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Game of Thrones set in North Africa

April 2, 2020 | Michael Turtle | 11 Comments

WORLD HERITAGE SITE

Morocco’s Game of Thrones set

As I’ve been travelling around recently, I’ve found my nose in books more than usual. Well, to be more exact, in my kindle… but that’s a rather moot point.

Often I find I don’t have time to read but I’ve spent a lot of my travels on buses of late and reading helps pass the hours better than staring out the window at the countryside or trying to make small talk in a language that I usually only use to ask for a beer or directions to the toilet.

Ait Ben Haddou, Game of Thrones set, Morocco

But the other reason is because I’m caught up in the Game of Thrones series (or the A Song of Ice and Fire series, if you prefer to refer to it by its official title).

I am a latecomer to the books but turned to them eventually because I was becoming frustrated at waiting for the television series to tell me the tales of Westeros and afield each week before then waiting another year for the next series to find out more.

Ait Ben Haddou, Game of Thrones set, Morocco

Now, one of the unintentional – but interesting – things I realise I’ve done over the past year or so is visit some of the places where the TV series has been filmed.

To create the fantastical world that author George RR Martin described in the books, the television producers have turned to some of the most exotic countries in the world. I remember being in Croatia’s old city of Dubrovnik, for instance, and imagining that I was walking the walls of Kings Landing myself.

And it has happened again here – quite by accident – in the middle of Morocco.

Ait Ben Haddou, Game of Thrones set, Morocco
Ait Ben Haddou, Game of Thrones set, Morocco

I’ve made my way to the old earthen structures of Ait-Ben-Haddou because it is one of Morocco’s World Heritage Sites. It’s only when I casually talk to another visitor here that I find out it was also used as a set for Game of Thrones. It was used to portray the slaving city of Yunkai that Daenerys Targaryen laid siege to.

Ait Ben Haddou, Game of Thrones set, Morocco
Ait Ben Haddou, Game of Thrones set, Morocco

Ait-Ben-Haddou, Morocco

Ait-Ben-Haddou is famous for much more than being a backdrop – and from well before anyone had heard of characters like Daenerys. It was in the 17th century that Ait-Ben-Haddou began its ascent to become one of the most important ksars in the region.

Ait Ben Haddou, Game of Thrones set, Morocco

The small community was part of the trading route between ancient Sudan and Marrakech. The people who lived here had to balance the appearance of openness for those passing by for commerce with a natural instinct for self-preservation from those who planned to take control and stay longer.

Ait-Ben-Haddou today looks easily sackable but, in fact, it was built to be defended. The outside walls of mud and clay are the initial protection for the town which is built onto the side of a hill.

The buildings are packed tight with narrow pathways that wind around each other and unexpectedly turn into steep staircases up to another level of construction. At the very top is a fortress that the residents can retreat to as a last line of defence.

Ait Ben Haddou, Game of Thrones set, Morocco
Ait Ben Haddou, Game of Thrones set, Morocco

These days Ait-Ben-Haddou is still a major trading stop – it’s just that tacky souvenirs are the goods and it’s the tourists who need defending.

The entire site is actually quite small and the World Heritage listing means very little can be done to improve the structures within it. The best way to make a living is to use the spaces between the earthen walls to attract the curious visitors who come passing through each day as surely as the sun will rise into a cloudless sky above.

Speaking of, Ait-Ben-Haddou is a very popular day trip from Marrakech. You can also combine it with the nearby Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate. If you’re interested, here are a good few tour options:

 
Ait Ben Haddou, Game of Thrones set, Morocco

As I get lost and wander down an alley for the second time, the shoe-seller who offered me a free pair in exchange for the ones I was wearing recognises me. It’s easy enough to brush off again as I shuffle past. It’s more awkward when I arrive at a dead end and have to turn around and pass him for a third time.

He mistakes my poor orienteering skills for an attempt at bargaining and tries to engage me in a heated negotiation. Thankfully I still have the shoes he appeared to desire and I use them to carry me up the first flight of stairs I see.

Ait Ben Haddou, Game of Thrones set, Morocco
Ait Ben Haddou, Game of Thrones set, Morocco

There’s something wonderful about Morocco and the way that modern day culture seems so similar to how I imagine it was 400 years ago when the local people started to build this small fortress on a hill far from anyone else.

