Medinas,CamelsandDesertsExperienceMorocco

TourSize Thisisacustomtourthatwilloperatewithaminimumof11people.Maximumsizeis14.TourDateSeptember13,2018TourCostsBasedonDoubleOccupancy$3040–$3390basedonfinalgroupsize(CAN)LandonlySingleSupplements$644(CAN)Paymentsasfollows:

Deposit-$500toholdspotFinalPayment-July1,2018

TourLeader–BevGess

Inclusions-18nightsaccommodationincludinghotels,gite,riadandcamping-breakfastdaily-1lunch,8dinnersincludingonewithashow-allsightsandentrancesasdescribed-privatetransportation-Englishspeakingtourguide-tipsforguidesanddriverNotIncluded-mealsnotidentified-drinksduringincludedmeals-optionalactivities

GessWhere?

MoroccoinNineWords

Berber,Jalaba,Fes,Medina,Tagine,Harira,Souk,Riad,Kasbah

September13LeaveCanadaonyourinternationalflight.Flightroutingswillbedeterminedinthenewyear.September14Thegroupwillbetransferredtothehotelonarrival.Youarefreeuntilitistimetomeetthelocaltourleaderat6pm.AfterourmeetingwiththetourleaderyouwillvisitRick’sCafé,awellknowrestaurantinCasablancaforawelcomedinner.HotelKenziBasma(D)September15AfterbreakfastenjoyaguidedtouroftheHassanIIMosque.Completedin1993,thismonumentwasthelateking’smostambitiousprojectandhislegacytothecity.Itcanaccommodate25,000worshippersandisoneoffewreligioussitesopentonon-Muslims.AfterthisweleaveCasablancaforanhourdrivetothecapitalcityofRabat.Withalongandcolorfulhistorythereismuchtoseeonyourguidedtourintheafternoonbeforeyouenjoyfreetimetorelax,exploreonyourownandenjoydinner.HoteldesOudaias(B)September16ThismorningwedrivetothearchaeologicalsiteofVolubilisforaguidedtourofthisWorldHeritageSitethatwasonceaprovincialRomancapital.AfterourtourwegotothenearbycityofMeknesforaguidedtourtoexplorethissmallprovincialtownthatwasturnedtoaspectacularcityinthe17thcenturybySultanMoulayIsmail.HotelPalaisdidi(B)September17Weleavethismorningfora3hourdrivetoChefchaouen,“thebluecity”,oneoftheprettiestplacesinMorocco.Setagainstawidevalleyandnestledbetween2peaksinthestunningRifMountains,Chefchaouenwillsurpriseyou.Themedinahasblueandwhitewashedhouses,redtiledroofsandartisticdoorways.Afteranorientationwalkthroughtheancientmedinawithourtourleaderyou’llhavetimetoshopforhandicraftsorsitatacaféandenjoythepleasureoftimepassingby.HotelAtlasAsmaa(B)September18Enjoytherelaxedpaceofthisretreat.YouhavethedaytoexploreChefchaouenonyourownorenjoyoneoftheoptionalactivitiesthatwillbesuggested.YoumightsamplethedeliciouslocalgoatcheeseatacaféinthePlazaUtael-Hammam,admirethearchitectureofthe15thcenturyMosque(closedtonon-Muslims)orbrowsetheshopsinthesquare.OryoumightenjoyawanderthroughthetranquilgardensinsidethewalledfortressoftheKasbah.Intheeveningsampleatagineatalocalrestaurantorvisitahammam,thetraditionalMoroccanspa.HotelAtlasAsmaa(B)September19

