Visiting Marrakech? Don’t miss the day trip to Ouarzazate and Aït Ben Haddou, on the other side of the Atlas Mountains. We tried this day trip by minibus from Marrakech and have wonderful memories of it—from mountain passes to a UNESCO-listed kasbah and movie sets.
In this article, check out our photos and all our helpful tips illustrated with images to help you make the most of your trip to Ouarzazate and Aït Ben Haddou.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Why Take the Tour to Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou, and Atlas Studios?
Is the tour worth it? Our take:
Yes, this excursion is definitely worth the trip. In just one day, we crossed the Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, visited an argan oil cooperative, visited the Aït Ben Haddou kasbah and Atlas Studios, and had lunch overlooking the Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate. All of this was accompanied by exceptional guides! It’s one of the best activities in Marrakech. >> Book your excursion to Ouarzazate and Aït Ben Haddou now!
WHERE TO STAY IN Marrakech
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
In the Medina
Riad Kbour & Chou – See prices, photos and availability
In the Kasbah, an ancient fortified quarter
Riad Jonan & Spa – See prices, photos and availability
Luxury Hotel
Royal Mansour Hotel – See prices, photos and availability
Our favorite moments
Our favorite part was still the visit to the kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, which impressed us with its adobe architecture and the glimpse it offered into the film shoots that took place there. We also really enjoyed the stop at the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, with its view of the Atlas Mountains. The Atlas Studios rounded out the day on a more unusual note, amid movie sets and desert scenery! It was one of our favorite day trips from Marrakech!
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN MOROCCO
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Not too wide
- A good engine
- For more choice, book early.
Access and transport
What mode of transportation?
The tour is conducted by minibus for a group of about 8 people. The vehicle is air-conditioned, equipped with seat belts and spacious seats, making the trip comfortable despite the long drive. We enjoyed this small-group format, which was more pleasant than a large tour bus.
Starting Point
The pickup location depends on where you’re staying. If you’re staying at a riad in the medina, the minibus cannot pick you up right at your doorstep, as the narrow streets are not accessible by vehicle. A meeting point will then be arranged nearby, most often at Jemaa el Fna Square or Place des Ferblantiers. If your hotel is located outside the medina, you’ll be picked up directly in front of the hotel between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., depending on your selected availability. In any case, the organizer will contact you the day before via WhatsApp, using the phone number you provided when you made your reservation, to confirm the exact time and location.
Duration and Difficulty
The trip is scheduled to last 11 hours, with pickup in the morning between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. The road over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass is winding and has many hairpin turns: it’s best not to be prone to motion sickness. Be sure to bring comfortable shoes, sunglasses, water, and a hat.
This tour is not recommended for people with limited mobility due to the difficulty of accessing the kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, whose narrow streets wind up and down over uneven ground. The tour of the kasbah is an integral part of the itinerary and is difficult to avoid for anyone participating in the excursion.
A LITTLE MORE PATIENCE
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Practical Tips: Duration, Steps, Eating…
What’s on the itinerary
Our guide spoke Spanish, English, French, and Arabic. He was very knowledgeable and taught us a lot about the geography and history of the area. Included in the tour are an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional driver, pickup and drop-off in Marrakech, and the drive over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. The admission ticket to Atlas Studios, the guided tour of the Aït Ben Haddou kasbah, and lunch are not included in the price, nor are any personal expenses incurred on site. Be sure to bring cash for these additional costs as well as for tips, if you wish to give them. Please note that local guides are paid solely through your tips.
During our trip, the main highlights unfolded as follows: the Atlas Road to the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, a stop at an argan oil cooperative, a visit to the ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, lunch in Ouarzazate overlooking the Kasbah of Taourirt, followed by a tour of the Atlas Studios before heading back to Marrakech. >> Book your trip to Ouarzazate and Aït Ben Haddou now!
Schedules and rates
The tour starts at 18€ per person, not including admission to Atlas Studios or lunch. It lasts about 11 hours, with pickup in the morning between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. As with all tours departing from Marrakech, travel time varies depending on traffic and the locations of the other passengers’ hotels, as the minibus often needs to make several stops to pick up passengers before leaving the city. Travel times are quite long; expect several hours for the trip there—about 3 hours—and the same for the return trip.
