UNESCO World Heritage: Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco
What is the Ouarzazate and what is it famous for? Why would you want to visit it and include it to your itinerary for the trip to Morocco?
I was asking the same questions when this unknown to me town popped up in my search as a highly visited touristic destination in Morocco. Ouarzazate is the city of cinema in Africa since the 30’s and a mecca for film producers, actors and creative brands. The gem of this city is kazbah Aït Ben Haddou that not many people heard of but i bet that everyone know the movies that were filmed here. Game of Thrones, Cleopatra, Babel, The Mummy, Kingdom of Heaven, Gladiator, Jesus of Nazareth, Prometheus, The Hills Have Eyes, Asterix and Obelix, Cleopatra and many other highly popular motion pictures were filmed in this kazbah or in locations of this town.
When planning my trip i researched the best places to stay in Ouarzazate and Oscar Hotel was the top choice for the simple reason that it is located next to Atlas Film Studios. Because the town of Ouarzazate is a famous film-making location and you probably going there to check those sites out, you would want to stay in the center of it all. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, cinema-themed rooms and a Moroccan restaurant. We paid roughly 100$ per night with breakfast included. Atlas Studios are 5 minutes walk from this hotel which is super convenient.
Ait Ben Haddou
So what is Ait Ben Haddou and how did it become so popular and loved among Hollywood producers ?
Ait Ben Haddou is a more than 1000 year old kazbah (fortified village) that was an important point along the former caravan route that linked the old Sudan to Marrakech via the Draa and Ounila valleys then the Telouet or Tichka pass. The original construction of Aït Ben Haddou would be the Ighrem n'iqqdarn (potters' attic) and have been built at the top of the hill by a Berber queen. It is considered a great example of Moroccan earthen clay architecture and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. You can read more about the history of Ait Ben Haddou here, I found that article very enlightening.
Hollywood has been filming in Ait Ben Haddou as early as in the 1960s. Check out the list of movies that were partially filmed here maybe you will find your favorites:
• Sodom and Gomorrah (1963)
• The Man Who Would be King (1975)
• The Message ( 1976)
• Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
• Time Bandits (1981)
• Marco Polo (1982)
• The Jewel of the Nile (1985)
• The Living Daylights (1987)
• The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
• The Sheltering Sky (1990)
• Kundun (1997)
• The Mummy (1999)
• Gladiator (2000)
• Alexander (2004)
• Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
• Babel (2006)
• Prince of Persia (2010)
• Game of Thrones- parts of the TV series
Impressive, right? Did i convince you that this trip is worth your time? :)
How to get to Ait Ben Haddou:
The best option is to have a rented car because public transportation is hm not a good idea and the closest bus station is 7 km away. This option also would give you flexibility in exploring other film sites in Ouarzazate area as well as the city itself;
Taxi is a great option and will take 25-30 minutes from Oscar hotel (that’s where we stayed) to Ait Ben Haddou;
The last and best option in my opinion (especially if you travel alone) is to book a guided tour and don’t worry about transportation at all! Luckily there is a variety of options available from Marrakesh ( a full day trip) to Ait Ben Haddou and some also cover other sites along the way (1-2 days trip), how convenient is that? Those tours usually offer hotel pick up and drop off and for extra pay lunch and camel riding option ( ∼ 10 $ per person). I searched some popular tours with great reviews for your convenience and you can check them out here.
What to expect upon arrival in Ait Ben Haddou:
1. Very old kazbah partially in ruins because the oldest of it’s existing buildings dates back to the 17th century, the site has been fortified since the Almoravids, who ruled Morocco throughout the 11th century;
2. It doesn’t look fancy at all complete the opposite but the pictures come out amazing due to the beautiful architecture and it’s color. I highly recommend to arrive and take pictures during golden hours - on a sunrise or a sunset;
3. Very crowded narrow passageways, go there early to snap best sunrise pictures and before it gets crowded;
4. Locals walking with donkeys in the narrow pathways is something to see;
5. Outdoor markets with souvenirs, go ahead and negotiate prices !
6. Beggars, be careful with your belongings. I recommend wearing crossbody anti theft bags when travelling to high theft countries.
7. Overall very cool place and very old, you will make an amazing pictures and make some memories 🔥🤩🔥
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