Highlights Of Morocco

15 Days , CASABLANCA to MARRAKECH

What's Included

Overseas Travel Insurance for the duration of the tour (Sum of USD 2,50,000 covered). 12 nights accommodation at the hotels as mentioned or similar. 1 night accommodation at the gite (multi-share). 1 night accommodation at the nomad camp ( multi-share). Meals Included: 14 breakfasts, 3 dinners. Tangier guided tour. Meknes guided tour. Volubilis guided tour. Fes medina guided tour. Sahara Desert excursion with camel ride and overnight Berber camp. Todra Gorge stay with walk through local villages. Ait Ben Haddou kasbah visit. Amred

village walk (High Atlas). Gite stay with traditional meals. Essaouira orientation walk.Marrakech medina guided walk.

Transportation is by a Private air-con van, camel, walking. Services of Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout the tour.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details toreview a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affectyour plans.

Itinerary

DAY 1 Casablanca

You are welcome to arrive in Casablanca at any time, as today is a designatedarrival day with no planned activities.

Please note that there will be an important welcome meeting this evening atour joining hotel. Please check the hotel notice board for more information onthe location of this meeting or ask at the reception. Please bring your passportand travel insurance documents to this meeting, as you will be required to fillout some important pre-trip admin documents.

Please note, this tour does not spend any time in Casablanca. You may wish tocome a day early in order to explore Casablanca's small medina, beachfront

and classic examples of Art Deco architecture. Be sure to visit the spectacularHassan II mosque. Entrance is only permitted via guided tours which operatefrom Saturday to Thursday (closed Fridays) at 09h00, 10h00, 11h00, and14h00. Please refer to optional activity section of these notes for prices. Thesetimes are subject to change (particularly around Ramadan) please doublecheck these times with your hotel.

A general note about this tour. This is a very fast paced itinerary which coverslots of ground. While this is great as it allows us to see a huge amount in theavailable time, it also means some early starts, some long drives in the minivan and less free time than many other G Adventures.

After learning more about our tour and plans for the following day, you arewelcome to join the CEO and your travelling companions for an optional dinner.

DAY 2 Tangier/Chefchaouen

Depart in the morning by private van for Tangier. Take a guided tour of thecity including the medina kasbah Grand Socco (a bustling square at theentrance to the medina) and Petit Socco a little square in the medina perfectfor people-watching and mint tea-drinking. In the afternoon continue on toChefchaouen.

Tangier is an exotic mix of influences located at the northern tip of Morocco.With culture cuisine and language coming from North Africa Spain Portugaland France this bustling port city is unique and fascinating.

Chefchaouen is a gorgeous mountain town in northern Morocco. It is oftenskipped when travelling the standard route around Morocco but is truly one ofthe most special places to visit. Set in the Rif Mountains this town'swhite-washed buildings with blue accents make it one of the most picturesqueplaces in the country. Known as the Blue City the distinctive blue colour wasadded by the city's jewish population who lived as refugees in the 1930s. Themain square is lined with cafes and shops selling a multitude of handicraftsoften not available elsewhere in the country.

Estimated travel time to Tangier: 5 hrsEstimated travel time to Chefchaouen: 2 hrs

DAY 3 Chefchaouen

Enjoy a free day in Chefchaouen. Options to hike in the Rif mountains explorethe town take a traditional hammam or visit a local weavers cooperative.

DAY 4 Meknes/Volubilis/Fes

This morning we drive from Chefchaouen to Meknes. In the afternoon we enjoya guided tour of Meknes.

We start our guided tour in front of the impressive 18th century Bab Mansourthe ornamental gate to the imperial city of Meknes built by Sultan MoulayIsmail in honour of himself. The gate faces Place el-Hadim where after darkfills with many Moroccan families coming to be entertained by story-tellerssnake-charmers horse rides & medicine men. To the left of the square you'llfind one of Morocco's most colourful & friendliest fresh produce souks andhome to the city's famous confectionaries. Behind the square is the entrance tothe rambling souks where you can discover the many artisans and their crafts.

From here we enter what is left of the imperial city (Meknes was flattened by ahuge earthquake in 1755) and visit the small but impressive Mausoleum ofMoulay Ismail. Then we will pass by the entrance of the Meknes Royal Palaceand end up at Moulay Ismail's massive Heri es Souani. This was his personalstable & granary for his 12000 horses.

After we'll make our way through the rolling hills for a guided visit of theimpressive Roman ruins of Volubilis the best preserved Roman ruins in thispart of Northern Africa. Once an important Roman town the site is situatednear the westernmost border of the Roman Empire. In 1997 Volubilis waslisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wandering through the desertedstreets where chariots once passed you can envision the vibrance the townonce had. Listen to your certified local guide explain about life in the RomanEmpire as you peer into old bathhouses marveling at the still-present mosaicfloors and gazing up at the towering marble pillars.

