Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah: Morocco's Game of Thrones Filming Location

Ait Ben Haddou is a ksar — a fortified group of earthen buildings — in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, about 30 kilometers from Ouarzazate. Built from red clay and straw in the traditional pre-Saharan style, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

A Film Set for Decades

Ait Ben Haddou's dramatic silhouette has made it one of the most filmed locations in North Africa, appearing in Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and — most famously for a newer generation of visitors — as the slave city of Yunkai in Game of Thrones' third season.

Walking the Kasbah

Crossing the seasonal river at the base and climbing through the ksar's narrow, sloped passages to the old granary at the top gives the best sense of how the fortress worked as a functioning caravan-route stop rather than just a backdrop. Most of the ksar today is preserved for visitors, with only a handful of families still living within its walls.

Practical Notes

Ait Ben Haddou is usually visited as a stop between Marrakech and the Sahara rather than a standalone destination, most often paired with nearby Ouarzazate's Atlas Film Studios.

Getting There

Nearly every desert-bound itinerary from Marrakech passes through Ait Ben Haddou en route to Merzouga. Our 3-day Sahara desert tour from Marrakech and Grand 15-day Morocco tour both stop here.