Day Trip Ait ben Haddou
You will be picked up from your hotel or riad in Ouarzazate at 8:30 am. The first stop is Kasbah Aït ben Haddou, the most famous kasbah in Morocco and the subject of many postcards. This kasbah has served as the setting for many Hollywood blockbuster films, such as ‘Alexander’ and ‘The Gladiator’. It is one of the nine UNESCO World Heritage sites in Morocco, having been elected as such in 1987. The kasbah is located around 30 kilometers from Ouarzazate, along the Salt River.
The itinerary then continues along the Ounila Valley to Kasbah Telouet. This kasbah is remotely situated in a valley in the High Atlas Mountains, far from the main Marrakech road. It once served as a palatial residence and headquarters of the powerful Glaoui tribe. The head of this family was the Pasha of Marrakesh, the last of whom, Thami Glaoui, left Morocco after the country’s independence in 1956.
Unfortunately, the entire kasbah is now closed due to damage caused by the earthquake that struck Morocco in September 2023. Nevertheless, it is still worth visiting the exterior with a local guide to discover its rich history.
