Day Trip From Marrakech To Ouarzazate & Ait Ben Haddou

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Ait Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate Day Trip from Marrakech

The full-day trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou is ideal for those who cannot spare more than one day to get a sneak of Morocco’s Sahara desert. Take this round trip of 400 km across the Atlas mountain range via the Tizi Ntichka pass at an altitude of 2269 meters above sea level. Marvel at the brilliant landscape views dotted with Berber villages. Visit the legendary fortified Berber village of Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou and its sister town of Ouarzazate, famous as the Hollywood of Africa.

Marrakech to Ouarzazate & Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou Day Trip Highlights:

Drive across the High Atlas Mountains.
Enjoy the scenery of snow capped Atlas peaks and Tizi N'tichka Pass.
Take the old trading caravans road from Telouet to Ksar Ait Ben Haddou.
Explore the Berber fortified village of Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou.
Visit Ouarzazate and its Atlas film studios.

Marrakech to Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate Day Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Marrakech - Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou - Ouarzazate

Your private full-day tour of Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou and Ouarzazate will start early in the morning ( 07h00 AM ) with a pick up from your hotel/riad.
Drive east of Marrakech crossing the windy high Atlas Mountains and Tizi Ntichka pass. Numerous stops will be made to enjoy the views, take photos, stretch your legs or drink a cup of coffee.
Visit Ait Benhaddou village (where Star Wars, Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones, etc... were filmed).
As one of the world's cultural treasures, UNESCO has classified the fortified village of Ait Benhaddou. It is studded with crenelated towers, and its buildings are decorated with geometrical motifs and are considered one of the most beautiful villages of this kind in Morocco. A program of restoration work is currently underway to encourage the population of the village, which is at present inhabited by just five families.
Continue to Ouarzazate, which marks the beginning of the Sahara desert. Visit Taourirt Kasbah. This former Glaoui residence, situated on the edge of the town, on the road to Morocco's Sahara desert, is considered one of Morocco's most beautiful kasbahs. It consists of a maze of luxury apartments, simple clay houses, and crenelated towers lavishly decorated with geometric motifs. Part of the fortified village is open to the public.
After some time at leisure for a cup of mint tea or coffee, drive back to Marrakech later in the afternoon while crossing the High Atlas Mountains.
Your Full day trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou will end late in the afternoon with a drop-off at your hotel or the nearest accessible point to your Medina Riad.

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Day Trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate Prices:

Number of Participants:	1	2	3	4	5	6	7-9	10-13	14-17
Price per person:	189€	99€	70€	55€	45€	40€	35€	25€	23€

Number of Participants:	Price per person:
1	189€
2	99€
3	70€
4	55€
5	45€
6	40€
7-9	35€
10-13	25€
14-17	23€

What is included in this Day Trip to Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate:

A/C modern vehicle driven by an English speaking driver/guide.

Pick up/drop off at your hotel/riad.

Guided tour of Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou.

Not included

Lunch & beverages.

Entrance fees to the film studios.

Entrance fees to Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou from Marrakech?

The distance between Marrakech and Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou is 180 Km (112 miles) via N9 across the High Atlas Mountains and Tizi N’Tichka pass, then deviate on P1506 to the Village of Ait Ben Haddou.
How far is Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou from Ourzazate?

The distance between Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou and Ouarzazate is 30 Km.
Is Ouarzazate located in the desert?

It depends on what you consider a desert. If it is sand dunes, camels and camps, NO, Ouarzazate is not located in the Sahara desert. You still need to drive an extra 5 hours to reach such a desert in Mhamid or Merzouga.
Is Ouarzazate worth visiting?

Ouarzazate is located at the gates of the Moroccan Sahara desert. The major attractions to visit on a Ouarzazate day trip from Marrakech are the Kasbah of Telouet, Ksar Ait Ben Haddou, Atlas Film Studios and The KAsbah of Telouet. The scenic drive through the High Atlas Mountains,, and Tizi N’Tichka pass is fantastic. However, the drive is VERY long: 4 hour drive from Marrakech to Ouarzazate on curvy roads can not be supported by so many.
What is Ouarzazate is Famous for?

Beside Famous film studios like Atlas and CLA, Ouarzazate is also known for its art and culture. You will be amazed to see how the people of Ouarzazate create their houses which adapt to all kinds of weather, hot and cold because the temperate in Ouarzazate varies a lot. In summer, it can reach up to 48 C°
How old is Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou?

It is believed the Ksar was first built during the 11th century ( during the Almoravid period ). However, non of the existing buildings date to before the 17th century. The strategic location of the fortified village in Ounila Valley made it an essential stop for trading caravans since the 11th century crossing the Sahara desert to Marrakech and Fes.
How do I get from Ouarzazate to Ait Ben Haddou?

You can get a shared taxi from Ouarzazate to Ait-Ben Haddou. They usually do not go directly to Benhaddou tell them where you want to go. They will stop in a tiny town and from there you will take another taxi to Ait Ben Haddou. The drive from Ouarzazate to Ait Ben Hadou is only 30 minutes via /N10/N9 and P1506.

Reviews

Long journey from Marrakech to Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou

Kelly. M – Feb 2020:

The trip was long, since each way took roughly 4 hours. Overall, we had a fantastic time since it fit into our schedule. Our Driver Mohamed was kind and considerate, prioritizing our comfort and safety. He was fluent in English and quite knowledgeable about Morocco. If you are short on time and want to visit Morocco desert, I would suggest this tour to Ouarzazate and Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou.

Marrakech to Ouarzazate & Ait Ben Haddou

Benny. S – Nov 2019:

The trip was as advertised, with a tour through the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate. (Beware: most of the kasbahs you will drive past are in ruins since they are 300-400 years old). Getting to the summit of theAit Ben Hadou village requires quite a few steps. In addition, the journey is around 4 hours each way, so you'll spend about 8 hours on the road in a car.

highly recommended tour for short timers

Andres. F – Jun 2019:

Our experienced tour guide, Reda, provided us with an unforgettable experience. He was on time, very knowledgeable, and had a lot of expertise. Given the twisty mountain roads, he was also a superb driver. We were picked up from our hotel at 7:00 a.m. and began our journey. There were several photo opportunities as well as restroom and coffee breaks. The suggested meal (at an extra fee) was really excellent and cost around 10 Euros. The kasbah (Ait Ben Haddou) offers a great perspective from the top, however I would recommend wearing a hat and sunscreen because it is really hot when you arrive. We definitely suggest Reda because of his kindness, which made our tour unique.