With children
The excursion is still feasible with children, provided they can already walk well, as the visit to the Aït Ben Haddou kasbah involves walking up and down steep, winding alleys. The kasbah and the Atlas Studios are sure to appeal to younger children, in any case. But keep in mind that it’s a long day with a lot of driving, which can be tiring for younger children. It’s not suitable for infants, however: there are no car seats provided in the minibus, and neither strollers nor baby carriages are allowed on board.
Atlas Highway and Tizi n’Tichka Pass
As soon as you leave Marrakech, the road takes on ochre hues and gradually climbs into the Atlas Mountains. We’ll stop for a break at a small mountain restaurant with a view of the surrounding peaks. We were blown away by the terraced landscape and the red poppy fields.
We then continued on to the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, the highest point on the route at over 2,200 meters above sea level, where there is a magnificent view of the mountain ranges stretching as far as the eye can see. The mountain roads seemed to be in very good condition to us—brand-new in places—having been rebuilt at the initiative of the King of Morocco.
Argan Oil Cooperative
Along the way, we’ll stop at a cooperative where women make and sell argan oil, spices, and natural cosmetics produced locally. We were able to watch the women work with their traditional tools, and they explained the production process to us step by step, from shelling the nuts to extracting the oil. The experience felt a bit touristy to us, but it was still a nice thing to do and helped us better understand this craft unique to the region.
Ksar Aït Ben Haddou
Arrival at the village of Aït Ben Haddou is one of the highlights of the day, before the guided tour of the kasbah. This ksar—a fortified village built of rammed earth—developed along the ancient caravan route connecting the Sahara to Marrakech. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and comprises several kasbahs as well as a communal granary located at the top of the hill, which is still inhabited by a few families today. A local guide accompanied us through the narrow streets and shared his knowledge of the site, offering historical explanations and details about the adobe architecture, which, depending on the part of the site, dates back several centuries.
Although it’s very touristy, we found this place to be unique and exceptional, both for its architecture and for the panoramic view from the summit. The site has also been featured in numerous productions, including the series *Game of Thrones*, which adds an extra layer of interest to the visit for fans of movies and TV shows.
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Lunch in Ouarzazate
We then had lunch in Ouarzazate. The meal must be paid for in cash, as it is not included in the price of the tour. The restaurant was across from the Taourirt Kasbah, which we thought was very beautiful from the outside. This kasbah is an amazing site: the former residence of the Glaoui family, it served as an administrative center under the authority of the Pasha of Marrakech in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its adobe architecture, with its crenellated towers and restored interior decorations, makes it one of the largest kasbahs in Morocco.
The meal itself seemed decent to us, though not exceptional, with a vegetarian option available for those who wanted it. We actually chose the vegetable tagine, which was good. We recommend opting for the Moroccan dishes if you’re looking for something traditional, rather than the fries, which were frozen. The setting, with the kasbah in the background, made for a pleasant experience, and it was nice to chat with the other visitors.
Atlas Studios
We found the tour interesting, especially for getting a behind-the-scenes look at many of the movies and TV shows filmed on location. You go from a set depicting ancient Egypt to medieval China, passing through an ancient Rome straight out of a gladiator movie. The site seemed to us to have been used more frequently for film production in the past; it’s a bit outdated in places, but overall it’s still worth exploring for anyone interested in cinema. A ticket is required to tour Atlas Studios, and it’s not included in the price of the excursion.
It’s time to book!
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Frequently asked questions
Is the tour accessible to people with limited mobility?
No, this tour is not recommended for people with limited mobility due to the difficulty of accessing the kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, whose narrow streets wind up and down over uneven ground. The minibus is also not wheelchair-accessible.
Is this a family-friendly excursion with children?
Yes, provided the children can already walk well, since the tour of the kasbah involves walking up and down sloping alleys. However, the tour is not suitable for infants, as there are no car seats in the minibus, and neither strollers nor prams are allowed on board. >> Book your tour to Ouarzazate and Aït Ben Haddou now!
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Morocco
- Best of
Top Destinations
Must-See Places in Morocco
Most Beautiful Riads
Most Beautiful Cities
Most Beautiful Medinas
Morocco’s Most Beautiful Landscapes
Most Beautiful Gardens
Best Museums
Morocco’s Most Beautiful Beaches
- Practical advice
When to go?
How to rent a car in Morocco
Driving tips
- The must-dos
Marrakech
Casablanca
Fez
Meknes
Chefchaouen
Essaouira
Rabat
Tangier
Tetouan
Agadir
The Sahara Desert
