Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou (Ksar of Ait Benhaddou)

A guided tour of Aït Ben Haddou takes in highlights such as the Telouet Kasbah, once the lavish 20th-century home of Thami el Glaoui, “The Lord of the Atlas”; the magnificent hilltop Granary; and the elaborate Mausoleum of Benhaddou. Full-day tours to Aït Ben Haddou from Marrakech usually combine a tour of the hillside kasbah with a scenic drive along the Tizi N’Tichka mountain pass and a visit to the desert town of Ouarzazate.

Multi-day tours into the Sahara Desert from Marrakech or Fez also often make a stop at Aït Ben Haddou, en route to Erg Chebbi or Merzouga, where you can trek through the dunes on a camel and spend a night at a traditional desert camp.

• A tour of Aït Ben Haddou involves a lot of walking uphill and along uneven paths, so wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water.

• There are a number of restaurants, accommodation options, and souvenir stalls at Aït Ben Haddou.

• Aït Ben Haddou is not easily accessible for wheelchairs users.

Ait Benhaddou is about 3.5 hours’ drive south of Marrakech, or a 30-minute drive northwest of Ouarzazate. There is no direct public transport to Ait Benhaddou, and most travelers opt to visit as part of a guided tour or to take a taxi from Ouarzazate.

For the most impressive photo opportunities, time your visit for sunrise, when the golden light is most magical, or stick around until the evening to watch the sunset from the hilltop. Most day-trippers arrive during the mid to late morning, so it’s worth making an early start to avoid the crowds.

Aït Ben Haddou boasts an impressive resumé of film credits, having served as a set location for a number of international movies. The city’s dramatic edifice and mountain backdrop have appeared in films such asLawrence of Arabia,Gladiator,Jesus of Nazareth,The Mummy,andBabel. Most recently, the site was used to film on location for HBO’s hit TV seriesGame of Thrones.