Ait Ben Haddou Day Trip or Overnight Stay? Discover the Best Way to Experience the Famous UNESCO Site

So, you’re planning on visiting Ait Ben Haddou and want to know whether you should take a day trip to Ait Ben Haddou or stay overnight. Well… I’ve got you covered! I visited Ait Ben Haddou in July and decided to stay overnight. Both options have pros and cons, and one of the biggest factors in your decision is the length of time you’re in Morocco. 

If you’re driving in Morocco and have more time to spare, then 100% an overnight stay in Ait Ben Haddou is worth it! However, if you’ve only got a couple of days in the country, then a day trip is probably the better option. Keep reading and we’ll weigh up both options by the end of this article, you are bound to have your decision!

This post covers an Ait Ben Haddou Day Trip vs overnight stay and Ait Ben Haddou Accommodation.

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Should You Take a Day Trip to Ait Ben Haddou From Marrakech or Stay Overnight?

Day Trip to Ait Ben Haddou From Marrakech

Pros:

• If you don't have long in Morocco, then a day trip from Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou is a good way to fit the UNESCO World Heritage site into your itinerary.
• If you aren't planning on driving in Morocco, then going on a day trip with a tour company is probably your best option as Ait Ben Haddou can be difficult to get to otherwise. This 3-Day Merzouga and Sahara Desert Tour is perfect for those with a bit more available time – allowing you to visit both Ait Ben Haddou and the Sahara Desert.
• There's not much to do in Ait Ben Haddou, so a quick day trip would be more than sufficient to see all that you need too!

Cons:

• Multiple tour buses visit at similar times so it can get very busy.
• Ait Ben Haddou is located over 3 hour's drive away from Marrakech. This means if you take a day trip from Marrakech you'll be sitting in a car for over 6 hours, which can be a bit exhausting for some.

Staying Overnight in Ait Ben Haddou

Pros:

• By staying overnight in Ait Ben Haddou, you get to explore Ait Ben Haddou at your own pace with no time constraints.
• If you actually stay within Ait Ben Haddou and not across the river from it, you will get a very unique and authentic local experience.
• If you have a view of Ait Ben Haddou from your accommodation, then you can watch the stars, sunrise, or sunset over Ait Ben Haddou. A magical experience, especially in winter!
• You get to explore Ait Ben Haddou when it's quiet and all the tour buses have left – it can feel like you have it to yourself!
• Accommodation is pretty reasonably priced in Ait Ben Haddou.

Cons:

• This side of the river, directly across from Ait Ben Haddou, has been mostly built up to provide accommodation for tourists wanting to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site. So, there isn't much to do other than visit Ait Ben Haddou, which doesn't take long as it's a small village. Therefore, I would suggest only staying for one night.

Best Time to Visit Ait Ben Haddou

The best time to visit Ait Ben Haddou is December to February. The locals who worked at our accommodation said at this time of the year the sky is clearer so the sunrises and sunsets are incredible and the night sky is a blanket of stars. It will also be quieter at this time of year. The only thing is the temperatures can drop to 3 degrees Celsius in Ait Ben Haddou during winter, meaning the roads can be a bit more dangerous to drive due to the possibility of snow and ice.

I wouldn't recommend visiting in the height of summer. I visited in mid-July and the temperatures were around 40-50 degrees Celsius. It was almost too warm to walk around at times. It also meant that everything was dried up, so the river in front of Ait Ben Haddou wasn't flowing, and the sky was constantly hazy, which meant the sunrise and sunset weren't as spectacular as they could've been.

Ait Ben Haddou Accommodation

Most accommodation in Ait Ben Haddou isn’t actually located within the walls of the old village, instead, the accommodation tends to be located over the river, giving it a good vantage point over the old village.

When I visited Ait Ben Haddou, I stayed at La Fibule D'or. I have no complaints about this hotel; it was decent for what I needed it to be – a place to rest my head after a long driving day. It was also very reasonably priced at only £31 per night with city tax included and breakfast included. It had a lovely balcony, which I think was its best feature as it offered one of the best views over Ait Ben Haddou. A perfect place to do some stargazing and watch the sun set or rise. 

Other great choices for reasonably priced accommodation around Ait Ben Haddou include Riad Tamdakhte, a good all-round option, and Kasbah Rayane Ait Ben Haddou, perfect for those looking for a quieter location. For those in need of a hotel with a pool, understandable in those 40-degree Moroccan summers, then Dar Mouna La Source is a good choice but a little bit more expensive.

There are a couple of hotels actually located in the old village of Ait Ben Haddou: one of which is Kasbah Tebi. This highly-rated accommodation is a bit more pricey, but it offers you a unique experience of living like a local in the old village. It also has little electricity, which means it’s lit mostly by candlelight. I think it sounds absolutely magical and I’m kind of gutted that I didn’t stay there!! Another highly-rated hotel located in Ait Ben Haddou is Kasbah El Hajja.

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This post features a day trip to Ait Ben Haddou from Marrakech and Ait Ben Haddou Accommodation. Thanks for taking the time to read through this blog, it’s much appreciated!

Kirsty x

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