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Day 0 |
Overnight Flight |
Friday, January 5, 2024 |
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Feel as if
you’ve stepped into another time as you enter a world of legends, relics, and
indescribable beauty. Eons of history and iconic wonders, mouthwatering bites
of savory cuisine, and stretching sunsets fading against the desert horizon –
discover the essence of Morocco. |
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Day 1 |
Welcome to Marrakech |
Saturday, January 6, 2024 |
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Welcome
to Morocco! Upon arrival at Marrakech airport you’ll be met and transferred
to our hotel. This evening meet your fellow travellers and enjoy free time to
explore the delights of Djemaa el Fna. Overnight Marrakech |
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Day 2 |
Majorelle Gardens
& Marrakech City Tour |
Sunday, January 7, 2024 |
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After breakfast we head over to the beautiful Majorelle Gardens
just a short drive from the hotel. These botanical gardens were designed by
the French Artist Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s and 1930s. He used a
distinctive shade of cobalt blue for the majority of the garden and although
a lot of his other work has largely been forgotten – this garden is seen as
his greatest master piece. The garden has been owned by
Yves Saint Laurent since 1980 and his ashes were scattered here after his
death in 2008. The garden contains an extensive collection of exotic plants
and trees and is home to 15 species of bird. There is also a Berber Museum
representing the various indigenous tribes of Morocco including over 600
artefacts. The newly opened Yves Saint Laurent museum nearby is also well
worth a visit - this museum was opened in 2017 and is dedicated to the life
and works of Yves Saint Laurent himself. Please note entrance into the YSL
museum is not included. This afternoon you will meet up with the rest of the
group who are coming in from Casablanca before embarking on a guided tour of
Marrakech. Inside the rose coloured medina walls is a tangle of winding
streets and alleys that open onto verdant gardens and bustling souks. At the
heart of the medina is Djemaa El Fna, the city's exuberant market place and
towering over it, is the famous Koutoubia Mosque, the tallest building in the
city. Overnight - Marrakech (B, D) |
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Day 3 |
Ait Benhaddou - UNESCO World Heritage Listed |
Monday, January 8, 2024 |
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Marrakech
- Ait Benhaddou - Ouarzazate. Departing the city this morning we travel
across the plains of haouz and reach the great High Atlas mountains. Climbing
over the pass of Tizi n Tichka, we stop for lunch and then continue onwards
with great views over the Mountains and valleys to Ait Benhaddou. This
incredible ancient fortified Kasbah was built for defence purposes high on a
hill and is a stunningly well preserved medieval city which has famously
featured in many blockbuster movies, including Gladiator and Laurence of
Arabia as its beauty is unequal to any other fortified kasbah in south
Morocco. Carrying on we continue south to the Hollywood of North Africa –
Ouarzazate (pronounced war-zazat). Ouarzazate is famous for being the filming
location for many other Hollywood blockbusters and famous TV shows including
James Bond – The Living Daylights, The Mummy and more recently Game of
Thrones. Journey Time: Approx 4.5 hours Overnight - Ouarzazate (B, L, D) |
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Day 4 |
Camel trek into the Sahara |
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 |
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Ouarzazate
- Todra Gorge - Merzouga (Sahara). This morning we begin our journey into the
Sahara with a medley of palm trees, rose fields and magnificent gorges.
Travelling from Ouarzazate, there is a possibility of visiting the kasbah
Amherdhil in Skoura before seeing the rose fields and reaching scenic Todra
Gorge. Surrounded by towering vertical limestone cliffs reaching heights of
1000ft, it is known as Morocco’s Grand Canyon. The charm of Todra lies in its
changing colours as the sun slowly moves from east to west. After time to
wander through Todra we hit the road again for Merzhouga – our base before we
head into the Sahara. Depending on the time of year, spend the afternoon
relaxing and swimming before climbing aboard our camels for an incredible
trek into the Sahara Desert to watch a beautiful sunset and spend the night
at our remote Berber Camp, nestled amongst the towering dunes of Erg Chebbi.
We enjoy local food, music and an amazing night camping in the Sahara. If you
would prefer to take a Jeep to the Berber camp, this can be arranged locally
through your guide at no additional cost. For our trip into the desert you’ll
need to prepare an overnight pack for the essentials you will need for the
night. The remainder of your luggage will stay in Merzouga this evening and
we will collect it in the morning. Journey Time: Approx 5.5 hours, Camel
Trek: Approx 1.5 hours, Jeep: Approx 30 mins, Overnight - Berber Camp (B, L,
D) |
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Fes |
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 |
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Merzouga
(Sahara) - Fes. Departing early, we climb back on our camels disembarking for
a truly stunning sunrise. After freshening up and breakfast in Merzouga we’re
back on the road heading for Fes. It’s a long drive today however there is a
lot to see on the way. We’ll pass through cedar forests full of Barbary
Macaque monkeys on our way through the Moyen Atlas mountains. Just before Fes
we stop at Ifrane – a beautiful town often likened to a Swiss Alpine resort.
Along the way we also start to see our first glimpse of Morocco’s nomadic
Berbers – travelling across the mountains and often staying in make shift
tents as they head to their next destination. We arrive into Fes in the early
evening. Journey Time: Approx 7 hours, Overnight - Fes (B, L) |
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UNESCO listed Fes el Bali, dye-pits & tanneries |
Thursday, January 11, 2024 |
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Fes is the
oldest and largest medieval city in the world and its medina is a cacophony
of aromas, sights and sounds. This morning we enjoy a guided tour of Fes el
Bali - the old walled city. This fascinating medina is a veritable rabbit
warren of 9400 alleys that often finish with dead ends – so be sure to stay
close to the group! We also visit the dye-pits and tanneries before lunch in
the medina. The remainder of the day is at leisure – why not take part in an
optional Tagine Making Class or a night of Moroccan entertainment and food at
a restaurant in town (both payable locally). Overnight - Fes (B) |
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Day 7 |
Volubilis
& Meknes |
Friday, January 12, 2024 |
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Fes -
Volubilis - Meknes - Rabat. Departing Fes this morning we visit the
fascinating UNESCO listed Roman ruins of Volubilis, which date back to AD40.
Continuing on we stop at the Imperial City of Meknes, which became known as
the Versailles of Morocco due to its impressive buildings and elaborate
monuments. After lunch and some free time our final stop of the day is Rabat
– Morocco’s capital where we overnight. Journey Time: Approx 3-4 hours, Overnight - Rabat (B) |
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Day 8 |
Rabat & Casablanca |
Saturday, January 13, 2024 |
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Rabat -
Casablanca - Marrakech. This morning we take a guided tour of Rabat and visit
some of the capital’s highlights, including the impressive Chellah - a
necropolis and complex of ancient, medieval ruins, the Royal Palace and the
Mausoleum of Mohammed V. After lunch we continue to Casablanca where we visit
the Hassan II Mosque, which has the tallest minaret and is the third largest
mosque in the world - it can hold 25,000 worshippers at any one time. After
our visit to the mosque we say goodbye to our fellow passengers leaving us in
Casablanca, Overnight - Casablanca (B) |
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Day 9 |
Casablanca and Return Flight to the
United States |
Sunday, January 14, 2024 |
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Our
amazing tour of Morocco ends today after hotel check out. An included onward
departure transfer to the airport is provided. (B) |
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