Rising from the banks of the Ounila River against a backdrop of stark, ochre-colored desert mountains, Ait Benhaddou is the most spectacular and best-preserved example of a ksar (fortified village) in southern Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site of extraordinary visual power. This cluster of earthen buildings, constructed from sun-baked pisé (rammed earth) and decorated with ornate geometric motifs, climbs the hillside in a cascade of towers, crenellated walls, and flat-roofed houses that seem to grow organically from the desert landscape itself. The ksar was originally built in the 11th century along the trans-Saharan caravan route connecting Marrakech to the Sudan, and its strategic position and imposing fortifications made it a vital stop for merchants trading in gold, salt, and enslaved people. Today, a handful of families still live within the ksar’s walls, maintaining the ancient structures and welcoming visitors who cross the river on foot, stepping on stones or wading through the shallow water, to explore the winding alleys and climb to the granary at the summit for sweeping desert panoramas.

Ait Benhaddou’s cinematic beauty has not gone unnoticed by Hollywood. The ksar has appeared in more than twenty films and television productions, from Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator to Game of Thrones, where it served as the slave city of Yunkai. The nearby Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate are the largest in Africa and can be visited on guided tours. Despite its fame, Ait Benhaddou retains a powerful atmosphere of antiquity and solitude, particularly in the early morning before tour buses arrive from Marrakech, when the rising sun turns the earthen walls to burnished gold and the only sounds are birdsong and the murmur of the river.

Pro tip: Cross the river and climb all the way to the top of the ksar for the best views. Hire a local guide at the entrance, as they know the most photogenic routes through the labyrinth and can explain the architectural details and history that you would otherwise miss. Visit in the morning before 10:00 or after 16:00 for the most dramatic light and to avoid the midday heat and tour groups.