|
Have you been
dreaming of camels,
fortresses, and the
Sahara Desert? Then
Morocco Travel's
Saharan Adventure
is
the tour for you.
This itinerary will
take you through
Morocco’s Southern
desert to the edge
of the Sahara, where
you’ll spend a night
out on the dunes
in
a nomad tent. Visit
ancient desert
fortresses and oases.
This trip will also
take you to
Marrakech, which
will give you
a
taste of one
of
Morocco’s most
interesting cities.
The nine-day,
eight-night
itinerary is
detailed below:
Day 1 – Casablanca
Your Dar Morocco
Travel driver will
meet you at
Casablanca’s
Mohammed V airport.
Depending on the
time of your arrival,
you may
go directly
to your hotel to
check in or you may
start the tour of
Casablanca
immediately. During
the city tour,
you’ll see the
bustling city center
with its Art Deco
architecture and
lovely seaside
neighborhoods.
You’ll also tour the
magnificent Hassan
II mosque, which is
the second largest
mosque in the world
and one of the few
open to non-Muslims.
You’ll return to
your hotel in time
for a leisurely
dinner.
Day 2 – Marrakech
You will drive to
Marrakech, and after
checking in to your
hotel and relaxing
for a little while,
you will go for an
orientation
tour late in the
afternoon. You may
chose to have dinner
at your hotel,
explore one of
Marrakech’s many
fine restaurants,
or choose to see a
“fantasia,” with
dinner and
performances by
dancers, musicians,
and horses.
Day 3 – Marrakech
Enjoy a full day
exploring Marrakech
with a local guide.
You’ll see the
historic Koutoubia
Mosque, known for
its four distinct
faces,
and the
Saadian tombs and
Bahia palace, which
showcase the finest
examples of
traditional design
elements such as
decorative tile,
painted wood, carved
plaster, and
calligraphy. You
will tour the souks
and end your day in
Jama’a el-Fna, which
is a UNESCO heritage
site. In Jama’a
el-Fna, you’ll see
snake charmers,
story-tellers, henna
artists, and dancers.
This square has been
the heart of the
medina since the
12th century, a home
for performers,
travelers, and snake
oil sellers. Stop
for a glass of fresh
squeezed orange
juice and enjoy the
carnival atmosphere.
If you’re feeling
brave, have a bowl
of fresh snails or
some sheep’s head
(or have dinner at
your hotel / riad).
Day 4 – Ouarzazate
Enjoy a leisurely
morning before your
afternoon departure
for Ouarzazate. Day
Four will take you
on a spectacular
drive through the
Atlas Mountains as
you cross the
highest pass in
Morocco, called Tizi
N’Tischka (7,400
feet), before
descending in to the
desert. On the way,
you’ll stop at the
famous Ait Ben
Haddou, a
well-preserved
kasbah featured in
many movies. You
will arrive in
Ouarzazate in time
to take a tour of
the city, including
Kasbah Taourirt, the
17th century home of
Basha Glaoui. You’ll
have dinner in your
hotel.
Day 5 – Zagora
The drive to Zagora
will take you
through the lush
palm groves and
oases of the Draa
Valley. You’ll
arrive in Zagora in
the early afternoon
for a visit to the
ancient library in
Tamegrout. This
library is one of
the oldest in Africa,
with texts dating
back to the 13th
century.
You’ll also
see the potters’
area of Zagora,
where artisans
produce pottery that
has a natural green
tint from henna. On
the outskirts
of
town you’ll pass by
the massive Tinfou
Dune before
returning to your
hotel for dinner.
Day 6 – Erfoud
The drive to Erfoud
will take you
through a rocky
landscape of “regs”
– mesas and tables
that may remind you
of the Southwest
of
the United States.
You have the choice
of spending the
night in a hotel in
Erfoud or you may
continue directly to
the dunes in
Merzouga to spend
the night in a nomad
tent.
Day 7 – Ouarzazate
After seeing the
sunrise over the
Sahara, you’ll have
breakfast before
departing for
Ouarzazate via the
Valley of 1,000
Kasbahs.
You’ll make
your way into the
amazing Todra Gorge
near Tinghrir (lunch
optional). You’ll
have time for a
little stroll in the
Gorge before getting
back on the road to
Ouarzazate. From
there, you will
continue past
several Kasbahs
toward El Kalaa
Mgouna, which is
known
for vast
fields of pink roses
that are used in
perfume. Many small
shops selling rose
products, such as
rose water and
rose-scented soap,
line the road.
Continue to
Ouarzazate, the
Hollywood of Morocco,
for dinner at your
hotel.
Day 8 – Ouarzazate,
Marrakech
After breakfast, you
will tour Ouarzazate
and visit the 17th
centrury kasbah,
Taourirt, which was
one of Basha
Glaoui’s homes.
On your way to
Marrakech, you will
pass by Morocco’s
largest film
production center (visit
optional) and take a
short detour
to
visit Ait Ben Haddou,
a spectacular kasbah
that has been
featured in many
films. From there,
you will cross the
High Atlas Mountains
at the Tizi N’Tiscka
pass, the highest in
Morocco at 7,400
feet. Spectacular
views of the valleys
are revealed as you
wind your way down
to Marrakech for dinner at your hotel
or riad
Day 9 – Departure
Your driver will
take you to the
airport for your
departure. |
