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9 Days Southern Morocco and the Sahara
Prices include:
- 8
nights accommodation in 4 stars (or Charming in
the small cities of southern Morocco) or 5 stars (or Luxurious)
accommodationsdependingon the chosen category, on half board (Daily
breakfast and dinner)
- Transportationby deluxe air conditioned minibuses 4 seats / 6
Seats or 17 Seats, depend on group size
- English speaking guide from 7 persons -
An English speaking driver and
local guides from 3 to 6 persons for the whole tour
- Entrance fees to monuments as in the program
-
Water
2 smallbottles of mineral
water per person per day
Prices does not include:
- Flight ticket
- Lunches
- Drinks during meals
- Personal expenses
- Tips of any kind
Itinerary
D1 ARRIVAL MARRAKECH (D)
Upon you arrival in Marrakech
Ménara airport you will be welcomed by your English speaking guide and by your
driver and transferred to your hotel.
Time at leisure till dinner and overnight
D2 - MARRAKECH (B,D)
Once the
capital of southern Morocco, the imperial city of Marrakech is an alluring
oasis with a temperate climate, distinct charm, and fascinating sights.
Our
day-long tour includes the beautifully proportioned
Koutoubia Mosque with its distinctive 282-foot minaret visible from miles away;
the beautiful Andalusian-style El Bahia Palace (part of which is still used by
the royal family); and the Palace of Dar Si Said, a museum housing Moroccan art
and artifacts.
Mid-afternoon
we embark on a walking tour of the medina, ending at Djemaa el Fna
Square, a UNESCO site and the heart of Marrakech, crowded with snake charmers,
entertainers, storytellers, musicians, barbers, and sellers of fruit, water,
and spices.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel
D3 MARRAKECH OUARZAZATE (B,D)
After breakfast departure to
Ouarzazate, crossing many Berber villages through the beautiful landscapes of
the Atlas mountains range . Cross the TiziN’Tichka pass over 2000 m high (lots
of snow there in winter !). And start the descent towards the very different
pre saharian scenery of the Southern slopes.
20 kms before
Ouarzazate, turn left and stop for the visit of the Ait Ben Haddous Kasbah, a Unesco preserved site, huge
fortified village that served as natural « décor » to the shooting of
numerous Hollywoodproductions, like
« Lawrence of Arabia » , « Romancing the Stone with Mike Douglas
or more recently « the Mummy ». Time at leisure for lunch on site,
then drive on to Ouarzazate, check in at your hotel and rest of the afternoon
at leisure. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
D4 OUARZAZATE –ZAGORA (B,D)
Morning departure to Zagora,
following - just after the rocky area
leading to Agdz – the banks of the Draa River, where six palm forests form a
long ribbon of greenery. 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.
Then the scenery becomes drier
and sand gets more and more appearing ….and here is Zagora,only 80 days – by camel- from Timbuktu !!
Check in at your hotel and
lunch at leisure. In the afternoon visit the potters village of Tamegrout and
the dunes of Tinfou . Dinner and overnight in your hotel.
D5 ZAGORA - MERZOUGA (B,D)
Early morning (07.00 am) departure To Erfoud, crossing the
« regs » landscapes, typical ofpre Sahara landscapes, alternatingsand dunes and rocky tables, crossing small berber villages (stop for
light lunch).
Upon arrival in Rissani,
cradle of the present reigning dynasty in Morocco, the Alaouits, See the
outside of the Mausoleum of Moulay AliCherif and, time
allowing,go inside the Abu AamKsar
(fortified village).
Then on to Merzouga , in the
dunes of Erg Chebi, for your first experience of a Bedouin bivouac overnight
under the traditional tents, including dinner.
(The 3 and 4 stars version
includes a « common » bivouac with other clients in other tents. The
5 stars version include a “private deluxe” bivouac).
D6 MERZOUGA –ERFOUD (B,D)
After breakfast, back to
Rissani to complete the visit if necessary (Market on Tuesday, Thursday and
Sunday), then on to Erfoud, a beautiful oasis, centre of the dates trading. Market on Sunday..
Lunch at leisure on the way.
Check in at your hotel, and afternoon at leisure toenjoythe
amenities of your hotel, or pursue your visit of Erfoud.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
D7 ERFOUD - Todgha - Dadès- OUARZAZATE (B,D)
To day you will drive along
one of the most beautiful itinerary of the whole Morocco, called “ The 1000
Kasbahs Valley”
Up to Tinejdad, the landscape
is still very dry and punctured by the mounds of the old irrigation system of
the “khettaras”.
Then after Tinerhir,, a former
military outpost built on terraces above a magnificent palm grove, and gateway
to the awesome Todra Gorge with its 300 m high cliffs, the desert and palm
trees turn to flowers and orchards, first at El Kelaa des Mgouna where the speciality is the
growing of the Damascus roses.The
perfume PARIS, by Yves Saint Laurent, is made from the extract of these
roses.Stop for rose products such as
rose water, body milk and dried petals ….
Then to Boulmane du Dades, a
large town and local administration centre at the foot of the DadesWadigorge .
The entire road is scattered with the remnants of huge
kasbahs, these fortified households built in adobe on several floors, according
to a very ancient knowledge and overnight on site.Diner
and overnight in Ouarzazate
D8- OUARZAZATE-MARRAKECH(B,D)
Drive back to Marrakech .
Arrival at lunch time (on own) and afternoon at leisure
Dinner and overnight in Marrakech. (Optional Moroccan dinner)
D9 DEPARTURE (B)
Morning transfer to Marrakech Menara airport in
time for your scheduled flight.
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