Ait Ben Haddou:
Add This UNESCO World Heritage Site To Your Morocco Bucket List
Ait Ben Haddou is a historic ksar along the former caravan route perfectly situated between the Sahara Desert and Marrakech.
You may recognize this historic Moroccan city from a slew of Hollywood movies and TV shows like Game of Thrones or Gladiator.
This mini Hollywood of Morocco has hosted a large number of films, including:
- Sodom and Gomorrah (1963)
- Oedipus Rex (1967)
- The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
- The Message (1976)
- Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
- Time Bandits (1981)
- Marco Polo (1982)
- The Jewel of the Nile (1985)
- The Living Daylights (1987)
- The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
- The Sheltering Sky (1990)
- Kundun (1997)
- The Mummy (1999)
- Gladiator (2000)
- Alexander (2004)
- Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
- Babel (2006)
- One Night with the King (2006)
- Prince of Persia (2010)
- Son of God (2014)
- Queen of the Desert (2015)
- A Life On Our Planet (2020) and more!
First View
As you arrive at this UNESCO World Heritage site from the Sahara Desert, you’ll be treated to a spectacular first view. From the vantage point, you can see the entirety of Ait Ben Haddou, the river bed below, the lush green palms and the landscape beyond.
Watch a recap of our trip to this amazing citadel here:
Local Artists in Ait Ben Haddou
As you begin the descent to Ait Ben Haddou on foot, you will pass through a winding pathway lined with artists, vendors and musicians. Take a moment and watch one of the presentations on how they create the art using sand, henna and lemon juice. The artwork is plentiful, beautiful and super affordable!
As you walk along the pathway, you’ll see beautiful views of Ait Ben Haddou as you progress.
Touring local homes in Ait Ben Haddou
While most of the locals have moved out of the historic ksar and into homes nearby with modern amenities, there are still a few locals who live within the walls. As you venture through the site, you can visit their homes for a small tip.
Sunset Viewpoint
As you begin to climb through the village, keep progressing to the highest point for sunset! You’ll have incredible views over the entire site.
Join a future group trip here.
We visited here in collaboration with Cynab Voyages, check them out here!
Check out the highlights from my first Morocco group trip here:
