Located along the Ouarzazate River in the area between Marrakech and Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou is a fascinating ancient city.
This UNESCO World Heritage site in Morocco is very popular among travellers. Mainly because it is one of the filming locations of HBO’s blockbuster series: Game of Thrones.
The Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou in North Africa is over 1000 years old but still just as relevant and a must-visit for anyone travelling to Morocco.
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Where is Ait Ben Haddou
Ait Ben Haddou is located in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in the South of Morocco, about 3.5 hours drive away from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech.
The fortified village itself is perched along the lush banks of the Ounila River in the charming province of Ouarzazate.
The time-worn Ksar lies on the former caravan route between Marrakech and the Sahara desert, and has become tremendously popular of late thanks to HBO’s blockbuster series Game of Thrones.
Where to stay in Ait Ben Haddou
In the sleepy town that surrounds the old Kasbah, you will find a good selection of hotels where you can stay. Have a look at booking.com to see the current rates for hotels in Ait Ben Haddou.
I’ve listed some of my favourites down below:
Auberge Ksar Ait Ben Haddou | This hotel is within walking distance and has a great view over the Kasbah. For a decent price and facilities such as a swimming pool, restaurant and free wifi this is one of the best picks. – Booking.com | Hotels.com
+ Riad Tamdakhte | When you’re in Morocco it is always nice to stay in a riad. The design of this riad is in traditional Moroccan style and from the terrace, you will have a fantastic view. All rooms have air-conditioned and are located within 4.4km of the ksar, which makes it a quiet place to hang out. – Booking.com | Hotels.com
Kasbah Tebi | If you are looking for the full Ait Ben Haddou experience don’t look any further. This hotel is located inside the Ksar and looks absolutely stunning. Everything inside the room is traditionally decorated and all rooms have a private bathroom. You can relax on the terrace while you enjoy the surrounding valley. – Booking.com | Hotels.com
Game of Thrones filming location
Ait Ben Haddou was used as a filming location for Yunkai during season 3 of Game of Thrones. The city of Yunkai is a slave-trading city that was freed from their slave merchants by Daenerys Targaryen. Since Ait Ben Haddou has been a part of Game of Thrones it became even more popular.
This place is not only known for HBO’s blockbuster series: Game of Thrones as it is also used for the following movies: The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.
Best time to visit Ait Ben Haddou | The weather at Ait Ben Haddou
Low season
November to February | In the winter you won’t see many other people at Ait Ben Haddou, which is perfect if you want to have the place all for yourself. Don’t forget to bring layers as it can be surprisingly cold, especially in the evening.
Shoulder season
March to April and September to October | The temperature is best if you visit during spring and this is also when the country looks best. The landscape is in full bloom and is turning green as the temperature rises. During autumn you can expect the same weather.
High season
June to August | During summer the heat can be quite fierce and the days are long and sunny. Cover up in loose clothes to avoid sunburn and don’t forget to hydrate.
Best time of day to visit Ait Ben Haddou
Like always the best time to visit a UNESCO World Heritage is as early as possible or later in the afternoon. With Ait Ben Haddou it is the same situation as it is very popular among travellers in Morocco.
We always try to travel to a destination during shoulder season and so far we have experienced a lot of benefits for doing that.
How long to stay at Ait Ben Haddou
If you’re planning to visit Ait BenHaddou as part of a trip to the Sahara you will only have 3 hours to explore the area. Even though there is not much to do you can still easily enjoy yourself for a whole day and it is actually quite a good spot to watch the sunset.
How to get to Ait Ben Haddou
To reach Ait Benhaddou from Marrakech you have to pass the Atlas Mountains. This 4-hour drive will take you along Tizi n’ Tichka, and provide you with some of the most amazing views. The easiest way to visit Ait Ben Haddou is by booking a tour, but there are more options.
BY CAR | Renting a car and driving yourself is an excellent option but keep in mind that driving in Morocco is quite the adventure itself. The roads can lead to difficult situations and you have to be comfortable enough to conquer them. Most car rental companies in Morocco ask you to pay a security deposit of somewhere between €800 and €1200.
BY BUS | In Morocco, you have two major bus companies named: Supratours and CTM. From Marrakech, you can take the bus to Ouarzazate which is the city close to the kasbah. The bus ride will take about 4,5 hours and costs 95 dirhams. One thing that is really important is asking the bus driver to drop you at the intersection road that leads to Ait Ben Haddou. This is about 20km before reaching Ouarzazate.
From this point, it is 8km to Ait Ben Haddou and it cost you 15 dirhams to take a grand taxi. Many locals will offer you a ride if you pay them some money.
This is the most difficult option but the cheapest for travellers on a budget.
One downside about travelling by bus is that you don’t stop in both the High Atlas Mountains and the Tizi n’ Tichka pass. These sceneries are some of the highlights of Morocco and a delight for every travel photographer.
Join a guided tour
The easiest way is by going with a tour operator. Our visit was part of a tour we had with GetYourGuide. A nice thing about going on a tour is that you don’t have to worry about planning at all. We even stopped a few times to take some pictures in the Atlas Mountains.
The only downside about going with a tour is that you have to stick to a schedule and in this case that resulted in only 3 hours at Ait Ben Haddou.
My favourite tours of Ait Ben Haddou
If you’re keen to join an organized tour to discover Ait Ben Haddou, here are some of my absolute favourites.
Safety in Morocco | Travel insurance
When travelling this big wide world, I never go on an adventure without my essential travel insurance sorted out, and though I felt safe in Morocco, I recommend anyone travelling here to do the same.
Though you rather don’t think about the things that could go wrong, there’s always a chance that something will happen, and when that’s the case, it is better to be safe than sorry.
To help you find the right policy, I’ve listed two of my favourite options below:
Heymondo | Whether you’re going on a 3-week backpacking trip, or planning a long stay somewhere abroad, Heymondo has excellent insurance options either way – plus full covid-19 coverage and a handy app with 24-hour medical assistance. Readers of WTSW receive 5% off any insurance policy, more information here.
This is definitely the place to go while in Morocco! I am a big fan of GOT, so I’ll have to add this to our itinerary for our trip there this year.Very detailed post guys, that is amazing.Cheers,
Patricia & Miguelwww.freeoversea.com
Thanks guys, really appreciate the comment! If you are a GOT fan you will be more than satisfied walking through this old kasbah. Good to hear that you will add it in your itinerary, let us know what you think of it after your visit.