Mar 5, 2024 - Altas Movie Studio, Ait Benhaddou, then drove to Marrakech

After breakfast, we visited Atlas Film Studios which will give visitors the chance to see for yourself the sets where so many successful films and series have been shot, including Gladiator, Prince of Persia, Game of Thrones, remake of Aladdin, the Mummy and Kingdom of Heaven.  During the guided visit, visitor will explore the backstage areas, hear inside anecdotes, and learn about the evolution in construction methods over time.

Altas Film Studios is one of the biggest film studio in the world and it is named after the vast mountain range that surrounds it. It was build in 1983 by Mohamed Belghmi and  a huge amount of modern American desert-based movies have been shot here. 

In front of Altas Film Studios

Photo with one of the movie set - Jeep

Photo with one of the movie set

Photo with one of the movie set

Photo with one of the movie set

We had a local tour guide who also directed and shot a movie with us as the actors/actresses.  It was interesting.

Then, we visited Aït Benhaddou  which is a historic ighrem or ksar along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh in Morocco. It is considered a great example of Moroccan earthen clay architecture and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

There is a bridge to cross in order to climb up the village. This historic village of Aït Benhaddou is still inhabited, but only by a few Berber families.  We had a bad guide at this location and he led us half way of the top quickly and took us to a small shop to purchase souvenirs.  After we did the purchase, he rushed us back down to the restaurant for lunch.  We are going to give him some unfavorable reviews on Tripadvisor.

The bridge lead to Aït Benhaddou

On top of Aït Benhaddou

We had lunch at L Oasis Dor restaurant.  Then we drove over winding hilly road cross the high mountain to reach Marrakech. 

Marrakesh, a former imperial city in western Morocco, is a major economic center and home to mosques, palaces and gardens. The medina is a densely packed, walled medieval city dating to the Berber Empire, with maze like alleys where thriving souks (marketplaces) sell traditional textiles, pottery and jewelry.