The ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou
In the province of Ouarzazate, this ksar packs its earthen houses behind walls reinforced by corner towers. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, it was a stop on the trade route between ancient Sudan and Marrakesh.
Key facts
Before you go.
- Starting point
- Ouarzazate or Marrakesh; the ksar is 9 km off the Tizi n’Tichka roadAït-Benhaddou (Wikivoyage)
- GPS coordinates
- 31.04722, -7.12889Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou (UNESCO)
Good to know
Three things to remember.
The site was damaged by the September 2023 earthquake: cracks and partial collapses were reported.
Aït Benhaddou (Wikipedia)Inside the ksar you can only walk: climb to the granary at the top of the hill for the view.
Aït-Benhaddou (Wikivoyage)A pedestrian bridge links the ksar to the modern village; the other way crosses the river on stepping stones, dry in the dry season.
Aït-Benhaddou (Wikivoyage)
Plan the trip
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Sources · 3 pages consulted, with the exact sentence used
- Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou (UNESCO)
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. Ait-Ben-Haddou, in Ouarzazate province, is a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco. […] The site was also one of the many trading posts on the commercial route linking ancient Sudan to Marrakesh […] Date of Inscription: 1987 […] N31 2 49.992 W7 7 44.004
- Aït Benhaddou (Wikipedia)
The site was damaged by the September 2023 earthquake that struck southern Morocco. An early assessment of the damage reported cracks and partial collapses, with risk of further collapses.
- Aït-Benhaddou (Wikivoyage)
Aït Benhaddou is accessible from Ouarzazate and Marrakesh. […] Aït Benhaddou is 9 km off the main Tizi n Tichka road, which links Ouarzazate to Marrakech. […] Once inside the Ksar you can only walk or climb. […] One can be reached by new bridge. To reach the second, it is necessary to cross the river using the stepping stones (in dry season the river is completely dry). […] Granary (at the top of the hill). […] Climb to the top the hill for breathtaking views.
Opening hours, prices and access conditions change: check them with the official source before you go. Viafro publishes no price without a source and a date.