Itinerary

WeleaveChefchaouenthismorningfora3.5hourtriptoFes.FesisthebestexampleofmedievalArabworldandyouwillhaveachancetolearnmoreofitspastandmoderntimes.You’llhavesometimefororientationafteryoucheckintothehotelbeforeenjoyingamemorabledinnerofoneofthecity’ssignaturedishes,thesaltyandsweetpastille.RiadAlMakan(B/D)September20TodayyoureallydiscoverthecityofFes,thespiritualandculturalheartofMorocco.Yoursenseswillbeoverwhelmedasyouheadintotheworld’smostfascinatingandconfoundingoldcity.You’llwalkthroughtwistingstreetsandalleyways,passdonkeyspiledhighwithgoods,explorethespecialtysectionsthatdividethesouk.You’llreturntoyourhotelinthelateafternoonandmightenjoyaneveningrelaxinginthiscalmingoasisafterthebuzzofthemedina.RiadAlMakan(B)September21Enjoyafreedaytorelax,experienceatraditionalhammamandmassage.Yourlocalguidecanprovidesomedirectionifyouwanttogooutformoreexploring.RiadAlMakan(B)September22Todayyoumakethelongdrivethroughchangingscenery,frombarrenmountainsidestofertilevalleys,asyoujourneytoMerzouga.Withabackdropoftheorange-coloredErgChebbisanddunes,thecharmingSaharanvillageofMerzougafeelswonderfullyisolated,leftbehindbythemodernworld.TheErgChebbidunesarethemoststunninginthecountrywithtoweringdunesupto150metresinheight.Anergisavastseaofshiftingwind-sweptsandthatformsintopicturesque,undulatingcrestsandvalleys.YouwillleaveyourgearatasimpleaubergeandthenridecamelsintotheedgeoftheSaharaDesert,enjoyingaspectacularsunsetalongtheway.Tonightyoucampinyourluxurytentsandenjoysomefantasticlocalcuisinewhileyousitaroundanopenfire,enjoyinglivelymusicanddancingunderthestars.AladdinLuxuryCamp(B/D)September23EnjoyarealLawrenceofArabiamomentthismorningwithasunrisecamelrideacrossthedesertonyourreturnjourneytotheauberge.WethendrivetoM’gounValley(approximately4hours).You’llhavetherestofthedaytoexplorethebeautyofthisbackcountry.Accompaniedbyyourtourleader,you’llwalkatrailthatisn’ttoochallengingifyouhaveabasicleveloffitness.Onthewalkyou’llpassBerbervillages,meetinglocalBerbersalongthewayandperhapshavingachancetoshareacupofmintteawithsomeofthem.WespendthenexttwonightsinasimpleBerberguesthousecalleda‘gite’.ThesurroundingmountainsandfamousRoseValleymakeasensationalsetting.GiteTamaloute(B)September24TodayyoulearnmoreaboutthecustomsandlifestylesoftheBerberfamilies.Experienceatapestrydemonstrationsessionwithlocalwomenandthenyouenjoyacookingclasswithalocalfamilytomakealocaldish.Afterthat,learnmoreaboutthefamouslocalspecialtyinarosejammakingclass.LateryouwillenjoyalocalBerberdinnerwhereyouwillbeabletointeractwithalocalfamilyanddiscovermoreabouttheirlifestyle.

