ITINERY

adventure & discovery holidays

MOROCCO, DESERT & MOUNTAIN & MOROCCAN BEACH EXTENSION

TOUR REFERENCE: NCC & NMD 23/12/04 Our dossiers are updated when necessary, please check this date against the dossier on our web site.

Morocco is truly a wonderful country with fascinating culture, history and spectacular scenery. The colourful markets & medinas of Rabat, Fez and Marrakech are bursting with exotic wares, sounds and the smell of spice. The snow covered High Atlas Mountains contrast dramatic with the huge golden sand dunes of the Sahara Desert. The historic Roman Ruins at Volubilis, imperial cities and impressive southern kasbahs complement each other to provide a wonderful, varied adventure and a glimpse into Morocco's fascinating past.

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE· A tour of Rabat, the capital of Morocco· Visit the holy town of Moulay Idriss· Guided tour of the Roman Ruins at Volubilis· 1/2 day guided tour of the alleyways and market of Fez· Overnight in the Sahara Desert with a camel ride into the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi· An escorted walk through the dramatic Todra Gorge· Visit the classic 'Kasbah' town of Ait-Benhaddou§ Trek in the High Atlas Mountains, 2 nights in a Berber village§ Guided tour of Marrakech in a 'horse-drawn' carriage

ITINERARY

Day 1:
We join the tour in the coastal city of Casablanca, the business centre of Morocco. Here we have the opportunity to meet our fellow travellers.

Day 2:
This morning we have the option to visit the impressive Hasan II mosque before departing by train to Rabat, Morocco's capital and one of the four imperial cities, where we will see the Royal Palace on our walking tour of the old city. The Andalusian gardens in the Kasbah des Oudaias are well worth visiting and the souks (markets) are worth exploring.

Day 3:
We travel on to Volubilis, the ruined Roman city and the westernmost outpost of the Roman Empire. We have a guided tour of the excavated remains of buildings and mosaics dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. We also visit the Islamic holy town of Moulay Idriss which takes its name from its founder, Morocco's most beloved saint and creator of its first Arab dynasty. Finally we continue on to Fez.

Days 4:
The city of Fez occupies a position of outstanding beauty, surrounded on all sides by hills. We tour the city and the twisting lanes of the medina with a guide who will show us around the fascinating old part of town with its narrow streets and colourful markets. Textile merchants, spice sellers and ceramics dealers, ensure the medina retains its genuine oriental atmosphere. There may also be time to visit one of the local hammams (Turkish baths) where the steamy rooms are a popular social gathering place.

Day 5:
From Fez we travel south, a long driving day takes us up and over the Middle Atlas Mountains, home of the sheep herding Berber tribesmen. The cool of the afternoon will be appreciated for our drive to the edge of the Sahara at Erfoud, where we stay for the night.

Day 6:
We travel out into the desert landscape to spend the night amidst the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. Here in this remote desert region everyone has an opportunity to climb the sand dunes, and enjoy a camel ride aswell. Many of the traditional Tuareg people in this region are semi-nomadic and can be seen camping out or taking their camels, donkeys and goats to the village markets.

Days 7 & 8:
From the serenity of the desert landscape we head north to the dramatic setting of Todra Gorge. We have a leisurely day to explore the Todra Gorge region. The gorge has sheer ochre cliffs rising over 250m high between which a narrow land passage and the spring-fed river struggle for prominence. While here, we will have time to take an escorted walk through the gorge.

Day 9:
Leaving the cliffs of Todra behind we head west to the stunning scenery of the High Atlas Mountains. We visit the mud-built kasbahs of Ait Benhaddou, used in the film sets of Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth and more recently Gladiator.

Days 10 & 11:
We continue through the High Atlas to the village of Imlil where we set off on foot for a short walk to our Berber home in the mountains. Here we spend the following two nights and experience at first hand their renowned hospitality and friendliness. We have the whole day to explore this mountain region with a local guide. For the very fit, there is the included option of scaling Jebel Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak.

Days 12 & 13:
After breakfast we rejoin our vehicle for the short drive down to Marrakech the ancient terminus of the great caravan routes. Here the people of the Sahara and mountains throng the streets and squares, and the markets are alive with colour, noise and activity. At night the enormous Djemaa-el-Fna square takes on a new character as snake charmers, acrobats, jugglers and musicians entertain the crowds. The area also converts into a huge outdoor restaurant where all types of local delicacies can be tasted. Today we will have a guided tour of old Marrakech in horse-drawn carriages in which we visit the palaces, mosque gardens, and the medina. The following day is free to explore the city, souks and markets for goods and souvenirs.