It’s more than just the physical surrounds – although that obviously helps. Perhaps it’s because the physical and the social still seem to fit together so well.

Ait Ben Haddou, Game of Thrones set, Morocco
Ait Ben Haddou, Game of Thrones set, Morocco

I wonder, when I think again about Game of Thrones, whether that’s something that crossed the minds of the producers.

Did they just see a backdrop or did they see more? Did they see a land where past and present meld together slightly closer to fantasy than we may at first realise?

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN OUARZAZATE

If you don’t want to just visit Ait-Ben-Haddou as a day trip from Marrakech, I suggest basing yourself in Ouarzazate.

BACKPACKER

For backpackers, there’s a bright and friendly hostel I would recommend called Dar Widad.

BUDGET

If you’re looking for something affordable, Rose Valley Hotel is modern and clean.

BOUTIQUE

For something special, have a look at the cool designs of Le Temple Des Arts.

LUXURY

And when it comes to luxury, stay where the celebrities do at the Berbère Palace.

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more info click here. You can see all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites I’ve visited here.
Morocco Travel Guide

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MOROCCO?

See my Morocco Travel Guide

To help you plan your trip to Morocco:

  • My tips on the best things to do in Marrakech
  • Why it’s worth doing a side trip to this seaside city
  • Visit an incredible World Heritage Site used for filming Game of Thrones
  • My suggestions for the best things to see in the Medina of Fez
  • What you’ll find when you explore the blue city of Chefchaouen
  • The grand buildings of the old imperial city of Meknes
  • Finding the new and the old in the capital city Rabat
  • Visit the ancient Roman ruins that are now a World Heritage Site
  • How to deal with touts in Morocco
  • Details about all the World Heritage Sites in Morocco

Let someone else do the work for you:

You may also want to consider taking a Morocco tour, rather than organising everything on your own. It’s also a nice way to have company if you are travelling solo.

I am a ‘Wanderer’ with G Adventures and they have great tours in Morocco.

You could consider:

  • Morocco Kasbahs and Desert (8 days)
  • Highlights of Morocco (15 days)
  • Sahara and Beyond (15 days)

When I travel internationally, I always get insurance. It’s not worth the risk, in case there’s a medical emergency or another serious incident. I recommend you use World Nomads for your trip.

Reader Interactions

    Comments Cancel reply

  1. Mic - UDrive |

    May 24, 2014 at 8:22 pm

    Reply

    I would visit this place anyway but I seem to be the only person who can not understand Game of Thrones!

  2. Mic - UDrive |

    May 24, 2014 at 8:23 pm

    Reply

    I would visit this place anyway but I seem to be the only person who can not understand the Game of Thrones!

  3. Freya |

    May 25, 2014 at 1:54 am

    Reply

    I have never seen Game of Thrones but this places looks absolutely stunning

  4. Elena |

    May 25, 2014 at 3:50 am

    Reply

    Had no idea they’ve shoot the series in Morocco. I’ve pictured Yunkai pretty the same way! Your photos are fantastic!

  5. Dale |

    May 31, 2014 at 4:04 am

    Reply

    You had me at ‘Game of Thrones’.

    To be honest, anything you blog about always gets me on your site as I love the quality of your pictures, but this is a great location that I’m so glad you’ve shared.

  6. noel |

    May 31, 2014 at 4:15 am

    Reply

    I’m a fan of the series also, what a fascinating place to visit, now I’ll have to go back again to that episode and see how it was being shown on the show compared to the real deal – great post!

  7. Peggy |

    June 29, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    Reply

    I love Game of Thrones – the TV series has done a great job of translating the books to screen! But there is nothing like reading and imagining the places in the books for yourself. I would love to go to Northern Ireland to see the sites there, and of course visit Dubrovnik! Have you been to N Ireland and Iceland to see the other GoT locations?

    • Michael Turtle |

      July 12, 2014 at 6:39 am

      Reply

      I’ve seen the Dubrovnik one but not the others. I’m planning to do Northern Ireland next month so that’ll be another one to add to the collection!!

  8. Anna |

    June 12, 2019 at 1:36 am

    Reply

    Hopefully I’ll make it to Morocco soon! Would love to explore Ait-Ben-Haddou! The GOT creators have done such a great job in terms of filming locations! I haven’t read the books, but after the final episode I’m really considering it now(hope for the different ending there lol)

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This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.

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