GiteTamaloute(B/D)September25YouleavetheDadesValleythismorningandsetoffonthefabled“Roadof1,000Kasbahs”.ThefirststopisatSkouraOasis,hometoseveralprivatelyownedkasbahs.You’llvisittheKasbahAmeridhlwithitsextravagantdecorationsandmud-brickfortifications.ContinueonyourjourneytoAitBenhaddouperchedonahilltopandalmostunchangedsincethe11thcentury.AitBenhaddouisoneofMorocco’smosticonicsites.ItsgrandKasbahisoneofthemostbeautifulinMoroccoandthefortifiedvillageisafineexampleofclayarchitecture.YoumayrecognizetheplaceasthetownhasalonglistoffilmandTVcredits,includingLawrenceofArabia,GameofThronesandGladiator.Enjoyawalkthroughthewindingstreetsofoldtown,makingyourwaytothetopofthehill,fromwhereyoucanenjoytheviewsacrossthesurroundingplains.Backatthehotel,sitbackontheroofterraceandwatchthesunsettingoverthemagicalKasbah.RiadMaktoub(B/D)September26ThismorningjourneyalongmountainroadsandoverMorocco’shighestpass,Tizn’Tichka(2260metres).ItisalongdrivethroughthewindingroadsoftheAtlasasyoumakeyourwaytoMarrakech,anancient,exoticcitywrappedinEuropeanmodernity.ThiseveningyouwillheadtothegreatsquareofJemaaelFna,oneofthelargestpublicspacesintheworldanduniquetoMarrakech.Whennightfalls,ittransformsintoahiveofactivity–hennapainters,performersandstorytellerssharethesquarewithastreetfoodbazaar,packedwithstallsloadedwithMoroccandelicacies.EnjoyaMoroccandinnerinthesquareandthenfinishyourdaywithacupofteaononeoftherooftoprestaurantsoverlookingthesquare.RiadChallaandSpa(B/D)September27Afterbreakfastmeetyourlocalguideandsetoffonatouroftheoldmedina,visitingthebustlingsouksthatarethelifebloodflowingthroughthecity.You’llexploretranquilcourtyardsfilledwiththescentoforangeblossoms,visitthesplendidBahiaPalace,amansionbuiltin1866andthencontinuetotheMarrakechMuseum.You’llvisitafewmoresitesbeforereturningtotheoldmedina.Therestofthedayisfreetoexplorefurther,visitthetropicalgardensoftheFrenchpainterJacquesMajorelleorcheckouttheruinsofthePalaisBadi.Youmaydecidetogobacktothemedinaandwatchskilledartisansperfecttheircraft,practiceyourhagglingskillsortakeabreakfromthehustletosiponteaorshareatagine.Enjoydinneronyourowninoneofthemanyrestaurantsliningthesquare.RiadChallaandSpa(B)September28Todayisfreeforyoutoexploreorrelaxordoboth!Youmightwanttoheadbacktothemedina,whereeverystepbringsanewsmell,anewsightoranewgifttobuy.Visittheseeminglyendlessmosaicofsouks,eachdevotedtoaseparatetrade–pottery,woodwork,copper,leather,carpetsandspices.IntheeveningyouwillvisitthesophisticatedneighborhoodofL’hivernagewhereyouwillhaveenjoyamagnificentmemorableoriental/Moroccandinnerandshow.RiadChallaandSpa(B/D)September29

ThismorningyouleavetheochrecitybehindandheadwesttothecoastaltownofEssaouira(approximately3hours).Itscharmisundeniable.Withinthestonerampartsyou’llfindwhitewashedhouseswithbrightblueshutters,artgalleriesandwoodworkshops.Thislaidbackartists’townisaformerPortuguesetradingcolonyandwasoncehometosizeableBritishandJewishpopulations.ThetownfacesagroupofrockyislandscalledtheMogadorandissurroundedbysandybeachesanddunes.It’sstillabusyfishingportanditsprettyharborisfilledwithcolorfulboats.Wearriveinearlyafternoonandjoinalocalguideforawalkingtourthroughtheoldmedina,Jewishmellah,portandskala(seawall).ThenarrowstreetsofEssaouiraareidealforcasualexploration.You’llenjoyadeliciousseafoodlunchatalocalrestaurant.You’llalsovisitalocalarganoilcooperativethatemployswomeninthearea.Itwascreatedaspartofthenationalprogramtoimprovethesocioeconomicdevelopmentofruralwomen.RiadMaisondusud(B/L)September30Enjoyarelaxeddaythatwillincludeahammamorlocalstylebath,amustdoactivityinMorocco.Therestofthedayisfreetorelax,enjoyawalkintheoldmedina,exploretheportorbrowsetheplentifulshopsandintriguingartgalleries.Afreshlycookedplateoftheday’scatchishighlyrecommendedforlunchordinnerorboth.RiadMaisondusud(B)October1TodayyouwillreturntoMorocco’seconomiccapitalofCasablanca.Youhavetheremainderofthedaytoseethesitesofthecity,takeawalkthroughthelivelyUnitedNationsPlaceandMohammedVSquare,wanderthesouksoftheoldmedinaoradmiretheelegantarchitectureintheHabousQuarter.Thiseveningthegroupwillenjoyafarewelldineratalocalrestaurant.HotelKenziBasma(B/D)October2YourjourneytoMoroccoendsafterbreakfast.Transfertimetoairportwillbeavailable.Departurewillbedeterminedafterflightshavebeenarranged.Notes:OurtimeinCasablancaislimited.PreorpostnightsattheCasablancahotelareavailableifyouwouldliketoarriveearlyorspendextratimeattheend.