# Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate over the Tizi n'Tichka pass URL: https://soukytours.com/trips/ait-benhaddou-and-ouarzazate Type: Day tour. Duration: 1 long day (about 12 hours) or 2 days with an overnight stay. Group: 1 to 6 people. Start: Your riad or hotel in Marrakesh. Price: On request. Over the Tizi n'Tichka to the earthen ksar of Aït Benhaddou and the kasbah of Ouarzazate. In one long day or, better, in two days with an overnight stay. ## Highlights - The Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 meters, with stops at the places where Soukayna thinks the view is best - Aït Benhaddou, the best-known ksar in Morocco, with a guide from the village - Kasbah Taourirt in Ouarzazate - Optional: the film studios where many desert movies were shot - With an overnight stay: Aït Benhaddou at sunrise, without the groups The road south from Marrakesh goes over the Tizi n'Tichka, a mountain pass at 2,260 meters. On the other side Morocco is dry and red, with villages built of earth. [Aït Benhaddou](/en/destinations/ait-benhaddou-and-ouarzazate) is the best-known example, a fortified village that has been used in dozens of films and where a few families still live. With Soukayna you can do this in one long day, but in two days it is a much better trip. ## The program The one-day version starts at seven. The pass is the first highlight: the road winds up through the [Atlas Mountains](/en/destinations/atlas-mountains). Soukayna stops at the viewpoints and at a cooperative where women make argan oil. Around noon you are in Aït Benhaddou. A guide from the village walks with you up through the alleys to the granary at the top, with a view over the river and the palm trees. You have lunch on the opposite bank, with the ksar in view. After that it is a half-hour drive to Ouarzazate for Kasbah Taourirt and, if you like, the film studios. Around seven you are back in Marrakesh. The two-day version is more relaxed. You sleep in a riad next to the ksar and see Aït Benhaddou in the evening and at sunrise, when the tour buses are not there. On the second day you take your time in Ouarzazate and drive back over the pass in the afternoon. ## Who it's for For anyone who wants to see the south side of the Atlas but finds the long trip to the Sahara too far. If you love film or architecture, this is your day, and for some people the mountain pass is a destination in itself. If you have more time, continue to Merzouga on the [three-day desert trip](/en/trips/sahara-desert-trip-merzouga), where this route is the first day. ## Good to know It is a long drive and the road has a lot of curves. Sit in the front if you get carsick easily. It can be cold and windy on the pass, even when it is warm in Marrakesh. In winter there is sometimes snow and the road is occasionally closed for a short time; Soukayna checks that beforehand. In summer it is very hot on the south side and we plan the walk through the ksar as early as possible. Bring [cash](/en/practical/money-and-payments) for entrance fees, lunch and the guide. On our page about [getting around](/en/practical/getting-around) you can read why this route is so much more pleasant with your own driver than by bus or shared minibus. When you book through the [contact page](/en/contact), let us know whether you want the one-day or the two-day version. ## Program step by step - **Day 1: Marrakesh, Tichka, Aït Benhaddou** Departure at seven. The road over the Tizi n'Tichka winds through the mountains, with stops at viewpoints and an argan cooperative. Around noon you are in Aït Benhaddou for a walk through the ksar with a guide and lunch with a view of the village. On the one-day version you then drive on to Ouarzazate and Kasbah Taourirt, and you are back in Marrakesh around seven in the evening. On the two-day version you spend the night in a riad near the ksar. - **Day 2: Ouarzazate and back (two-day version)** You see Aït Benhaddou at sunrise, without the groups. Then you go to Ouarzazate for Kasbah Taourirt and, if you like, the film studios. After lunch you take your time driving back over the pass and arrive in Marrakesh at the end of the afternoon. ## Included - Private transport with Soukayna - Pickup at your riad or hotel - A local guide in Aït Benhaddou - Water in the car - For the two-day version: arranging the overnight stay ## Not included - Entrance fees (kasbah, film studios) - Lunch and dinner - Accommodation (for the two-day version, price on request) - Tips ## Frequently asked questions **One day or two days?** In one day you spend well over eight hours in the car and you see Aït Benhaddou in the middle of the day, at the same time as the tour buses. In two days you see the ksar in the evening and at sunrise, and the drive is not a rush job. We recommend two days if you have the time. **Is the road over the pass scary?** The road has been improved a lot in recent years and is wide enough. There are hairpin turns and steep sections, but Soukayna drives it regularly and calmly. If you are prone to motion sickness, sit in the front and bring something for it. **Can I combine this drive with the Sahara?** Yes, Aït Benhaddou is the first stop on our three-day desert trip to Merzouga. If you want to go farther than Ouarzazate, look at that trip. **Is Aït Benhaddou accessible if I can't climb well?** The lower part of the ksar is easy to walk. The climb to the top takes fifteen minutes over steps and uneven paths. The view from the other side of the river is also good without any climbing. --- Source: https://soukytours.com/trips/ait-benhaddou-and-ouarzazate Souky Tours, contact through the chat on https://soukytours.com/contact