Day Trip to Ait Benhaddou and Telouet from Marrakech

Day trip to Ait Benhaddou and Telouet
A day trip to Ait Benhaddou and Telouet is an interesting and long journey from Marrakech, after crossing the High Atlas section to reach the southern foothills and desert plains. Ait Benhaddou is a fortress formed by a group of kasbahs, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987, and home to about 8 families still living in the old part of the Ksar. The new section is home to many cafes, restaurants, and hotels.

From Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou, it takes a 4-hour drive on a winding road that crosses the Tizi N’Tichka pass (2,260 m) to the highlands of Berber villages, with mud and thatch houses. Then, you cross the salt valley of Ounila to reach the kasbah of Ait Benhaddou/Ksar after the popular stop to visit the Glaoui Palace (20MAD/person) and the Telouet Kasbah. Ait Benhaddou as a fortified village is considered a natural decoration/setting for many movies that were filmed in the area. Depending on your level of hunger, you can have lunch first or take a guided walk through the old settlement, cross the dry river to reach the top of the hill with your English-speaking driver to enjoy the magnificent views and dominate the kasbahs of Ait Benhaddou.

On this private day trip to Ait Benhaddou through the Atlas Mountains, you will learn about the Berbers, the remarkable land of Saharan landscapes, architecture (Kasbahs and Ksours), and the era of the French protectorate with its influence in southern Morocco.

In the afternoon, return to Marrakech via the Tizi n’Tichka pass. You will be dropped off at your accommodation around 7 p.m.