Aït Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate Private Day Trip

Over the Atlas to the gateway of the Sahara

This is the most spectacular road trip you can do in a day from Marrakech. The Tizi n'Tichka pass zig-zags up to 2,260 metres through the High Atlas before descending into a different world of red earth, palm groves and fortified villages. At the end lies Aït Ben Haddou, the most famous ksar in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

Why go with a private driver

The mountain road is long, winding and demanding. Our drivers know every bend, drive it calmly and stop wherever you want — at the Tichka summit, at the Argan and Berber villages, or at viewpoints over the valley. It's a long day (11–12 hours), so the comfort of a spacious van with reclining seats really matters.

Itinerary

• 07:00 — Departure from Marrakech.
• Tizi n'Tichka — panoramic stop at the pass, mint tea with a view.
• Telouet (optional detour) — the abandoned palace of the Glaoui pashas.
• Aït Ben Haddou — cross the river and climb through the ksar to the old granary at the top. The location of Gladiator, Game of Thrones and Lawrence of Arabia.
• Lunch — on a terrace facing the ksar.
• Ouarzazate — Kasbah Taourirt and, if you wish, the Atlas Film Studios.
• 19:00 — Back in Marrakech.

Make it two days?

If you can spare the time, sleep in a kasbah and continue to the Dades Gorges or all the way to Merzouga — see our private Sahara tour. Route details in our article Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate via the Tizi n'Tichka.