We leave the Roman Empire to make our way to Fes. We will be staying in thethe new city of Fes built by the French during their Protectorate of Morocco.This area has the feel of a French provincial town with its cafes restaurantsand wide boulevards.

The Fes medina is the world's largest medina with over 9000 winding streetslying within 365 hectares. Buildings within the medina date back to the 9thcentury during the 11th century Fes was the largest city in the known world.There are 350 mosques in the medina where the locals can enter to pray whichdevout Muslims do five times a day as part of the five pillars of Islam.

We enter through one of the great gates into the chaotic confusing and meleethat is the Fes medina. We explore the medina's many artisans' quarters suchas the brass copper and wedding adornment souks. The carpenters bakersbutchers & spice sellers also have their area of the medina that they call home.A highlight is a visit to the famous Fes tannery where we have great viewsfrom a panoramic viewpoint over the men hard at work treating and dying thedifferent hides.

We'll also get to see its religious and historical heart when we visit Moulay

Idriss II's Mausoleum (the founder of Fes) the 9th century Al KaraouineUniversity and one of the many Medersas (Koranic school).

Approx travel time: Meknes to Volubilis 45 mins. Volubilis to Fes 2 hrsexcluding stops.Approx travel time: Chefchaouen to Meknes- 4.5 hrs excluding stops

This evening why not head off for a Moroccan feast at one of the manyrestaurants and finish off the night with some famous Moroccan mint tea.

DAY 5 Fes

Day 5 is free for you to explore more of the Fes medina or the new town (VilleNouvelle) at your leisure. Your CEO will provide you with options for your dayincluding transport options to get you from the hotel into Fes medina.(Please note only certified local guides are allowed to guide in the medina sofor the free day your CEO cannot accompany you here but will be able to helpyou find a local guide if you wish. Of course you are also welcome to justwander at your own speed -just remember to find a map!)

DAY 6 Merzouga

'Today we have a full travel day through the diverse landscapes that makeMorocco so unique. Pass through the cedar and pine forests keeping an eyeout for Barbary apes. Pass over the Middle Atlas Mountains through thepre-desert countryside with its deep gorges filled with splendid oasis of greenpalm groves finally arriving at the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert.

We spend the night in a desert auberge (simple hotel) located right on theedge of the dunes. Here we will have dinner local-style and spend the night.Please note some rooms may have shared bathroom facilities at the desertauberge.

Approx travel time including stops: Fes to Merzouga 10-11hrs

DAY 7 Merzouga

Taking only our day packs with what we will need for this evening we set off onan hour's camel ride to our desert camp deep in the dunes. Your local guideswill teach you how to mount and dismount and other handy camel-relatedsafety tips. Be sure to get them to teach you the trick of tying your turban tokeep the desert sun off your face and add a little flare to your photos. Fromyour first cup of mint tea you'll enjoy a warm welcome at our desert camp. Atraditional dinner under the stars cooked by our hosts awaits. In the eveningthere will be time to hear stories about life in this region and perhaps if we arelucky we might be treated to some traditional music on the drums.

Facilities are very basic - each Bedouin tent sleeps approximately 4 people butmost people prefer to relax and enjoy the sounds of silence during a nightunder the starry desert skies. Mattresses and a sheet and blanket are provided.For those travelling in the winter months (Nov- April) we highly recommend asleeping bag for additional warmth. It is back to nature as far as bathroomfacilities go.

Today is free until we head out on our camel safari in the late afternoon. Whynot spend the cool of the morning exploring the undulating golden sands of thedunes. Or simply relax by the pool or read a book in the cool communal coucharea.

We also offer an optional activity of a 4x4 safari into the sand dunes of theSahara desert. Ask your CEO for more details and current price of this excitingadventure.

DAY 8 Todra Gorge

We rise early for a morning departure by camel from the camp and return toour auberge where we have our breakfast.Continue by bus to Tinehrir and into the Todra Valley. Enjoy a walk in the lushpalm groves and learn more about local life in this region including whichcrops are grown and how the land is farmed. You may even be lucky to tastesome of the fruit in season straight from the source.

Head to the stunning Todra Gorge we spend the night in this beautiful andpeaceful area. The Todra River has carved out cliff-sided canyons through themountains with the final 300m of the gorge being the most spectacular as thecanyon narrows to a flat stony track as little as 10m wide in places with sheerand smooth rock walls up to 160 m high on each side.

Today the Todra River looks more like a stream as it runs its way through thegorge with hotels and restaurants huddled against the steep walls. It is easy towalk through the gorge there is a well-maintained dirt road to walk along. Thescenery is spectacular.

While staying in a hotel nestled in between the sheer cliffs of the gorge youwill have the chance to enjoy a relaxing evening indulging in local Berbercuisine. Please note that due to location the hotel power is run by a generatorand the electricity is turned off every night at approximately 11pm. Werecommend bringing a headlamp for getting around at night if necessary.

