TravelTips24 : Africa : North Africa : Morocco : High Atlas : Aït-Benhaddou

Aït-Benhaddou

Aït-Benhaddou is a city in Morocco.

This is a traditional Mud Brick city on the edge of the High Atlas Mountains. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and has featured in many films, mostly as a replacement for Jerusalem.

Travel to Aït-Benhaddou & Visa Requirements

Aït Benhaddou is accessable from Ouarzazate and Marrakesh

  • Busses do not run direct to Aït Benhaddou but can drop you off at the turn off about 7km away from where you will have to get a lift.

It may be better to organise a private hire of a taxi for the trip.

  • Car: Aït Benhaddou is 9km off the main Tizi n Tichka road, which links Ouzaarzarte to Marrakech. Coming from Ouazazarte, you turn off to the right after about18km from the town. It's quite a scenic drive to Aït Benhaddou. On the way into town there is a slight turnoff to the right , which is a popular spot for great views over the town and the Kasbah.
  • From Marrakesh it will be a full day trip and the best advice is to organise a private tour if you do not have much time.

Morocco Explored offers a well priced private trip which includes stops in the High Atlas Mountains.

Tours & Getting around Aït-Benhaddou

Once inside the Ksar you can only walk/ climb To get from the newer part of the town you will have to cross a river via Stepping stones. Locals will charge you 10Dr to cross the river on a donkey, and they probably remove the stepping stones to improve their business. The river is only knee-deep and can be easily crossed by feet.

Aït-Benhaddou attractions and sightseeing

  • The town itself is the main attraction, with mud buildings climbing up the side of the hill.
  • The Granary at the top of the hill is impressive and well worth the effort to get up there.
  • The Mausoleum of Ben-Haddou is at the base of the hill on the opposite side to the town.

Aït-Benhaddou city tours

Climb up to the top of the hill for the great views.

Aït-Benhaddou souvenirs & shopping

There are several shops within the town that sell souvenirs from all over the Sahara, particularly prevalent are Models of the Ksar and wooden artifacts from the Dogon people in Mali. There is a very friendly carpet shop in the newer part of town near the post office

Aït-Benhaddou Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

  • Hotel la Baraka in the newer part of town has a restaurant with a nice courtyard.

Aït-Benhaddou nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

Aït-Benhaddou cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

  • Hotel la Baraka
  • Hotel le Kasbah

Get out

This page was last edited at 05:48, on 4 July 2008 by Wikitravel user Cacahuate. Based on work by Meltwaterfalls and Nick Roux, Wikitravel user(s) Texugo and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license