Travelling beyond Marrakech, even for a day, allows for a deeper understanding of the diverse and captivating southern Morocco. Embarking on a tour to Kasbahs Telouet and Ait Ben Haddou near Ouarzazate provides a fascinating glimpse into the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Berber people.
You will traverse the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass, which offers breathtaking views at every turn. Along the majestic Atlas Mountains, you will encounter Berber villages nestled on slopes and in valleys, showcasing how life thrives in this terrain through fields and gardens.
The UNESCO World Heritage sites of Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou and Kasbah Telouet exemplify multi-generational dwellings. As you descend the Ounila Valley, you will also come across numerous humble and smaller Berber houses while driving between the two Kasbahs, further immersing yourself in the local surroundings.
| Number of persons | 2 Persons | 3 Persons | 4 Persons | 5 Persons | 6 Persons |
| Price per person | 115 € | 105 € | 95 € | 80 € | 75 € |
| Total price | 230 € | 315 € | 380 € | 400 € | 450 € |
Morning departure at 08:30 from your riad or hotel in Marrakech, venturing south on your day trip from Marrakech to Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou and Telouet. The trip takes you across the chain of the High Atlas Mountains and over the famous Tizi-n-Tichka pass, one of the most dramatic passes in Morocco and the highest in the whole of Africa at 2260 m.
All along the road, you will see scattered Berber villages along the mountainous terrain, blending almost seamlessly with the surrounding mountains. As you reach the far side of the mountains, the landscape changes drastically, transitioning into a semi-arid and desert-like environment. This shift occurs due to the Atlas mountain range serving as a barrier, separating the Mediterranean climate of the north from the dry desert winds in the southeast.
After the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, a side road leads to Kasbah Telouet, which used to be the palatial residence of the Lords of the Atlas, the Glaoui Family. Although the Kasbah now stands in ruins after the last Pasha fled Morocco following the departure of the French in 1956, wait to be pleasantly surprised by the architectural marvel of this historic home. The tiled walls, fluted pillars, beautifully painted wooden ceilings and coloured glass windows of the reception rooms allow you to imagine what it was like in its prime.
The journey takes you further south along the Ounila Valley, where vibrant fields and gardens lie below, following the winding roads. The varied colours of the rocks and soil, along with the Berber villages, gardens, and smaller Kasbahs, will astonish you. Olive, almond, and fruit trees thrive here and serve as the primary source of livelihood for numerous families.
You arrive in time for lunch at one of the restaurants overlooking the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. In the afternoon, you will explore the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. It is the most famous kasbah in Morocco, largely due to its appearance in many Hollywood movies. The Kasbah is also one of Morocco’s nine UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Once in the village, you will get a closer look at the Kasbah’s architecture with turrets on all the buildings, adorned with grilled windows and soft peach-coloured walls. These traditional houses are made of adobe, highly suitable for the climate conditions of the south and the summits of the mountains because it is an efficient temperature isolator and the building materials are abundant and require no transportation or significant transformation process.
It was one of the most important fortress strongholds on the old Salt Road caravan routes, where traders brought slaves, gold, and salt from sub-Saharan Africa to Marrakech and beyond. Before leaving Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, you will take one last glimpse of the village from a distant point offering a wonderful panoramic view, especially under clear blue skies.
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Anita K27/07/2024Bahia Palace, Medrassa Ben Youssef and Souk We visited Bahia Palace, Medrassa Ben Youssef , Medina &Souk of Marrakech with travel guide Brahim ! Great experience! The most beautiful palaces in the city. Brahim was so politely, well informed, with charisma and sense of humour.we appreciated so much that he never forced to go and buy anything in the souk ! We strongly recommend this beautiful activity ! Thank you so muchVerified
Wendy B22/07/2024Beautiful Medina tour We had Yassine as a guide and he did an excellent job! He showed us the beautiful Medina, the palace and Madrassa Ben Youssef. It was a very nice experience for us because it is a bit quieter in the morning so you can observe everything clearly! Recommended!Verified
zhlf23308/07/2024Tour We had a wonderful tour with our guide, Yassine. He was informative, answered all of our questions and gave us time to explore independently. Would definitely recommend.Verified
Ashley K04/07/2024Great intro to Marrakech with our guide, Yassine We loved our guide, Yassine! He did a great job going at a pace that was suitable for our two young boys (ages 7 & 4) and kept them engaged as my husband and I shopped for rugs. He brought us to very high quality vendors as well but we never felt pushed to purchase.Verified
Steve B03/07/2024Outstanding The tour was amazing! The guide, Brahim was an awesome. Great experience for the price. The walking part of the tour took us through multiple areas of the Souk and was very fulfilling culturally.Verified
Aleksandra M15/06/2024Great city tour - strongly recommended Me and my friend came to Marrakesh for 1 day and a city tour was what we needed. Our guide, namesd Said, comes from a Berber tribe and speaks good english. Very friendly and chatty guy who has a lot of information about the monuments and history. We took a walk through Medina (old city) passing by multiple shops and food stols. Onlybthat itself was an experience. Combination of colors, smells, proportions, design, esthetics of the architecture was overwhelming. Absolutely senses stimulating. Use reccommendations for the tour - comfy shoes, water and a sunscreen are a must. The tour took us nearly 4h, we walked over 8km. If you need a toilet there are free ones in the Bahia Palace ( go to the one AFTER small riad). Make sure to have cash on you because very often ATMs are not working, currency exchange points, restaurants and local shops don't accept cards. We also visited a para pharmacy to learn about argan oil, spices, herbs and teas. We got a cup of fantastic local tea and tested a lot of products - we could pay by card there. However, it wasn't the cheapest place, so if you have time, have a strall in the market to compare the prices. Tips for the guid are more then welcome. Read how to tip in Morocco because it's usually higher in european countries. Strongly recommended. Thank you Said!Verified
Katarzyna Z15/06/2024Great day in Marrakech Said was great guide and made our day showing us the best gems of the city. Highly recommend for all who want to experience not a regular sight seeing ✨????Verified
Antoine T15/06/2024A memorable trip with a dedicated team!! Hamza and his team are very, very professional! We loved our trip, especially thanks to Aziz who was an exceptional guide in every way. Traveling with 3 young children is never easy, especially when you cover a lot of kilometers but it was really great. We recommend without reservationVerified
Erica Gall24/05/2024Very knowledgeable and kind. Highly recommend! Brahim was very knowledgeable and led us through the medina. He even took me to a very reputable rug shop and waited for me after. We chatted a lot about the craftsmanship and architecture on our walk and I could tell he sincerely loves Morocco. He was patient while everyone took photos as we waded through the crowdsVerified
Nicole A16/05/2024A successful and unforgettable stay We spent 3 unforgettable days. Magnificent landscapes and sites, superb walks and especially in the company of Abdel. In a very relaxed atmosphere and with measured discretion, he guided us to the right places and made great discoveries. We learned a lot alongside him. It was a real success. Nicole and Co.
