Aït Benhaddou
ⴰⵢⵜ ⴱⵏ ⵃⴰⴷⴷⵓ / آيت بن حدو
A fortified mud-brick village on the old Saharan trade route, a World Heritage Site and filming location for Game of Thrones and Gladiator, reachable in a day from Marrakech over the Atlas Mountains.
Ait Benhaddou is a 17th-century fortified mud-brick ksar on the Ounila River, 30 km west of Ouarzazate. It once served as a waystation on the caravan route from Marrakech to the Sahara and was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1987. Multi-storey mud-brick houses and corner towers climb the hillside in tiers, and at the top are the ruins of granaries, offering views over the river valley and desert. Today only a few families remain in the village; most residents live in the new village across the river. Dozens of films and TV series have been shot here, including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, The Mummy and Game of Thrones (where it stood in for the city of Yunkai). From Marrakech it is about 190 km and 3.5 to 4 hours via the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m). A day trip takes 8 to 9 hours round-trip, with stops along the way at the pass viewpoint and, optionally, the Glaoui palace at Telouet. A three-day, two-night Sahara tour that spends the first night here is the better option. Entry is free, though crossing the bridge or entering some homes costs MAD 10 to 20. Wear good shoes, as the climb to the top takes about 30 minutes. Morning and evening light is best, while tour groups are busiest at midday. The Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate (MAD 80) can be visited on the way. In winter, snow occasionally closes the pass, so check road conditions before setting out. The mountain roads have many bends, so bring motion sickness medication if needed.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Ounila Valley & Tamdaght
- Kasbah Tifoultoute
- Atlas Studios
- Ouarzazate Cinema Museum
- Kasbah Taourirt
- Telouet Kasbah
- Fint Oasis
- Tizi n'Tichka Pass