It was very dramatic leaving Ouazazate early in the morning with the town nestled in the oasis surrounded by sand and mountains. The small village of Ait Ben Haddou is only 29 km/18 miles northwest of Ouarzazate and over 130,000 visitors a year come to see this extremely scenic sight. Popular, even when we visited, it was nothing like the hordes of people now. Ait Ben Haddou is perched on a hillside overlooking a river bed with defense walls, towers, houses, stables, narrow lanes all constructed from a mix of red earth and stone. Ait Ben Haddou was probably established early as the 11th century to control the southern caravan trade route that passed from the Sahara to Marrakesh through here. The Kasbah (or ksour is virtually abandoned and most of the residents have moved across the river.

A taxi from Ouarzazate only costs about 10 Dinar ($1.25) but I’d make arrangements with one to take you there and wait for the return journey. Believe me…you aren’t going to stay all day.

Ouazazate in the distance, Morocco
With the exception of unbelievable Yemen, I’ve never seen such a incredible approach to a site as Ait Ben Haddou and it’s no wonder Ait Ben Haddou is such a popular movie location and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The closer you come, the more unreal it looks. A fairy tale castle-in-air vision…or mirage in the desert…View image…

selling rides across the stream into Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco 

Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco
There were men waiting at the stream to offer horse back rides across (we waded) and then the few families who still live here request money to walk into the Kasbah and past their homes. You can walk up past the ruined fortified granary on top of the hill, eat in one of the many restaurants…View image…or just stare in wonderment at the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou.

Back in our taxi for the dramatic ride over the vertiginous mountains of the high Atlas and over the Tich’n'Tichka pass at an altitude of 2,260m/7,414′ heading to Marrakesh, our last Morocco stop.

terraced Atlas Mountain scenery in Morocco
Other than trying not to get motion stickness on the snaky ride through the mountains, the only interesting sights were young men and children selling “Sand Roses” along the road. “Sand roses” …View image…(or desert flowers) are gypsum crystals formed about three feet below the desert sands. They take on the color of the sand and develop is different sizes, clusters and small rosettes. Yes…we bought for grandchildren and had to wrap in socks and underwear to keep from breaking the fragile crystals.

Finally, Marrakesh…