Approx travel time: Merzouga to Todra Gorge 4-6 hrs with stops.

DAY 9 At Ben Haddou

This morning we continue along the 'Route of a 1000 Kasbahs' to Ouarzazatewhere we will take our lunch break.

We continue on to the village of Ait Ben Haddou. Ait Ben Haddou is awonderful example of a collection of kasbahs (a type of fortress). Carefullyrestored over the years and now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site itis considered to be one of the best preserved kasbah villages in Morocco. Afew families still call the kasbah their home but the majority of locals havegradually moved to the nearby settlement. During our visit to the Kasbah loseyourself in the narrow windin g passageways and feel the magical atmosphereof this incredible structure.

Approx travel time including stops: Todra Gorge to Ait Ben Haddou 5-6 hrs.

This evening there may be the chance for an optional cooking class. Learn thesecrets of how to make the perfect tagine and then sample your skills for yourdinner. Once at home you can impress your friends with your culinary skills!

DAY 10 High Atlas Mountains

We leave the pre-desert country for the magnificent High Atlas mountainlandscape crossing the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2260m before heading into thesplendid Toubkal National Park passing through small villages on windingmountain roads arriving at the village of Imlil. With our main luggagetransported by mule we embark on the walk from Imlil to the little village ofAremd (1 hour) arriving at our simple mountain gite for the night.

While the walk to the gite is uphill we will take it at a slow pace and it isachievable by anyone of average fitness. Accommodation is multi-share up to 6beds in each room. Bedding is provided but you will need to bring a sleepingbag for additional warmth if travelling in the months Nov-April. You will alsoneed to bring your own bath towel. Bathroom facilities are shared.

Tonight we enjoy a homemade dinner of local produce in the cozy salon. Settlein and enjoy the tranquility fantastic views and clean mountain air of thismagical region.

Approx travel time: Ait Ben Haddou to Imlil 5hrsApprox walking time: Imlil to Aremd 1 hour

DAY 11 Essaouira

After breakfast we'll walk back out to meet our transport in Imlil and head tothe coastal town of Essaouira arriving in the mid-afternoon.Rest of the day is free for your explorations tomorrow.

Approx travel time including stops: Imlil to Essaouira 5hrsApprox walking time: Aremd to Imlil 1 hour

DAY 12 Essaouira

Day 12 is free to browse the many shops for the many crafts on sale, watch thebrightly painted ships bring their catch into the busy harbour or take a strollalong the long, sandy beach. It's a perfect place to enjoy some local seafoodand unwind. You might even like to enjoy some of the wide variety of activitieson offer such as wind surfing and horse riding. Your CEO can arrange camelriding on the beach in Essaouira for you, please ask them for more details ifyou are interested.

DAY 13 Marrakech

In the morning we continue our journey to Marrakech. Once arriving in the redcity join your certified city guide for a tour of the Marrakech medina. Visit thehistorical Koutoubia Minaret and gardens Bahia Palace the Mellah and theSaadian Tombs. Take note as your guide takes you through some of the localsouks with their narrow winding streets.

Approx travel time: Essaouira to Marrakech 3-4 hrs

Once the tour is finished you are free to discover the secrets of this amazingancient city at your leisure. Once you've tired yourself out relax at one of thetea houses around the square indulging in the ubiquitous sweet mint teawatching the hustle and bustle from your shady spot.

DAY 14 Marrakech

Day 14 is a free day to explore. A great place to start your adventure is Djemaael Fna square in the heart of the medina. The square changes its offeringsthroughout the day. In the morning you can wander past the fresh orange juicestalls water sellers in colourful costumes with traditional leather water bagsbrass cups and snake charmers reminiscent of an era past.

As the day progresses the snake charmers are replaced by Chleuhdancing-boys story-tellers magicians and peddlers of traditional medicines. Asthe sun sets the square fills with dozens of food-stalls packed with locals andthe entertaining chefs and waiters. Grab a spot on a bench with the otherdiners and try the Tanjia (slow cooked lamb) Harira soup grilled seafoodfamous Moroccan couscous tajine snails or even sheep's head for the trulyadventurous and wash it all down with some spiced tea.

To really get a taste of everyday life in Marrakech head into the maze of tinystreets and alleyways of the ancient medina. Tourists and locals alike will findeverything they desire in the souks whether it's spices traditional jalabas andslippers or famous Moroccan lanterns the selection here is exhaustive anddon't forget to bargain it's definitely part of the fun. Perhaps end the day like a

local with an optional group dinner in the famous food stalls of Djemaa el Fna.

DAY 15 Marrakech

You are free to depart Marrakech at any time. Please note that hotel check outtime is normally mid-morning but luggage storage is available (possible extracharge to be paid locally) . We are able to organise extra nights'accommodation if you wish to extend your stay. Please enquire at the time ofbooking.