Imlil to Ouarzazate: Epic Road Trip through Ksars

Introduction

Back when we road tripped Morocco for 16 days, we drove over 2,500 km in a tiny Fiat 500 (what an adventure!). Starting and ending in Fes, we made a big loop through the main cities, the Sahara Desert, the seaside, and the Atlas Mountains.

On this day of the trip (Imlil to Ouarzazate), we left Imlil in the High Atlas Mountains, stopped at the stunning Anima Garden, explored the crumbling yet fascinating Telouet Kasbah, and ended the day in the legendary Aït Ben Haddou—before sleeping nearby, just outside Ouarzazate.

Telouet Kasbah was once a powerful citadel on the old caravan route linking the Sahara with Marrakech, while Aït Ben Haddou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its earthen clay architecture and role in countless films.

In this article, we’ll share our journey from Imlil (or Marrakech) to Ouarzazate. If you’re planning your own Morocco road trip, here’s how to make the most of this epic drive.

Read: Our complete 2-week Morocco Road Trip Itinerary

Imlil to Ouarzazate

Introduction

We woke up around 7h and had breakfast at 8h before hitting the road from Imlil to Ouarzazate. In Morocco, it’s pretty hard to get breakfast earlier than that, so don’t expect to leave much before. Once fueled up with tea, bread, and jam, we started our road trip to Ouarzazate, leaving Imlil behind and driving back down toward Marrakech.

The first stretch of the road from Imlil to Ouarzazate winds its way through the High Atlas Mountains, with steep curves and villages perched on the slopes. The views are stunning, but the driving requires a bit of focus, especially when sharing the road with trucks and locals on scooters. Once we got closer to Marrakech, traffic started to build up, and we had to be a bit patient—it’s always a bit chaotic around big Moroccan cities.

Still, the drive was already worth it, with mountain peaks in the rearview mirror and the excitement of reaching Ait Ben Haddou ahead.

Tip: Get this Day Trip to Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou to enjoy one of our favorite places in Morocco.

Anima Garden

The first stop of our road trip from Imlil to Ouarzazate was the Anima Garden by Andrée Geller. It took us about 1h30 of driving down from the mountains to get there. Entrance costs 12€ or 120dh per person. On the way, we quickly stopped at an ATM to withdraw 4000dh—always good to have cash ready for the road.

The garden itself is stunning. It’s big, colorful, and surprisingly calm. It wasn’t crowded at all, which made it the perfect place to slow down, sit on a bench, and just enjoy the sound of the fountains, the breeze, and the birds around you.

Getting there is simple: by car, you’ll follow a small dirt road for 5 minutes off the main road (there’s a huge sign showing where to turn). If you’re not driving, there’s also a free shuttle from Marrakech, or you can take the public bus Alsa 25 toward Ourika. Tours and private cars are another option.

We had lunch right inside the garden and loved it. A Moroccan pizza and two Anima teas set us back 80dh plus a 4dh tip. Simple but really tasty, and the rooftop terrace under a sun umbrella was just perfect. Before leaving, we checked out their souvenir shop. It has some beautiful, original items—not the usual stuff you see in the medinas. Tina couldn’t resist a silk and cotton scarf for 350dh, and honestly, it felt so much more unique than the typical souvenirs.

Tip: Get your André Heller’s ANIMA Garden Ticket online

Telouet

After leaving Anima Garden, we hopped back in the car and made a quick stop at a gas station car wash. For 30dh (plus a 5dh tip), a guy cleaned the car inside and out while we waited, enjoying the mountain view. It took about 30 minutes, and the car felt brand new again—always a good idea on a long Morocco road trip.

From there, the next stretch of our journey from Imlil to Ouarzazate was toward Telouet. The road was a mix—some stretches perfectly fine, others under heavy construction. It stayed like that until the intersection where we left the main road and entered the quieter mountain route. This part was much nicer: easy to drive, not crowded, and with gorgeous landscapes all around.

When we reached Telouet, we parked right in front of the kasbah for 10dh. Entrance to the Telouet Kasbah itself was 20dh per person. It’s not a huge site, but definitely worth a stop, especially since it’s so peaceful compared to other Moroccan attractions. Inside, you’ll find a courtyard and several rooms, with the highlight being the last hall, where the tile work and intricate decoration are absolutely stunning.

The Telouet Kasbah has an important history. Once the seat of the powerful El Glaoui family, it was also called the Palace of Glaoui. Construction began in 1860 and continued with expansions in later years. Unfortunately, much of it is in ruins today, slowly collapsing with time, though some restoration work has been done since 2010. Even so, wandering through the quiet halls gives you a real sense of stepping back in time.

Ait Ben Haddou

After Telouet, we continued our drive from Marrakech to Ouarzazate toward Ait Ben Haddou, about an hour away. We parked where we saw a sign, but since it was already late in the day, nobody came to ask us for payment. From there, we followed a small road to reach the entrance of the ksar, which cost 20dh per person.

Compared to Telouet, Ait Ben Haddou is massive. Ideally, you should allow more time here, but since we arrived just before sunset, many places were already closing. We still managed to climb to the top of the old town in time to catch the sunset—it was magical to see the last light over the earthen walls. Afterward, we crossed to the hill opposite for another viewpoint, then made our way back as darkness set in.

Our accommodation was just 5 minutes away, so this wrapped up our road trip day from Imlil to Ouarzazate (or rather, just before Ouarzazate). For context: we left Imlil around 9h, reached Anima Garden at 10h45, left at 13h, stopped for a car wash at 13h05, left again around 13h45, arrived at Telouet at 16h30, left at 17h, and finally reached Ait Ben Haddou at 18h05. In hindsight, an extra hour or two in Ait Ben Haddou would have been perfect.

The ksar itself has been fortified since the 11th century during the Almoravid period, although the current structures mostly date back to the 17th century. They were built using the same traditional earthen methods that had been used for centuries before. Its importance came from its strategic position in the Ounila Valley, along one of the main trans-Saharan trade routes.

Today, Ait Ben Haddou is largely uninhabited, with only a few families still living inside. Most locals have moved across the river into modern homes, making their living from agriculture and tourism. Still, wandering the narrow streets and climbing its walls at golden hour is an unforgettable experience—and one of the highlights of any Morocco road trip.

Tip: We use the DJI Action 4 to film our vlogs — compact, durable, and perfect for capturing every adventure.

Where to stay

• (€):  ksar lamane ait ben haddou
• (€€):  Kasbah El Hajja
• (€€€): Caravane

Here are all your accommodation options in Ait Ben Haddou

Road Trip from Imlil/Marrakech to Ouarzazate

Day 1:

• Leave from Imlil or Marrakech
• Visit Anima Garden
• Drive to Telouet
• Visit the Telouet Kasbah
• Drive to Ait ben Haddou
• Visit the Ksar
• Go to your accommodation

We loved Anima Garden but we spent too much time there, resulting in us not having too much time in Ait BenHaddou. We would recommend that you start your day earlier or skip Anima / Telouet to allow more time in Ait BenHaddou.

Read: Our complete 2-week Morocco Road Trip Itinerary