Ouarzazate is nicknamed « the door of the desert » marks the beginning of the Sahara desert. It’s closest point of the desert, making it ideal for those who cannot spare more than one day away from Marrakesh to see the desert.
The area is known for its kasbahs, Berber-constructed building that make the are iconic. The fortified village (ksar) of Ait Ben Haddou is the most popular for this kind of construction. It is studded with crenelated towers and its buildings decorated with geometrical motifs and are considered to be one of the most beautiful villages of this kind in Morocco. Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for this reason.
If these pictures look familiar, that is because you have seen this place before. Film such as Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, The Hills Have Eyes, Salmon Fishing in Yemen, and Game of Thrones give this are the stamp of notoriety.
