Day Trip From Marrakech To Ouarzazate & Ait Ben Haddou

(679 Reviews)

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.

Included

  • 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.

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.

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€

Map

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.

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679 Reviews
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Leif Kristensen

Couple Traveller

We had an amazing trip to Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate with our guide Lahcen. What was really impressive about his is his ability to speak multiple languages, so communicating with him in English was a breeze. Our day started with a convenient pickup from the bustling souks area near our Riad. As we journeyed through the striking Atlas Mountains, Lahcen shared fascinating insights about the mountains and the beautiful surroundings. And to our delight, he even treated us to some tunes adding an extra touch of enjoyment to the drive. During our route to Ait Ben Haddou, Lahcen made several stops, allowing us to capture the breathtaking mountain views in photographs. He also took us to visit an Argan Oil Women’s Cooperative, which was a lovely experience. Upon reaching Ait Ben Haddou, Lahcen organized a local guide who led us through the heritage site, sharing captivating stories and history.

August 26, 2023

Eamon O'Sullivan

Family Traveller

Our driver and guide, Abdel, was truly exceptional. He skillfully handled both driving and guiding duties. He patiently answered all our questions and shared a wealth of information about Morocco and the Berber traditions. The entire day was captivating, especially the scenic drive through the stunning Atlas mountains. The visit to Ait Ben Haddou was delightful, offering us a chance to explore its beauty. Overall, it was an absolutely wonderful day.

August 25, 2023

Isolde Weber

Group Traveller

We had such a wonderful journey, and our driver Amin truly made it an even better experience! He was incredibly patient and helpful, letting us take breaks and pause to enjoy any sights we wanted during our trip. He always made sure we were comfortable and looked after. His care made our first-time visit absolutely amazing, and we’re definitely looking forward to more trips like this in the future!

August 23, 2023

Ilsa van der Berg

Couple Traveller

We had a really enjoyable trip that went smoothly. Everything happened according to schedule. Our driver, Ali, was incredibly friendly and made our journey so much more pleasant. He shared a wealth of information with us, making the time we spent in the car fly by and helping us ignore the twists and turns of the road. The places we stopped at between Marrakech and Ouarzazate were picturesque and perfect for snapping some photos. The restaurant Ali brought us to was excellent, serving delicious traditional food. If we decide to visit Morocco again, we’ll definitely get in touch to arrange a Sahara tour.

August 21, 2023

Dashiell Greene

Solo Traveller

I want to express my gratitude for an amazing day trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate. It was a bit of a long day, but the driver ensured a comfortable pace, and it was a fantastic chance to experience various regions of the country. We got to visit a world heritage site and the backdrop of many famous movies.

August 20, 2023
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