Explore Amazing Ait Ben Haddou: Day Trip from Marrakesh
If you’re going to Morocco, one of the things you’re going to want to add to your visit list is Ait Ben Haddou. Located deep in the High Atlas Mountains, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the oldest surviving ksars in Morocco. Ait Ben Haddou is a wondrous place well worth the day trip from Marrakesh.
Getting to Ait Ben Haddou
If you’re going to take the trip down to Ait Ben Haddou, you’re going to want to have one very important thing. A good driver. The road to Ait Ben Haddou is not one that even I, a fearless NYC driver, would attempt to brave. A good driver will get you there in about 3.5 hours, so make sure to leave early.
We had a great driver named Yousef from Morocco Colourful Tours. If not for him, I would have probably died of car sickness. Yousef was a master of the difficult road that leads deep into the High Atlas Mountains.
Tizin Tichka Pass
About an hour into the long road from Marrakesh to Ait Ben Haddou, it starts to curve around and up into the mountains. We arrived at the Tizin Tichka Pass, a marvelous stretch of road that links the south-east end of Marrakesh to the city of Ouarzazat. Located 7,415 ft above sea level, it follows the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh.
It is a road that winds around so tightly that in some places the angles are less than 30 degrees. On a cliff. With no barrier. SCARY!!! Oh wait, and its 2 way traffic, though in some places it’s impossible for 2 cars to pass at the same time. Hence the need for a good driver!
Hiding in the Mountains
As we made our way from the Tizin Tichka Pass towards Ait Ben Haddou, we passed quite a few ksars hidden in the mountains. A ksar, or kasbah, is the term for a fortified clay village. They were settled hundreds of years ago and remain hidden in the High Atlas Mountains, retaining the old way of life.
It’s hard to imagine, but there are people still living in these ksars. Some are without basics like running water, and many have limited medical care available. Internet? LOL, what’s a cell phone? If you opt to spend more time in the region, some of the more tourist friendly ksars offer places to stay the night.
Exploring Ait Ben Haddou
When we got into Ait Ben Haddou, we found a cute little tourist town set up on the edge of the road. From there, we parked the car and set out on foot. We began from the end that crosses the river, which is only accessible during dry season as it requires crossing stepping stones. Until 2011, this was the only way to enter or exit the city.
Once over the dry river, we made the climb up to the top of the old Ksar Ait Ben Haddou. It is a walking only villiage, but the climb is not as difficult as it may look. For an ancient village, the steps are pretty reasonably accessible. It’s a truly fascinating place to wander around, as if walking back in time. The view of the new ksar surrounded by nothing but valleys and mountains from the top is epic.
Well Known Location
Whether you know it or not, you’ve actually most likely seen Ait Ben Haddou before. Not only is it a UNESCO World Heritage site, but it has also been featured in quite a few Hollywood features. Most notable are Game of Thrones (Yunkai), Alexander, Gladiator, and The Mummy, though it’s been a filming location for quite a few others.
In 2011, UNESCO invested in building a bridge from the new Ait Ben Haddou to the old clay village in an effort to allow for another means of exploring the ksar. It is the only other means of entering or exiting the city besides the stepping stones on the river. This allowed for year round visits there.
A Day Well Spent
The day trip to Ait Ben Haddou was one of the most fascinating places I have ever explored. It is a walk through history to a land that precedes modern life. It is impossible to understand the roots of Morocco without taking some time to explore the ksars that housed their ancient settlers.
If you chose to explore the region further, a good place to stop is the city of Oarzazate. It is especially good as a midway point connecting to the dessert, which is also a must visit in Morocco.
Need A Guide?
If you’re looking for a great driver and guide to take you to Ait Ben Haddou, contact Morroco Colourful Tours. Omar will arrange it all for you, and for a very reasonable price. He an Yousef were absolutely amazing throughout our trip.
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