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Imperial cities, Atlas Mountains, Sahara Desert and the Atlantic coast
Arrive at the hotel at any time, depending on the arrival times of memebers of the group there may be a briefing this evening or tomorrow morning. *Hotel Gomassine or similar*
A modern and commercial seaport, Casablanca is a complete contrast to the Morocco we are soon to explore. This morning we drive 4hours to Casablanca to visit the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world. Afterwards, we drive 2 hours to Rabat, the political capital of Morocco, but second to Casablanca in importance. Although mostly modern, Rabat has an excellent old quarter that we take time to explore. *Rabat Hotel Bouregreg or similar*
Strike out from Rabat 2,5 hours’ drive over the Northern plain towards Meknes. The scenery changes as the land becomes more cultivated, this being one of the most fertile areas of Morocco. Sultan Moulay Ismail's old capital of Meknes is our first example of one of the imperial cities of Morocco.We meet our guide and wander the narrow streets of the old city, and explore the souk, perhaps having your first chance at bartering for souvenirs. In the afternoon we take a short drive 45min to the largest and best kept Roman ruins in Morocco – Volubilis, once a large Roman town and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. After exploring this site we continue our journey approximately 2 hours drive to the ancient city of Fez, where we spend two nights. *Hotel Mounia or similar*
This fascinating city is the intellectual and religious centre of Morocco. Founded over a thousand years ago, Fez has many mosques and medersas (theological colleges) including the 9th century al-Karaouine University, whose architecture is very similar to that seen in Moorish Spain. The medina in Fez is one of the largest in the world, an immense warren of souks, home to thousands of craftsmen with their tiny shops opening onto the narrow alleyways. Noisy and pungent, the medina of Fez is a totally absorbing and unique experience. Our city guide walks us through different sections of the souk - including those selling leather brass and copper. Of course, no visit to Fez is complete without a visit to the tanneries. Outside the medina we shall visit the Jewish District (mellah), the exterior of the Royal Palace and take a drive up to a panoramic viewpoint over the city. *Hotel Mounia or similar*
Today we have a long journey of approximately 10 hours, however there will be frequent stops and beautiful scenery along the way. We travel over the stunning Middle Atlas, down through the picturesque Ziz Valley to the Hamada, a flat stony desert, gradually approaching the spectacular site of the golden sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. We stay in a small and welcoming auberge (inn) on the edge of the dunes from where it is easy to climb to watch the sunrise. *Auberge La Source or similar*
There is time today with a free morning to explore the largest sand sea in Morocco, or to relax in the shade of a palm tree by the dunes. The sand sea is famed for its pink tones that take on a spectacular rose colour at sunset. In the late afternoon, we partake in a genuine Saharan experience - a 45min camel trek through the dunes, where we watch the sunset. We then come back to the camp at the edge of the desert to spend the night. *Full-service camping at Erg Chebbi or similar*
After sunrise, we leave our desert camp head towards the little city of Skoura, nestled on a beautiful palm grove and located near Ouarzazate. From here onwards to explore Todra Gorge, and the picturesque oases they hide in (journey time approximately 4 hours). Following the 1000 Kasbahs Road for approximately 2.5 hours, you will marvel at the breath-taking vistas of impressive ancient Kasbahs nestled in lush palm groves. *Skoura Lodge or similar*
There is the opportunity to take a 1 hour drive to Toundout Valley and enjoy a 3 hours guided hike crossing through a Berber village, where you will learn a little of their culture. Alternatively, relax in and around the lodge walking through the magnificent lush palm groves. Considered as the palm grove capital of Morocco, Skoura will certainly offer peace and relaxation through its various walks discovering multiple palm groves, and Kasbahs. *Skoura Lodge or similar*
Leaving Skoura, we re-join the main road and drive west along the 'Route of the Thousand Kasbahs' via the desert city of Ouarzazate and on to the well-preserved Kasbah Ait Benhaddou. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most spectacular sights of the Atlas, made famous as the location of several Hollywood films including 'Gladiator'. After admiring the view, we may see something of the simple village houses. Continuing into the mountains we branch east through a wide flat mountain valley, finally arriving at Anmiter, where we leave our bus and take a 1.5-hour picturesque walk on a gentle uphill gradient to the village of Tigzha, where we spend the next two nights. Our luggage will be transported to the gite for us. For those who do not want to walk, mules are available (100 MAD, payable locally). *Kasbah Oliver or similar*
We start our day with an optional walk through the villages of the Tigzha Valley, heading up into the hills on mule tracks with the peaks of the High Atlas acting as a fitting backdrop to our walk. The length of our walk will depend on the ability of the group, but it is likely to be approximately 4 hours. The afternoon is free to relax with a book, enjoy the mountain views, take a stroll through the beautiful landscape or challenge the village children to a game of football! Tigzha is just one of four villages in this remote valley that has been supported by Exodus for over ten years on various responsible tourism projects. We will visit the village hammam, built with money raised by Exodus clients. This is a truly authentic experience and terrific fun. It is very much a traditional hammam and you are likely to get the opportunity to mix with the villagers, which further adds to the experience. A standard treatment is included, but you will need to purchase a scrubber and soap for 20MAD (£1.50) plus customary tip of 20MAD. Refreshed, we return to the riad for our final dinner in the mountains. *Kasbah Oliver or similar*
