Ait Ben Haddou
The UNESCO-listed earthen ksar: Morocco's most famous kasbah, and a film star.
Ait Ben Haddou is Morocco's most spectacular ksar, a UNESCO-listed fortified village of raw earth. Its kasbahs, stacked up the hillside, look out over the Mellah river.
A stop on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech, it has been the backdrop to countless films. At sunset, the ochre earth catches fire.
UNESCO cites it as the most representative example of southern Moroccan building: a fortified village of raw earth on the old Saharan caravan route, decorated with clay brick since the 17th century.
Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou — inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987.
What to see and do in Ait Ben Haddou
- The UNESCO-listed fortified ksar
- The climb to the communal granary (agadir) for the view
- Crossing the Mellah river
- The sugar-and-saffron painting workshops
- Sunset over the kasbahs
Frequently asked questions
How long do we spend there?
One to two hours with our guide. We are happy to build in a night there: the ksar at sunset and sunrise, without the coach parties.
How does it fit into the tour?
Thirty minutes from Ouarzazate, on the Marrakech road over the Tichka pass. We drive you there: it is a stop on every one of our southern tours.