This charming cluster of earthen buildings protected by tall, imposing walls is a ksar, a classic example of early south Moroccan buildings. According to legend, the ksar was founded in the 8th century. This picturesque little city on a hill was likely a convenient stop along the Saharan Trade Route, providing weary travellers with food and shelter every night. Today, it stands like a priceless jewel atop its hill, beautiful but lifeless, and home to a constant stream of curious tourists exploring its narrow roads.

However, Ait Ben Haddou is gaining fame as a prime movie location for its mesmerising landscape. Film enthusiasts will recognise it as the place where Maximus the gladiator, played by Russel Crowe, won his first vicious fight, and Game of Thrones fans will be thrilled to step into Yunkai, one of Daenerys’s first conquests.