Day 14:
Our tour ends after breakfast in Marrakech.

IMPORTANT
The above notes are intended as a guide only, indicating a typical itinerary and series of activities and highlights. While our intention is to adhere to the day to day route published, on any particular departure the distances travelled, driving time and available activities can vary for a variety of reasons - weather, road conditions, local restrictions, etc. Overnight stops may vary on occasions from those suggested.

* VOLUBILIS * The city of Volubilis, set at the foot of the Zerhoun hills, is by far the most impressive of the Roman remains in Morocco. This ancient city once ruled the whole Roman province of Mauritania. It is beautifully situated, overlooking a wide and fertile plain rich in corn crops. The African King Juba II, who married the daughter of Antony and Cleopatra, gave great splendour to Volubilis, his capital, some years before the birth of Christ. It was, however, in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD that the city reached its zenith. At least 15,000 people lived within its walls protected by a garrison recruited from all over the ancient world, including a contingent from Britain, as we know from the inscriptions. Many treasures have been unearthed at Volubilis, including some remarkable bronzes. Much of the masonry was plundered by Moulay Ismail for the building of Meknes, and some was damaged in a devastating earthquake in the middle of the 18th century, but enough remains to remind us just how thoroughly the Romans equipped their great provincial capitals.

* FEZ * Fez is the oldest of the four imperial cities and was founded more than 11 centuries ago by Moulay Idris II. It's name has long been familiar because of the crimson skull caps called Fez which were, and still are, worn everywhere in the Moslem world. A visit to the Medina is a must. One fascinating feature of the Medina is the way each trade has its own souk (or market) and district. Near the carpet makers are the workers of hand woven cloth. This souk exports its precious wares all over the world. Another quarter is devoted to the potters and another you could identify blindfolded by the aromatic smell coming from the booths of the grocers and spice sellers who are surrounded by great tubs of saffron and cinnamon and all manner of herbs. Looking down on the old quarters of Fez from the surrounding hills is quite magical - the muffled sounds of the buzzing city and the contained disorder below all add to the timeless quality of this ancient city.

* TODRA GORGE * This incredible abyss separates the High Atlas range of mountains from the Djebel Sahro and is the same kind of geographical accident, but on a smaller scale, as the Grand Canyon. With walls soaring over 250 metres skyward, the red cliffs and the brilliant blue sky form an awe inspiring scene. The magic of Todra lies in it's changing moods and colours as the sun slowly treks from east to west. The local hoteliers have constructed huge Berber tents and provide authentic Moroccan dishes for those of you wishing to experience some of the local lifestyle.

* MARRAKECH * In ancient times Marrakech was called 'Morocco City' and sometimes referred to as the 'Pearl of the South'. The colour of Marrakech is most remarkable, a reddish-brown describes it best. The city walls, the houses and the soil are all of the same shade and even the new French-style quarter contains houses tinted to the same colour. Marrakech has approximately 20kms of walls enclosing gardens and lakes. Its great pride and landmark, visible from many miles, is the Koutoubia Tower, sister to the Tower of Hassan in Rabat and the Giralda Tower in Seville. It is said that after the third of these was completed, the cruel sultan had the eyes of his architect put out, lest he should build another more beautiful tower elsewhere. One of the most striking features of Marrakech is the huge open souk, which for the past eight centuries has been the scene of parades, executions and entertainment, as well as the centre for buying and selling for hundreds of miles around. It is now the liveliest place imaginable where all sorts of exotic entertainment can be seen, from poetry reading to snake charming to acrobatics. The enthusiastic may wish to hire a bicycle to further explore Marrakech and its environs. Particularly of interest are the many beautiful public and private gardens.

* THE PEOPLE OF MOROCCO * As a vast simplification, there are three distinct groups in Morocco; Moslem Moroccans, Jewish Moroccans and foreigners. Of the Moslems, the Berbers are the earliest inhabitants of the country and little is known about their origins, other than that they came from Iberia. The Berbers (60% of the population) generally live in the countryside, the mountains and the palm groves of Southern Morocco. Mostly animal breeders, some are nomadic and travel with their flocks. In the south they have interbred with the black population, and form a sedentary and hard working population who cultivate gardens and palm groves. The Arabs live mainly in the towns. For the majority of the population, Islam is a way of life more than a religion. There is no priesthood, no sacraments, no altar and no images of any sort but there are strict rules of conduct and regular prayer times. Jews have always played a large part in Moroccan life and they represent one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. It is known that they were established in Morocco in the 3rd century BC and that others came after the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem. The occupation of the Moroccan Jew is much the same as that of his kinsman in other parts of the world.