direct flights from Marrakech on Royal Air Maroc. Airfare varies, but flights can be found for as little as $29 (USD), and take about 40 minutes.

If traveling by land, the drive from Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou will take about four hours. Road trips are popular around Morocco so you’ll likely share the road with many other travelers as well.

Be advised, the road from Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou is a long, windy, two-lane road as you pass through the Atlas Mountains.

I suggest making the trek during the day if possible. 

If you’re looking for the cheapest and slowest option to get from Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou, you can take the bus.

The bus will cost about 90 Dirhams and takes about 5 hours. There are about 4 busses that run per day beginning at 8:00 a.m. Purchase tickets in advance here.

When taking the bus you will need to request to exit the bus at the crossroads before Ouarzazate.

From the crossroads near Ouarzazate you will need to take a taxi or grand taxi (shared taxi) the remainder of the way to Ait Benhaddou.

There are typically taxis waiting in this area during the day time. The ride in the taxi will take about 15 minutes and should cost about 10 Dirhams.

Many local tour groups will lead day trips from Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate. These tours will leave early in the morning and return in the evening.

For those on a guided group desert tour out to the Sahara, visitors will usually make the four hour drive from Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou, see the signts and then spend the night before heading into the Sahara the next morning.

Hotel at Ait Ben Haddou

My hotel at Ait Ben Haddou was the Riad Ksar Ighnda. I was impressed by the grounds and amenities of this hotel but I do not believe they are still open as their website is currently down and they are not taking reservations.

To find a good hotel near Ait Ben Haddou I recommend using a search engine like Booking.com to find accommodations.

You’re not going to find a Marriott or Hilton here, but there are plenty of great local places to stay.

If you’re looking for something a bit fancier, consider booking accommodations about 30 minutes away in Ouarzazate.

How to visit Ait Ben Haddou

When visiting Ait Ben Haddou, I recommend arriving as early as possible.

Arriving early will allow you to beat both the crowds and the heat. 

Admission to Ait Ben Haddou is 10 Dirhams, or about $1 (U.S.). Visitors are welcome from sunrise to sunset.

Visiting Ait Ben Haddou will require moderate hiking and climbing of several stairways.

Bring good shoes and a bottle of water. You should also bring along extra Dirhams in case you wish to make any purchases.

If visiting during the middle of the day bring a hat. 

What to do at Ait Ben Haddou

As you make your way up the path through Ait Ben Haddou, you will pass a few areas where the residents and locals sell handmade clothing, jewelry, textiles, and art.

Feel free to browse and look around if you like, there’s no pressure to buy and the locals are friendly.

I found prices here to be reasonable, but don’t forget to bargain.

As a general rule, always make a counteroffer when making souvenir purchases in Morocco. It is expected, so don’t be shy and just pay the first price you receive.

Bargaining when you shop is part of the experience of being here. Have fun with it, but make sure you’re offering a fair price in return and always be polite. 

Things to do in Ait Ben Haddou

A visit to Ait Ben Haddou will center around exploring the historical site. During your visit the local guides will share information about the site and its history which will give you a better understanding of the local culture.

Once your tour is complete or you’ve finished exploring the homes, head up to the very top of the hill. From the top you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful view of the surrounding desert along with a birds-eye view of Ait Ben Haddou down below.

At the top of the hill, you’ll find a small rectangular building which used to be the vault or bank for the city.

Today the building is no longer in use, but the hilltop makes a great place to get photos of the surrounding desert landscape. 

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post about how to visit Ait Ben Haddou Morocco and that you’ve found it useful in planning your own trip.

I found my time exploring Ait Ben Haddou to be one of my favorite memories from my visit to Morocco. I’m sure it will be an experience you remember for years to come as well.

Hopefully after visiting Ait Ben Haddou you plan to go Camping in the Sahara as well. I’ll never forget how quiet and peaceful it was. If you enjoyed this post I would love it if you could share it. It really helps me a lot. Thanks for reading.

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