Day trip to Ait ben Haddou- 1 Day
From £160.00 pp
Gallery
Experience the beauty of the Ourika Valley up-close on this full-day private scenic tour from Marrakech, and escape the hustle and bustle of the city for the day. The Ourika Valley is the closest day trip from Marrakech, but it’s not just its convenience that makes it special. Drive towards the Atlas Mountains, taking in the beautiful landscape of green meadows and authentic 16th and 17th-century Berber villages. If you take your tour on a Monday, you can even stop at a roadside souk.
Taking a little used back road we arrive at Ait Benhaddou. Inscribed by UNESCO in 1987 as a ‘World Heritage Site’, the Ksar of Ait Benhaddou is a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco. The Ksar, a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls, is a traditional pre-Saharan habitat. The houses crowd together within the defensive walls, which are reinforced by corner towers. After a guided tour of the ancient settlement be sure to walk up to the high point on the hill above the Ksar for particularly fine views.
- Duration
- 1 day
- Location
- High Atlas Mountains
- Group Size
- Up to 12 people
- Transport
- Private Vehicle
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Best Season
- All year round
Itinerary
- Day 1: Marrakech – Tizi Ntichka pass 2660 – Ait ben Haddou
Journey through breathtaking countryside via Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2,260m) our first sightseeing of the day is at Telouet, a village on the 'Route of the Caravans' from the Sahara over the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech. Telouet has one of the most spectacular Kasbahs in the Atlas, which was once the palatial residence and headquarters of the powerful Glaoui tribe.
Taking a little used back road we arrive at Ait Benhaddou. Inscribed by UNESCO in 1987 as a 'World Heritage Site', the Ksar of Ait Benhaddou is a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco. The Ksar, a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls, is a traditional pre-Saharan habitat. The houses crowd together within the defensive walls, which are reinforced by corner towers. After a guided tour of the ancient settlement be sure to walk up to the high point on the hill above the Ksar for particularly fine views.
Late in the afternoon you’ll make the return drive to Marrakech