How much does it cost to travel to Ait Ben Haddou?
You should plan to spend around $70 (MAD703) per day on your vacation in Ait Ben Haddou. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $23 (MAD234) on meals
- $29 (MAD290) on local transportation
- $50 (MAD506) on hotels
A one week trip to Ait Ben Haddou for two people costs, on average, $978 (MAD9,837). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Ait Ben Haddou has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Ait Ben Haddou expensive to visit?
Ait Ben Haddou is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in Morocco, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It is in the top 10% of cities in the country for its overall travel expenses. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.
Within Africa, Ait Ben Haddou is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Marrakech or Antananarivo.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Ait Ben Haddou Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Ait Ben Haddou?
The average Ait Ben Haddou trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Ait Ben Haddou travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category
|
Cost
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
MAD506
($50)
|
Local Transportation 1
|
MAD290
($29)
|
Food 2
|
MAD234
($23)
|
Entertainment 1
|
MAD284
($28)
|
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Alcohol 2
|
MAD31 -
92
($3 - 9)
|
Accommodation Budget in Ait Ben Haddou
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Ait Ben Haddou is $25 (MAD253). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Ait Ben Haddou is $50 (MAD506). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Ait Ben Haddou? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Ait Ben Haddou
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Ait Ben Haddou is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $29 (MAD290) per person, per day, on local transportation in Ait Ben Haddou.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$29
MAD290
How much does it cost to go to Ait Ben Haddou? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Ait Ben Haddou will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Ait Ben Haddou
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Ait Ben Haddou can vary, the average cost of food in Ait Ben Haddou is $23 (MAD234) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Ait Ben Haddou should cost around $9.29 (MAD93) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Ait Ben Haddou is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$23
MAD234
Entertainment Budget in Ait Ben Haddou
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Ait Ben Haddou typically cost an average of $28 (MAD284) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$28
MAD284
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Alcohol Budget in Ait Ben Haddou
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $6.11 (MAD61) on alcoholic beverages in Ait Ben Haddou per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$6.11
MAD61
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Ait Ben Haddou On a Budget
Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco
Think of a time when you've seen Jerusalem in a movie. Chances are what you're really looking at is the traditional, mud brick city of Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco. This city on the edge of the High Atlas Mountains has been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, and has also been seen in movies like
Lawrence of Arabia, Orson Welles'
Sodom and Gomorrah,
Jesus of Nazareth, the French version of
Cleopatra, Bertolucci's
Sheltering Sky, Scorsese's
Kundun, Gillies MacKannon's
Hideous Kinky, Ridley Scott's
Gladiator, Oliver Stone's
Alexander the Great, and in some scenes from
Game of Thrones.
Most people living in this city live in more modern houses in a nearby village, but there are four families that still live within the fortified, ancient city. The fortification is made of six Kasbahs, or place with high walls meant to defend the city from attack, and nearly fifty ksars, or individual Kasbahs.
Sights
The ksars of Ait Ben Haddou are the group of red brick earthen buildings surrounded by high walls. This traditional, pre-Saharan habitat is the biggest draw to Ait Ben Haddou. Reinforced by corner towers in the Ouarzazate province, the ksar is a shining example of southern Moroccan architecture. This gathering of buildings offers a complete view of pre-Saharan construction techniques and pise clay architecture.
This region was one of the many trading posts on the commercial route across ancient Sudan to Marrakesh. Historically, traders carried spices, slaves and gold on the Sahara Trade Route. Today, since the trade route has all but faded away so many of the Kasbahs along the route have become simple relics. Not Ait Ben Haddou, though. This site has been kept in pristine condition for the use of Hollywood and curious tourists.
The community areas of Ait Ben Haddou include a mosque, a public square, a fortification and a loft at the top of the village. There are two cemeteries – one Muslim, one Jewish – and a sanctuary.
The granary at the top of the hill is worth the trek to get up there. This impressive site is ready for your visit, but so are some eager "helpers." Many will offer a small bridge to climb up and as soon as you turn around the bridge is gone. Your new friend will likely only let you climb back down if you throw them some money.
For the best photo opportunity, you'll want to keep in mind that the sunrise is the best time of day to see golden rays stream across the Ait Ben Haddou village. Afternoon or sunset shots are nice, too, but nothing like the scene you'll capture at sunrise. Try to frame the shot to include the Kasbahs within the village, palm trees, decorative motifs, small streets full of donkeys, or storks nesting on top of the mud houses.
Neighborhoods
While the main Kasbah is right across the river from the small town, more hotels can be found up and down the main road. Also, hiking in either direction along the river (or the main road) will lead you to another town in each direction, each with its own Kasbah. The one up the river is in great condition and worth a hike if the weather is good.
Activities
There are several shops and markets within the town that sell kitschy souvenirs from all over the Sahara. Popular items include models of the ksar and wooden artifacts from the Dogon people in Mali. Be sure to haggle the price with the shopkeeper. It's very much expected in Moroccan tradition to negotiate price aggressively.
Food and Dining
Given that this is an ancient city, you might expect that there aren't many dining options. One choice for your meal is the Hotel-Restaurant Baraka. You'll likely find a traditional dish to your liking here. Sample treats like the a la carte couscous with chicken, vegetables and trade-route spices, or the tajine with meat simmered in smen (seasoned butter) and caramelized onions.
Transportation
Ait Ben Haddou is accessible from the cities of Ouarzazate and Marrakesh. Buses don't typically have a stop right at Ait Ben Haddou, but they will drop you off approximately 20 km away at a main intersection. From there, you will need to find a ride. Taxis and small buses are often found waiting at the intersection where buses drop off passengers. Negotiate for a better price if more than one vehicle is around.
If you have the money, however, then it will be better to arrange private transportation for your trip. Also, if you don't have much time, you might what to organize a private tour guide, as well.
Once you're inside the fortified city, you can only walk or climb. There are two main entrances – one is through the use of a new bridge, and the other requires crossing the river using stepping stones.
Related:
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hostel in Marrakesh,
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Zanzibar?
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.