Aït Benhaddou, Morocco May 25, 2024

Aït Benhaddou, Morocco

Are you looking for sandy charms? Come to Aït Benhaddou, Morocco, situated along the old caravan route linking the Sahara to Marrakesh. This UNESCO World Heritage Site showcases Moroccan earthen clay architecture, a building technique that uses sun-dried mud to make structures. Although none of the buildings here are believed to predate the 17th century, they are constructed using techniques and styles that are much older. Located on the gentle slopes overlooking the Asif Ounila (Ounila River) is the ksar, a fortified village of Aït Benhaddou, with mud-brick structures. Clustered within a defensive wall with a gate and corner towers, ksars are a great representation of classic pre-Saharan dwelling. The ksar"s communal landscape includes a public square, a mosque, grain-threshing areas beyond the fortifications and a caravanserai—a type of roadside inn, among other features. So, if you are seeking a journey off the beaten path, Aït Benhaddou awaits you!

© Grant Faint/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Straight out of a fairytale
Pearl among the emeralds
May 25, 2025Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada
May 25, 2026Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, Rajasthan

More Desktop Wallpapers:

A true symbol of heritage and royalty
Jun 7, 2025Gadisar Lake, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
Apr 20, 2024Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
A gorge-ous place to drop in
A blue-tiful island
King of the jungle? Nope
Jul 8, 2025Seceda, Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy
Apr 17, 2024Rama Navami
A temple to treasure
May 17, 2026Hawksbill Mountain, Shenandoah National Park, United States
Sept 6, 2026Lake Fyans, Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia
Giddy family fun
Hello, is it tea you’re looking for?
Getting starry-eyed at the moon
Spanning the soft sunlight
Apr 23, 2026Shakespeare Day
Take the trail more travelled by
Let there be lights!
Dec 12, 2024Poinsettia
Jul 5, 2025Tour de France
Underwater underground
Jul 19, 2024A young jaguar on a riverbank, Pantanal, Brazil
What are these beautiful sandy waves?
Jun 8, 2026World Oceans Day
Jun 14, 2025Cinque Torri, Dolomiti, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Belluno, Veneto, Italy
Jan 1, 2024Happy New Year!
Jul 31, 2024Hoodoos, Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
Feb 12, 2026Darwin Day
Oct 26, 2025Thick-billed raven, Simien Mountains, Ethiopia
Aug 20, 2025The citadel in Bonifacio, Southern Corsica, France