Aït-Ben-Haddou is a fortified village, or ksar, in Ouarzazate Province in Morocco. It stands along the old caravan route that linked the Sahara with Marrakech, and it is known for its traditional earthen clay architecture. The village is also listed as Aït Benhaddou or Ait Benhaddou Kasbah.
What to expect
The village is built from mud brick and clay, with houses, towers and walls rising in tiers on the hillside. Walking through it gives a clear sense of how a fortified settlement on a trade route was organised, and the clay construction is the feature most visitors come to see up close.
Aït-Ben-Haddou has also appeared in many Hollywood films, including Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia. Those connections may interest film fans, though the village is worth visiting on its own terms as a heritage site.
Planning your visit
- Location: Ait Ben Haddou 45000, Morocco, in Ouarzazate Province.
- Type of visit: A heritage site suited to a half-day or longer stop, with time to walk the village and take in the surrounding landscape.
- Contact: +212 524-883116.
Because the village sits on a historic route through southern Morocco, it fits naturally into a wider journey through the Sahara and the Atlas region. Check directly with the contact number above for current details before you travel.