The Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, is a fortified red-brick citadel with corner towers. The unique color of the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah is due to the mixture of straw, stones and mud used in its construction. There are many buildings inside, including common areas, houses and other buildings, such as stables, stables and granaries, and shops and shops. Even though it may not seem like it, there are still families here.
As soon as your arrive at the parking lot, you’ll notice a little more on the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah situated on a hill. To reach it, you will need to cross now dry Ounilla river.
The best time to visit the kasbah is in the morning, or just before sunset if you don’t want to be crowded with tourists. I was the only tourist to visit Ait Ben Haddou. It was a very unique experience and one of the best Private Tours in Morocco. It is nice to be able to stroll in peace, admire the buildings, courtyards and houses, and talk with the craftsmen who run the shops and stores. I was invited by a man selling jewelry and other clothes to have tea in his shop. He told me about his family’s history and offered me tea. I was also welcomed by one of his gentlemen, who worked in a carpet-making workshop. Contrary to what happens at Merzouga desert camps they didn’t insist I buy anything. They chatted with me and smiled, but not expecting anything in return.
You can climb up to the top of your aimless wanderings to reach the ruin of an Azadir (fortified Granary), from where you can admire the view of the surrounding desert landscape.
Ait Ben Haddou’s visit is free, and there are no tickets to purchase. However, you might find someone asking for 10 dirhams at entry for an elusive renovation.
Ait Ben Haddou – Game of Thrones and more
Ait Ben Haddou, which is still in good condition and has managed to regain its appearance from the 11th century when it was a popular almoravid caravanserai, is due to film investments. The Moroccan kasbah has been home to many important films since the 1950s.
As I already mentioned in the post dedicated the locations of the TV series, the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou belonged to Yunkai, one of the cities of the Bay of the freed slavers liberated by Daenerys.
How do I get to Ait Ben Haddou
To travel to Ait Ben Haddou by car, take the N9 road, which cuts through the Atlas and passes through the Tizin-Tichka pass (2260m). Continue down this road until you reach Ouarzazate. Once you reach Tazentoute you will need to take a detour marked by signs. In a matter of minutes, you will arrive at Ait Ben Haddou.
It takes approximately 3 and a 1/2 hours to drive from Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou.
You can move by public transport if you don’t have a car or prefer to use public transport. I took the bus from Marrakech to Ouarzazate. The journey will take you about four and a quarter hours, but it’s still beautiful. A stop at an authentic Moroccan “Autogrill”, with fresh squeezed orange juice and meat, is included.
You can either take a taxi to the city or a grand taxi to share your ride with others. Ouarzazate is 32km from Ait Ben Haddou. I took a taxi from Ouarzazate, which accompanied me throughout the day. I visited Ait Ben Haddou and the Atlas Studios, as well as the oasis of Fint. It was a wonderful day of discovery. Thanks to the taxi driver who was very kind and helpful, I was able to talk a lot about my family and work. He also shared stories and anecdotes about his life in Ouarzazate.
I hope you have found this information helpful.