JOIN US FOR AN EXCITING ADVENTURE IN THE SAHARA DESERT AND HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS!

The grandeur of the Sahara Desert is truly experienced on this trip as we journey through the palm groves of the Draa Valley to the gateway to the desert, Zagora. We then travel by camel into the sand dunes and oases of M’Hamid, where we spend the night at a traditional Bedouin camp under the stars. Next stop is the impressive 16th century kasbah of Ait Benhaddou before we continue our journey into the High Atlas Mountains to enjoy a peaceful walk around the remote village of Tijhza. Finally there is time to explore the medina, souks and square of vibrant Marrakech.

Your chance to• Journey by camel into the Sahara Desert• Sleep under the stars in a traditional Bedouin camp• Visit our Responsible Tourism project in the High Atlas Mountains• Explore the lively city of Marrakech At a glance• Travel by private mini or minibus and camel• Some basic traditional accommodation• Leisurely pace of travel What’s included• All breakfasts and 3 dinners• All accommodation (see below)• All transport and listed activities• Tour leader throughout• Arrival & departure transfers What’s not included• Travel insurance• Visas or vaccinations• International airfare

EXODUS TRAVELS AGENT FAM MARRAKECH & THE SAHARAMay 20-28, 2017Land only price: $99 CADOptional Single supplement: $149 CAD

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ACCOMMODATION DETAILSAll hotels are of good standard, with

private facilities. The properties in

Marrakech, Ouarzazate and Zagora

have an outdoor pool. In all hotels hot

water cannot be guaranteed as it’s

heated via solar panel.

The night spent in the desert is in

large walk-in Bedouin tents where

mattresses are placed on the floor, this

really is a wonderful experience in the

desert. On warmer nights guests often

choose to take mattresses outside and

sleep under the stars!

Gite accommodation used is of a

simple standard and cleanliness. Here

you will be sharing with between 3-7

other people from your group. The

term ‘gite’ in Morocco denotes simple

rural accommodation, like a refuge

or hostel, as opposed to the superior

French definition.

FOODIn the itinerary we state which meals

are included on each day. Moroccan

food is, generally speaking, excellent

though not particularly varied.

Breakfasts usually consist of bread

and jam with coffee or tea. Meals

eaten out are reasonably priced -

kebab and bread cost only about $10

CAD. In main towns it is possible to

find very good French and Moroccan

restaurants where a meal and French

wine will cost anything from $40 CAD

upwards. Generally dinner is likely to

cost between $10-20 CAD depending

on what you drink. Local beers,

wines and soft drinks are reasonably

priced. Your leader will recommend

restaurants for each evening and can

help keep costs down by collecting

a kitty at the beginning of the week -

overall approx. $130 CAD per person

is enough for the week.

Vegetarians can be catered for but

there is a fairly limited choice of

vegetarian cous cous and tajine

TRANSPORTFor most of this trip we use a private

bus, the size of which will depend

on the group size, with a local driver.

The roads in Morocco are reasonably

good, and driving conditions in

towns and on the plains are good.

On mountain roads, the pace will

be slower. Buses usually have air-

conditioning and heating, but please

note this is not up to North American

standards.

or omelettes. This is particularly

the case during the more rural or

trekking sections of the trip.

Please note that if you have any

special dietary requirements you

should inform the Exodus Office

prior to the trip. If you have a

specific medical/dietary need (i.e.

coeliac or vegan) you may find

it helpful to bring some items of

food with you from home.

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DAY 6 (MAY 25, 2017)Travelling east along a mountain valley, we arrive into the breathtaking High Atlas Mountains. These mountains once were controlled by feudal clans and the most powerful of these were the Glaoui, with Telouet as their residence. Now Telouet stands abandoned and crumbling, and we are only able to visit the exterior of this labyrinthine, fairytale structure. A short drive takes us to Animeter, where we leave our bus for a picturesque 1 hour walk on a gentle uphill gradient to our well-equipped gite in the village Tijhza, where we spend the night. In the evening we will have the opportunity to visit the local hammam, part-funded by Exodus. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 7 (MAY 26, 2017)There is time to relax this morning on the gite terrace, with wonderful views across the fertile Tijhza Valley. Alternatively we offer an optional 3-4 hour trek through the villages of this remote area, passing fields cultivated by the Berber women, with peaks of the High Atlas as a fitting backdrop. After lunch, we leave the gite making the scenic drive over the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech, with some stunning scenery along the way. The main pass is called the Tizi’n’Tichka, and at 2260m it’s the highest road pass in Morocco. In the evening we visit Djemma el Fna, the open-air central square around which Marrakech revolves. The name literally means ‘place of death’, as the Sultans once displayed the heads of their enemies here. Now, with the food stalls, snake charmers, juice-sellers and acrobats, it is a place of night time entertainment for locals and tourists alike. Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 8 (MAY 27, 2017)Today we set off on foot on a guided tour to see the spectacular sites of Marrakech. Our city guide will lead us to the Bahia Palace, the Saadian tombs, which, incredibly, date to the 16th century. We end in the famous central square continuing through the labyrinthine souks, bartering for souvenirs, or visit the largest mosque in Marrakech, Koutoubia. Then venture through the old streets of the medina to the Koranic School and the Museum of Marrakech. Alternatively, you may prefer to head off on your own today and take a calèche ride (horse-drawn carriage) to the peaceful Majorelle gardens, owned by Yves St Laurent and decorated throughout in Indigo Blue; or simply enjoy a hammam (traditional Moroccan steam bath). Meals included: Breakfast DAY 9 (MAY 28, 2017)There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time. Meals included: Breakfast

ITINERARY

DAY 1 (MAY 20, 2017)Welcome to Morocco! On arrival at Marrakech Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. While this is an arrival day and you may arrive at any time, please note that hotel rooms are generally only available after midday, and that there will a Welcome Meeting with your leader tonight. Meals included: Dinner

DAY 2 (MAY 21, 2017)After breakfast, travel to Ouarzazate, where productions such as Lawrence of Arabia, The Sheltering Sky and Black Hawk Down were filmed. Rest of day is at leisure. Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 3 (MAY 22, 2017)We head south along the Draa Valley, a huge palmery containing over four million palm trees, edged by many ksours (fortified villages). We skirt the shattered orange and brown-coloured rocks of the Jebel Sahro to arrive at the oasis town of Zagora. Situated right on the edge of the Sahara, this town was formerly a starting point from which traders set off on their arduous journey across the desert to Timbuktu. Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 4 (MAY 23, 2017)Today we transfer to the quiet area of M’Hamid for a wonderful walk through sand dunes, a true Saharan experience. We then embark on our camel trek, further into the desert, where we spend the night at a simple Bedouin camp for some spectacular star-gazing. Surrounded by silence and millions of stars lets us appreciate the immensity of the Sahara Desert. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 5 (MAY 24, 2017)We enjoy a short camel trek in the morning before continuing our journey up the Draa Valley, passing the beautiful palmery and Ouarzazate, to the well-preserved Kasbah Ait Benhaddou. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most spectacular sights of the Atlas Mountains and was made famous as the location of several Hollywood films, including ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and ‘Gladiator’. Although few families continue to live in the various fortresses within the walls, Ait Benhaddou retains an exotic atmosphere that transports us into another world, especially at sunset when the walls of the Kasbah glow red. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

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