Day trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou
This day trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou takes you to the UNESCO-listed site of Ait Ben Haddou. Travel by air-conditioned Minibus from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and see the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, including the spectacular Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has served as the setting for countless films. You will see the old Taourirt Kasbah, a Palace with 300 rooms, and the famed Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate, Morocco, the gateway to the Sahara desert.
Main info:
Departure location:
Marrakech
Return location:
Marrakech
Departure time:
06:00 AM
Itinerary duration
Day Tour
Highlights of our tour:
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains on a road trip.
- Enjoy the view of the Tizi Ntichka Pass and the snow-capped Atlas peaks.
- Ouarzazate
- From Telouet, use the historic trade caravans route to Ksar Ait Ben Haddou.
- Explore Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou, a Berber walled settlement.
- Visit the Atlas film studios in Ouarzazate
Day trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate overview:
The day trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate is great for people who can only spare one day to see Morocco’s Sahara desert. Take this 420-kilometer round trip through the Atlas mountain through the Tizi Ntichka pass at an elevation of 2260 meters above sea level. Take in the breathtaking scenery peppered with Berber towns. Visit the ancient walled Berber settlement of Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou as well as its twin town, Ouarzazate, dubbed “Africa’s Hollywood.”
The Itinerary of Day trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate:
Day 1: Marrakech - High Atlas mountains - Ouarzazate
The private day trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and, Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou will begin with a pick-up from your hotel/riad at 6:00 a.m.
Drive east of Marrakech, passing via the Tizi Ntichka pass and the windswept high Atlas Mountains. There will be several breaks along the journey to take in the scenery, snap photographs, stretch your legs, or sip a cup of coffee.
Visit the town of Ait Benhaddou (where Star Wars were filmed). The walled town of Ait Benhaddou has been designated by UNESCO as one of the world’s cultural treasures. It really is dotted with castellated towers and its buildings are ornamented with geometrical themes, and it is regarded as one of Morocco’s most attractive settlements of this kind. A rehabilitation project is presently underway to promote the village’s population, which is now comprised of just five households.
Drive to Ouarzazate, which marks the start of the Sahara desert, from here. Taourirt Kasbah is a must-see. This old Glaoui home, located on the outskirts of town on the way to Morocco’s Sahara desert, is regarded as one of the country’s most stunning kasbahs. It is made up of a labyrinth of luxury flats, modest clay cottages, and crenelated towers with geometric patterns beautifully adorned. The public may see a portion of the fortified settlement.
After some free time for a glass of mint tea or coffee, travel back to Marrakech over the High-Atlas Mountains later in the day.
Your day trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou will conclude with a drop-off at your hotel or in the city center late in the afternoon.
Tour includes:
- Pickup and drop off from accommodation.
- Vehicle with gasoline
- Dinner and Breakfast
Tour excludes:
- Lunches
- Tips
- Soft drinks
Testimonials:
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Highlights overview:
Ait Benhaddou Kasbah:
The Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou will be visited on this day excursion from Marrakech to Ouarzazate. It is Morocco’s biggest Kasbah. It’s also a collection of Kasbahs and adobe houses where many people still live in traditional ways, with tourists providing the majority of their income. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, having been designated as the greatest example of southeast architectural building design since 1987.
Since 757, Ait-Ben Haddou has been a town. It was also the caravan route that linked Sudan with Marrakesh in the past. People who wish to see this ancient UNESCO World Heritage Site in the High Atlas Mountains on their route to the desert may still stop here. Furthermore, the Kasbah has served as and continues to serve as a magnificent backdrop for a number of films. As a result, a number of noteworthy films have been filmed in the area. For example, in 1985, they produced the dramatic films ‘The Jewel of the Nile,’ ‘The Living Daylights,’ ‘Kundun,’ in 1994, ‘The Mummy,’ in 1999, and ‘The Mummy,’ in 2000.
Being in this old Kasbah entails not only admiring its stunning architecture but also exploring an attraction where some of your favorite films were shot.
Ouarzazate:
Ouarzazate was a simple crossing point for African merchants moving to northern Morocco and Europe. Because it is situated on the opposite side of the high Atlas Mountains to the southeast, this city is regarded as the “Gateway to the Sahara.” This area is known as Hamada by the Berbers and nomads that reside in these Moroccan areas. Hamada means “desert scrubland.” The word “Ouarzazate” means “noiseless” in Tamazight, suggesting the region’s remoteness and calm. Furthermore, it is Morocco’s cinema center, owing to its well-known film studios.
Because of its breathtaking views of ancient architectural mud-brick Kasbahs and surroundings, Ouarzazate, with its historic Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, was selected as the perfect location for Hollywood film production. Here, scenes from Game of Thrones, Gladiator, and other films were filmed. Furthermore, mountains and valleys with amazing windswept formations roll, hiding palm groves, and breathtaking panoramas, making it one of the most worthwhile places to visit. Furthermore, the city is a typical shopping destination, with an abundance of souks, souvenir stores, cooperatives, and markets. In addition, the world’s biggest solar power facility, located in Ouarzazate, towers above the desert.