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The earthen village of Aït Benhaddou

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Aït Benhaddou

Aït Benhaddou · Ounila Valley, Ouarzazate Province, Morocco

Photo: Petar Milošević · CC BY-SA 4.0

An 11th-century earthen village — a thousand-year-old staging post on the trade route from the Sahara to Marrakesh, and a location for Gladiator and Game of Thrones.

Know before you go

  • Don't walk into homes that are still lived in
  • ask before photographing villagers
  • the earthen buildings are fragile, so don't climb or carve on them.

This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.

Culture

Culture & customs

Background

Aït Benhaddou is a fortified village built by Berbers from rammed earth and mud brick, dating back to the 11th century, and was once an important staging post for Saharan caravans carrying gold, salt and goods to Marrakesh. Its tiers of earthen buildings glow golden-red at sunrise and sunset, a striking sight that has been used as a location for more than twenty films and TV series, including Gladiator and Game of Thrones. It became a World Heritage Site in 1987. A few Berber families still live in the village.

Local customs

  • The Berbers (Amazigh) are the Indigenous people of North Africa, and the village elders mostly speak Berber
  • caravans and markets carry on traditional livelihoods.

Religion & beliefs

  • Residents are mainly Muslim and the village has a small mosque
  • keep quiet in residential areas and respect people's privacy.

Etiquette

Etiquette & taboos

Rules that apply here

Red lineEveryday mannersMorocco

Morocco: don't proselytise

  • Respect the local Islamic faith
  • Trying to convert Muslims to another religion or handing out missionary material
  • Publicly criticising Islam (including online)

Proselytising can mean a fine or up to 3 years in prison; publicly criticising Islam can mean up to 2 years.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Morocco travel advice

Don’t DON'T

  • Don't walk into homes that are still lived in
  • ask before photographing villagers
  • the earthen buildings are fragile, so don't climb or carve on them.

Locals appreciate DO

  • Local Berbers are proud of the village's fame as a film location and happy to take visitors along the 'film trail'
  • most crafts are family-made.

Plan your visit

Practical info

Travel tips

  • Summer temperatures exceed 40°C, so spring or autumn is best
  • the light is best at sunrise and sunset, so stay a night. To reach the village you cross the Ounila River (there are stepping stones, but sandals help). It can be combined with the Ouarzazate film studios and the Todgha Gorge on one route.

Eat nearby

What to eat nearby

Must-try

  • Berber tagine
  • Couscous
  • Lentil / chickpea soup

Berber tagine, couscous, lentil / chickpea soup, skewers, Berber flatbread with olive oil and honey

Where to eatFamily restaurants and guesthouse meals in the village / the new village across the river (little choice); eat properly back in Ouarzazate
Dining etiquetteBerber villages are unpretentious and conservative — ask before taking photos or entering homes, and avoid drinking in public
Typical price per personMAD 60–120 ≈ CNY 43–85
TipsMostly day-trip tour meals, so bring your own food and water; guesthouse dinners must be booked in advance (tagine is cooked slowly to order).

Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.

Berber tagine
Berber tagine
Karen and Brad Emerson · CC BY 2.0

Photos

Photos

The earthen village of Aït Benhaddou
The earthen village of Aït Benhaddou
Petar Milošević · CC BY-SA 4.0
A camel train and the earthen ksar
A camel train and the earthen ksar
Petar Milošević · CC BY-SA 4.0
Close-up of the earthen buildings
Close-up of the earthen buildings
C messier · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sources & verification notes

Wikipedia：Aït Benhaddou

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