Ait Benhaddou Kasbah

Ait Benhaddou is a ksar, a fortified village of mud-brick houses and towers piled up a hillside above the Ounila River, on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. It is one of the best-preserved examples of earthen architecture in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Its dramatic look has made it a favourite with film-makers; scenes from Gladiator and Game of Thrones were shot here. Cross the river, wander up through the lanes past craft shops, and climb to the old granary at the top for a view over the plain.

Ait Benhaddou lies near Ouarzazate, across the High Atlas from Marrakech by way of the winding Tizi n’Tichka pass. It is usually visited on the first day of a Sahara trip; late-afternoon light makes the walls glow.