Road of the Kasbahs: Ouarzazate & Aït Benhaddou★★★
The legendary Road of the Kasbahs (N10) leads from Ouarzazate through the Dadès Valley to Errachidia — one of Morocco's most spectacular driving routes. Hundreds of crumbling and restored kasbahs (fortified clay dwellings) line the way through a landscape that oscillates between Mars desert and lush palm oasis.
★★★ Aït Benhaddou
The UNESCO World Heritage Site Aït Benhaddou is Morocco's quintessential postcard image: a massive, fortified village complex (Ksar) of red clay buildings that dramatically tier up a hill. Hollywood has used the site dozens of times as a backdrop — for Gladiator, Game of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, and many other films. Only a few families still live within the walls; most have moved to the modern village on the other side of the river.
The visit is free (local guides from 100 MAD). The climb to the top offers a breathtaking panoramic view over the Ounila Valley. Best seen in the afternoon light when the clay buildings glow golden.
★★ Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate — the "Gateway to the Desert" — is less a sight than a practical hub. The Atlas Studios (the largest film studios in Africa) can be visited: sets from Asterix, Kingdom of Heaven, and The Mummy still stand. The Kasbah Taourirt in the city center is also worth seeing — a labyrinthine palace complex of the Glaoui dynasty with over 300 rooms.
Atlas Studios: 60 MAD entry. Kasbah Taourirt: 20 MAD.
Skoura Oasis
About 40 km east of Ouarzazate lies the Palmerie of Skoura with the photogenic Kasbah Amridil (depicted on the 50-dirham note). The oasis can be wonderfully explored by bicycle or on foot — a green paradise in the midst of the semi-desert.
💡 Tipp
Aït Benhaddou is a must-visit, but come early in the morning (before 9 a.m.) or late in the afternoon — at noon, the tour buses arrive, and the place loses its magic. Stay in one of the kasbah lodges opposite for the best view in the evening light.
