An Exploration of Culture & Landscape from Souk to Sahara
Day 1
MARRAKESH
Upon arrival into Marrakech this morning you are met by your guide and transferred to your riad (traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior garden). Marrakech, the "red city," is framed by its own wall and the High Atlas Mountains. It is considered a city of gardens rich in history and cultural heritage with many interesting sites.
Overnight at a charming Riad situated in one of the most colorful quarters of the Medina of Marrakech.
Days 2-3
MARRAKESH
View the wonderful medina (also protected by UNESCO) with its colorful souks
and Djemaa El Fna Square. The center of the marketplace is filled with snake charmers, storytellers and acrobats during the day and in the evening transforms into a vivid carnival of musicians, clowns and street entertainers/vendors. Visit the Saadian Tombs which lay half- ruined and half-forgotten from the beginning of the last century.
Visit the Dar Si Said Museum of Islamic Arts which houses a collection of southern Berber jewelry and weapons. There are also displays of 18th and 19th century wood carvings, Berber rugs, traditional wedding chairs and typical Moroccan costumes.
Visit the Albadiaa Palace, a 16th century building containing the 12th century minbar of the Koutoubia Mosque, the tallest and most famous landmark in Marrakech.
Visit the gorgeous Jardin Majorelle, a meticulously planned botanical garden created by the 1920's by the French painter, Jacques Majorelle. It is now owned and splendidly maintained by fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. The Museum of Islamic Arts, within the garden walls, houses an exquisite collection of artifacts including Saint Laurent's personal collection of North African carpets, pottery, furniture and doors.
Visit the Menara Gardens, which covers an area of 250 acres and is planted with olive trees. The large central lake is fed by a network of irrigation channels and dates back from the 12th century.
Days 4-5
IMLIL / HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS
Drive to Imlil on the morning of Day 4 and the beautifully refurbished Kasbah located at the foot of Morocco's highest mountain, Mt. Toubkal, in the picturesque village of Imlil. The Moroccan High Atlas is a paradise, offering an incredible variety of scenery, climate and terrain at any time of year. Mt. Toubkal (aka, Jebel Toubkal) is the highest summit in North Africa.
At just over 5,000 feet above sea level, the Kasbah unobtrusively looks out over the major valleys carved out of majestic rocky mountains. The film 7 Years in Tibet was filmed here as well as the movie Kundun, giving you an idea of how magnificent and dramatic the landscape is.
Explore the valley and charming hillside villages either on foot or by mule and experience the "hamam" (Moroccan steam bath) at the Kasbah. The Berber people inhabiting this area still live a very simple traditional life and wear very beautiful traditional dress.
Day 6
OUARZAZATE / SKOURA
Depart this morning toward Ouarzazate which during the 1980s became a boom town by movie makers from America and Europe who continue to use it as a site for filmmaking. On the way you visit the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, one of the most memorable sites of the arid south. This castle is protected by UNESCO as being one of the world's cultural treasures. Ait Benhaddou is often used as a backdrop for fashion articles and films - segments of Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator were filmed here.
Continue on towards the town of Skoura where you take a preliminary walk in the oasis to explore its palm groves and kasbahs. Dinner and overnight at an exceptional 16th century kasbah that has been perfectly and authentically restored.
Day 7
RISSANI
Drive through the dramatic Valley of the Dades, the harshest and most desolate of the southern valleys. The route from Skoura demonstrates why this route is named "the Trail of a thousand Kasbahs". For over 40 miles we pass hundreds of ancient kasbahs, evidence that this was a very busy part of the ancient salt and gold trade route from Timbuktu.
This area is where the ancient Berber culture thrives. One artifact of this Berber culture is the housing style, the Ksour. These are entire villages within mud walls built to keep out marauders from the desert. The landscape is interesting as it varies in color, dominated at times by red volcanic rock and the pastoral landscape.
Continue on through the magnificent Todra Gorge which is a major fault in the plateau dividing the High Atlas Mountains from the Jebel Sarhro, with a crystal clear river emerging from it. Meet the four-wheel drive vehicles which take you to the Merzouga sand dunes, the northernmost edge of the Sahara's vast expanse of sand which continues far to the south all the way to Timbuktu. Walk or take a camel ride up the sand dunes to watch the sunset (or the sunrise the next morning). After dinner and Berber dance and songs, enjoy a fire amongst the dunes and a dazzling display of stars. The night is spent in a Berber nomadic encampment in traditional Berber tents made of camel hair and floors of Berber hand-woven rugs (very comfortable, with mattresses, sheets, shared toilet and basic shower facilities, etc.). This is a wonderful setting evoking images of The Arabian Nights.
Day 8
ERFOUD
This morning you set out on a special tour to explore a great oasis. This is the beginning of a big desert plateau also known as the Tafilelt Oasis which was undoubtedly the cradle of the Alaouite Dynasty in the 17th century. Dinner and overnight at a charming four-star establishment built in old kasbah style.
Day 9
FEZ
Continue on toward Fez, driving through the magnificent and dramatic cedar forests of the Middle Atlas Mountains which are unique to Morocco. They shelter several troops of Barbary apes, which is one of the most impressive of the wild mammals of Morocco. After lunch you may stop to explore the delightful city of Ifrane, the little Swiss-like town before arriving into Fez.
Days 10-11
FEZ
Fez has long been recognized as Morocco's intellectual and spiritual nerve center. More than any other city in Morocco, it seems to exist suspended in time somewhere between the Middle Ages and the modern world. In fact it is renowned as one of the best preserved medieval cities in the world.
During your stay in Fez we suggest the following:
- Take a guided tour of Fez to experience the mysterious labyrinthine-covered streets of the medina (UNESCO has declared the medina one of the world's cultural World Heritage treasures) featuring the brilliant colors of dye makers, the vats of tanners and the palaces of merchants.
- Visit the shrine of Moulay Idriss (situated in the medina) which embraces the tomb of the Patron Saint of the Holy City.
- Visit the Dar Batha palace built at the end of the 19th century, designed for the reception of foreign ambassadors and now the Museum of Moroccan Arts and Crafts.
- Visit the Attarine Medressa, a religious teaching establishment which exemplifies the grandeur of Merinid architecture from the 14th century.
- Visit the Karaouiyin Mosque, situated in the heart of the medina.
- Visit the ancient Roman city of Vollubilis to spend time exploring the ruins dating back to the second and third century CE. It is the finest archeological site in Morocco and equal to any other great Roman city in North Africa.
Day 12
DEPART
Drive to the airport to board an early morning flight to Casablanca. Day room optional. Connect in Casablanca with your international flight home.
NOTE: This is just one example of many custom itineraries we can do for you in this diverse country.
GENERAL INFORMATION
There are no set departure dates for this trip. Please contact EXPLORE as to the time you would like to travel and we can book this itinerary or another customized itinerary for you.
Tour Includes:
All land transfers upon arrival in Morocco; guide throughout; most activities, excursions, all accommodation; breakfast throughout; some dinners.
Tour Excludes:
U.S. domestic and international airfare; internal commercial air; medical immunizations; passport and visa fees; airport departure taxes; gratuities; accident / baggage / cancellation insurance; all lunches and some dinners; some entrance fees; optional excursions or deviation from the scheduled itinerary; excess baggage charges; medical expenses; meals not specified in the itinerary or special meals not on the menu; all beverages; telephone or fax charges; room service; and other items of a purely personal nature.
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