Aït-Benhaddou

Aït-Benhaddou is a ksar (fortified village) of earthen buildings in Morocco, on the Ounila River at the southern foot of the High Atlas.

Aït-Benhaddou is a traditional mud brick city on the edge of the High Atlas Mountains. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and has been featured in many films, mostly as a stand-in for Jerusalem. It has appeared in more than 10 films, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.

The ksar was added to the UNESCO list in 1987. For centuries it was a stop on the caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. Only a few families still live inside the old ksar; most residents live in the newer village across the river.

Overnighting in Aït Benhaddou is recommendable as you get to see the Ksar in different lighting conditions. It looks very different in the morning when sun rises or when the sun is just setting.

Aït Benhaddou is accessible from Ouarzazate and Marrakesh.

Most buses do not go directly to Aït Benhaddou but can drop you off at the turn off about 7 km away from where you will have to find a lift. Or, you can get dropped off a little earlier at Tadoula, from where you can walk through the desert for about 5 km.

A grand taxi seat from Ouarzazate costs 20 dirham (as of 2023). From or to the junction at the highway, it is 10 dirham.

Or, you arrange a private hire of a taxi for the trip. During the daytime, grand taxis are always waiting at the crossing.

From Marrakesh it will be a full day trip and thus a private tour might not be a bad idea.

Aït Benhaddou is 9 km off the main Tizi n Tichka road, which links Ouarzazate to Marrakech. Coming from Ouarzazate, turn to the right after about 18 km from the town. It's quite a scenic drive to Aït Benhaddou. On the way into town there is a slight turn to the right, which is a popular spot for great views over the town and the Kasbah.

Once inside the Ksar you can only walk or climb. There are two main entrances into the Ksar. One can be reached by new bridge. To reach the second, it is necessary to cross the river using the stepping stones (in dry season the river is completely dry).

The town itself is the main attraction, with mud buildings climbing up the side of the hill.

• 31.05-7.1333331 Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou.  (updated Dec 2023)
• 31.04693-7.129082 Granary (at the top of the hill). Impressive and well worth the effort to get up there. Free.  
• Mausoleum of Ben-Haddou (is at the base of the hill).  
• Koranic School.  (updated Mar 2020)

• Climb to the top the hill for breathtaking views.
• Rent a bike and drive up the Ounila Valley road to Telouet (about 40 km), past earthen villages such as Tamdaght and Anemiter. It was paved a few years ago but traffic is still scarce.

There are several shops within the town that sell souvenirs from all over the Sahara, particularly prevalent are models of the Ksar and wooden artifacts from the Dogon people in Mali.

There is a very friendly carpet shop in the newer part of town near the post office.

Many touristy restaurants and cafés.

• Hotel la Baraka (in the newer part of town). has a restaurant with a nice courtyard. 

• Auberge La Goulade. The first auberge along the road into Ait Benhaddou, run by a French man and his Moroccan wife. Very friendly, excellent food and good price. 
• Hotel Restaurant La Rose Du Sable, Kasbah, ☏ +212 5 24 89 00 22, blue-touareg@hotmail.fr. Clean, comfortable rooms. Great food. (updated Jun 2022)
• Riad Ksar Ighnda, Douar As Falou (3 km past Ait Ben Haddou), ☏ +212 5 24 88 76 44, contact@ighnda.net. In an authentic yet modern setting, Riad Ksar Ighnda opens its doors for you onto the Atlas Mountains with rooms in tadelakt with air conditioning. 
• La kasbah Ait Benhaddou, Cercle Amerzgane, ☏ +212 661580567, contact@hotelkasbahaitbenhaddou.com. Ideally located near the famous Ksar, our tourist resort has more than 100 rooms equipped to meet different tastes and budgets. 300-650 dirham/person per night. 
• Kasbah Tebi, Ksar, ☏ +212 6 61 94 11 53. Authentic renovated Berber Kasbah. Magnificent view. Tranquillity. Hospitable. 400 DM per person per night (halfboard). 
• Hotel Riad Caravane, ☏ +212 651 469 087. Chic hotel in restored Berber house. Small pool and views towards the Ksar. Located around one kilometre from the village. 

• Ouarzazate
• High Atlas
• Telouet – about 40 km north up the Ounila Valley, with the partly ruined kasbah of the Glaoui family, known for its painted cedar ceilings and zellij tilework. From the village a side road of about 20 km joins the main Marrakech road a few kilometres south of the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, so you can return to Marrakech that way.