Start the day with 8am pickup at your hotel in Marrakech, then begin the 118-mile (190-km) drive to Ait Ben Haddou in a comfortable vehicle with a driver/guide. The drive itself is a highlight of the trip, and as you wind up the steep Tizi n Tichka Pass, you’ll have dramatic views of the Atlas Mountains and Moroccan desert at every turn—and a breakfast stop along the way.
Pause to stretch your legs in the mountain community of Telouet, where you can explore a crumbling, historic kasbah, then continue to Ouarzazate. Follow narrow alleys and winding streets through the sand-colored city of Ait Ben Haddou, a ksar whose fortified walls protect earthen houses that date back to the 17th century. The entire complex is a UNESCO Site, and it’s an ideal place to explore the distinctive architecture of Southern Morocco.
Refuel with lunch at a local restaurant (own expense), then visit the Atlas Film Studios to see the remains of sets from iconic movies and television shows including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones. After touring the studio, begin the 3.5-hour drive back to Marrakech, where you’ll arrive at your hotel between 7pm and 8pm.
