Dunes, Mountains & Kasbahs of Morocco

7 - Days : Sahara Edition

Including one night Camping in the Moroccan Sahara

Explore the historic kasbahs (fortresses) and natural alpine beauty of southern Morocco's mighty High Atlas Mountains on this 7 day tour to Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Tamegroute, Zagora, Erfoud, Tinerhir, and Berber villages at the edge of the Sahara Desert and even stay over for one night in the Sahara. This tour operates weekly on Wednesdays , year round. Or arrive any day of the year for an additional $155 per person . Start in Marrakech and end in Casablanca

WE guarantee SMALL size group. WE never use more than one language while other tour operators use 2 and even 3 languages on board their coaches. Start in Tangier ?

Day 1 - MARRAKECH Wednesday (D)
Welcome to Morocco! Morning arrival at Marrakech Airport. We escort you to your hotel
In the afternoon, during our tour of the souk (market), we see some of the age-old guild artisans at work. Finally, we end up in famous Djemaa el-Fna square with its medieval circus atmosphere of itinerant dancers, jugglers, acrobats, storytellers, soothsayers, snake charmers, medicine men and public scribes. Dinner is included & served at your hotel.

DAY 2- OUARZAZATE Thursday (BD)
This morning we take a closer look at Marrakech's most important historic and architectural wonders: the Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian Tombs and the Bahia Palace. In the afternoon we hit the road, climbing through striking alpine scenery into the High Atlas Mountains, crossing to the southeastern side of the range via the Tizi N'Tichka Pass (7415 feet). We descend to the Draa Valley, dotted with ancient kasbahs (fortified palaces), to the caravan-town of Ouarzazate at the edge of the mighty Sahara Desert, dinner at the hotel in Ourzazate.

DAY 3 - ZAGORA & TAMEGROUTE Friday (BD)
Starting bright and early, we traverse the Draa Valley with its six palm forests forming grand ribbons of greenery across the flat valley floor. Thanks to the proximity of the river, cereals, henna, vegetables, fruit and date palms are cultivated, either on the floor of the valley or on stepped terraces. We arrive in Zagora around noontime. After lunch ( on own), we embark on an excursion to Tamegroute to view the illuminated Korans, with holy verses inscribed on gazelle-skin parchment, the oldest dating from the 13th century. We'll also visit the Potters' Yard and huge Tinfou Dune watch and enjoy the sunset before returning to Zagora and your hotel Ksar Tinsouline or similar 4 stars.

DAY 4- ERFOUD , Saturday (BD)
Today it's off to Erfoud through a dramatic landscape of "regs" (rocky tables), small mountains
and oases, each with its small Berber village. In the early afternoon we arrive in Rissani,
the cradle of Morocco's royal Alaouite dynasty, to admire the exterior architecture of the
Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif, and to take a tour of the Abou Aam Ksar (fortified
village). In the late afternoon we drive by Jeep to our camp sites and the golden dunes of
Merzouga, one hour camel ride based on your choice. Watch the sunset over the pastel-coloured
Saharan dunes, Dinner and overnight under the stars (Camping - Bedouin Tent)

DAY 5- TINERHIR, TODRA GORGE & OUARZAZATE Sunday (BD)
We start the day with a drive through the beautiful Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs to Tinerhir. A former military outpost built on terraces above a magnificent palm grove, Tinerhir stands at the entrance to the Todra Gorge, framed by awesome thousand-foot-high cliffs which make you think that you're "at the ends of the Earth." From Tinerhir we proceed past a series of great kasbahs to Boumalne du Dades, a large town at the foot of the gorge to Skoura. Beyond Skoura, the desert palms give way to orchards and irrigated gardens. Roses are the specialty of El Kelaa des Mgouna. The rose oil is sent to Paris to be made into perfume by Yves Saint-Laurent. Do some "rose" shopping here--rose water, body milk, dried rose petals before returning to our hotel in Ouarzazate for the evening , dinner at the hotel.

DAY 6 - MARRAKECH Monday (BD)
We drive back to Marrakech over the High Atlas, admiring the majesty of towering Djebel Toubkal (13,665 feet). In the afternoon, drive to the ancient Kasbah complex of Ait Ben Haddou , and impressive 11th century site that 's now declared as a historical treasure by the UNESCO. A photographer's wonderland, Ait Ben Haddou remains home to five families.

In Marrakech the afternoon is at leisure, dinner at the hotel.

Day 7 -Tuesday . DEPARTURE (B)
We escort you to the airport for your homeward flight.

Rate per person in double in USD $, in 4 & 5 stars hotels as listed.
For Dec 20 - Jan 10: Please add 10 % supplement to the rate.

Rates do not include: International air fare . Tips . Trip Cancellation Insurance

Your tour includes:

• Accommodation in , superior first class hotels, as shown in the table "Our Hotels;" all rooms with private bath.

• ALL Meals as indicated in the itinerary: Continental (cB) or full breakfast (B) daily; set-menu lunch (L); set-menu dinner (D)

• Transportation throughout by deluxe air-conditioned Mercedes Benz, or coach .

• Escorted guided sightseeing tours by air conditioned private motor coach as indicated in the itinerary, including all entry fees

• Services of a fully-licensed English-speaking guide throughout

• Lonely Planet guidebook to Morocco.

Your Hotels

	Deluxe	First class Category Rate uses :
Marrakech	Imperial Borj or Kenzi Farah	Imperial Holiday or Diwan
Ouarzazate	Kenzi Belere or Club Hanane	Kenzi Azghor, Fin'T Hotel
Zagora	Kasr Tinsouline	Kasr Tinsouline
Erfoud	Deluxe Camp Tent	Deluxe Camp Tent

 

 

For Christmas/New Year's: Please add : %10 to the rates.
Please note that in Zagora regardless of the category you choose, hotel Ksar Tinsouline or similar 4 stars will be the the only hotels available in Zagora.

 

Not Included:
Tips. Travel Insurance ( Please ask for the flyer)

 

Luxury stay & Spa Experience at the new & luxurious Sofitel Essaouira