Full-Day Trip to Ait Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate & transfer-Marrakesh

Ait Ben Haddou

The ksar has been fortified since the 11th century, during the Almoravid era, though existing structures date mainly from the 17th century, built using traditional methods. Its strategic location in the Ounila Valley placed it on a key trans-Saharan trade route, leading through the Tizi n'Tichka pass between Marrakech and the Dra'a Valley. Other fortified sites, like Tamdaght, also lined this route. Today, only a few families live in the ksar, as its importance declined in the 20th century. Most locals now reside across the river in modern homes, relying on farming and tourism. A pedestrian bridge, built in 2011, connects the old ksar to the village, aiming to improve access and possibly revive its use. The ksar sustained damage in the September 2023 earthquake, with early reports noting cracks, partial collapses, and ongoing structural risks.

Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate began as a small stop for African traders heading north. In the 16th century, Sheikh Abu al-'Abaas Ahmed al-Warzazi, local emir and father of Lalla Masuda, helped bring the Sous-Dra'a region under Saadi control. The city once had a vibrant Jewish community, with around 170 Jews living in the Mellah in 1954. The Old Synagogue, nearly 300 years old, still stands, along with a now-unused Jewish cemetery. Under French rule, Ouarzazate grew as a military and administrative center. The Kasbah Taourirt, once home to caïd T'hami El Glaoui, remains a key landmark, along with a church built in 1931. Ouarzazate was on the 2006–2007 Dakar Rally route and became home to a major solar power station, connected to the grid in 2016. On November 1, 2023, it was named a UNESCO Creative City.

Atlas Studios, located about 5 km west of Ouarzazate, sits amid desert and mountain landscapes. Many film sets remain on site, making the studio a popular spot for guided tours and tourism. Founded in 1983 by entrepreneur Mohamed Belghmi, the studio has grown thanks to the region’s stable climate and its ability to replicate diverse natural environments for film production.