Leaving the gite, we walk back to our bus for a short drive to the palace of Telouet. This once grand building stands abandoned and crumbling but we can visit a small part of this labyrinthine, fairy-tale like structure. We continue our scenic drive over the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech, via the Tizi'n'Tichka pass, which at 2,260m is the highest road in Morocco. The scenery is spectacular and there are some wonderful views of the mountains. We stop at a women's cooperative Argan Oil farm, where you can see the trees growing, get a demonstration of the production process as well as have the opportunity to purchase products. Our journey finally brings us to the flat arid plains of Marrakech, and then onwards to the pretty seaside town of Essaouira. Journey time is between approximately 10 hours, with plenty of comfort breaks and photo stops along the way. *Riad Al Madina or similar*
A free day in Essaouira, a charming old Portuguese fishing port overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The settlement dates back to the 15th century but the present town was constructed around 1760 by Sidi Mohammed ben Abdullah, who needed a base from which to suppress a revolt from Agadir. Today, the town is extremely relaxed and its whitewashed houses with painted shutters, artisan workshops, boat yards and fishermen provide a marked contrast to the desert, kasbahs and cities we have so far visited. Our hotel is situated in the heart of the old walled city, where we have plenty of time for some shopping in the souks or strolling along the beach. With many pleasant cafes and some outstanding seafood restaurants, there is plenty of choice for our evening meal. *Riad Al Madina or similar*
After breakfast, we drive back to Marrakech, journey time approximately 2.5 hours. In the afternoon we enjoy a guided tour to help us find our bearings and soak up the atmosphere of this amazing city. Our guide will take us to the Bahia Palace, ending in the Djemma el Fna, where the town becomes a maze of bustling bazaars, palaces and mosques. It is worth seeing this renowned landmark in the evening, as Marrakech revolves around this open-air central square, with food stalls, juice-sellers, snake charmers and acrobats. It is a place of night-time entertainment for both local people and tourists. *Hotel Gomassine or similar*
Today is free in Marrakech and there is no shortage of things to do. You might wish to visit the largest mosque in Marrakech, Koutoubia, or venture through the souks and old streets of the medina. After bartering for souvenirs, there will be time for a short visit to the Koranic School and Museum of Marrakech. After this, you can unwind by taking a ½ hour calèche ride (a bright green horse-drawn carriage) to the Jardin Majorelle. These tranquil gardens are decorated throughout in indigo blue and were once owned by Yves St. Laurent, the perfect place to escape the hectic rush of the city. For your lunch we would highly recommend the Amal Women's Training Centre and Moroccan Restaurant, which we at Exodus support in their cause to empower women from disadvantaged backgrounds. They are a non-profit organization dedicated to training their students to become self-sufficient and improving their quality of life through acquiring new skills in a professional restaurant setting. For a superb traditional Moroccan meal and the opportunity to support this worthy cause, do pay them a visit. This evening it's common for the group to enjoy a final meal together on Djemma el Fna. *Hotel Gomassine or similar*
* 6 nights 3-star hotels, 1 night auberge, 2 nights riad, and 1 night
Sahara camp, 2 nights lodge and 2 nights Kasbah
* 15 days land only / flight inclusive
* Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader
* Travel by private minibus and camel
* Premium departures staying in boutique riads
14 breakfasts and 4 dinners included.
Moroccan food is, generally speaking, excellent though not particularly
varied. Breakfasts usually consist of bread and jam with coffee or tea. Meals
eaten out are reasonably priced - kebab and bread cost is approximately GBP4
(USD7). In main towns, it is possible to find very good French and Moroccan
restaurants where a meal and French wine will cost anything from GBP20
(USD30) upwards. Generally, dinner is likely to cost between GBP5-10 (approx.
USD8-15) not including drinks. Local beer, wine and soft drinks are
reasonably priced, but you can pay UK prices or more for imported alcohol.
Your leader will recommend restaurants for each evening.
Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of
vegetarian couscous, tajine or omelettes. This is particularly the case
during the more rural sections of the trip. Please note that if you have any
special dietary requirements you should inform the Exodus Office prior to the
trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (i.e. coeliac or vegan) you
may find it helpful to bring some items of food with you from home.
* 6 nights 3-star hotels, 1 night auberge, 2 nights riad, and 1 night
Sahara camp, 2 nights lodge and 2 nights Kasbah
* 15 days land only / flight inclusive
* Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader
* Travel by private minibus and camel
* Premium departures staying in boutique riads
This trip provides an insight into the enormous variety that Morocco has to
offer, including cities, desert and mountain scenery. We spend quality time
in the places that matter, that said the pace is not rushed but a couple of
the journeys are long, up to 4 hours. We are not confined to our vehicle
though, as there are plenty of photo stops and opportunities to stretch your
legs.
Accommodation standards are comparable to that of Sub-Saharan Africa. The
temperatures in the cities may also be hot in the summer months but we try to
make the most of the coolest parts of the day.
*Please note Ramadan runs from 23 April to evening of 22 May 2020 (evening
of 13 April to evening of 12 May 2021)* - During Ramadan, our local guides
and drivers choose to work and so we continue to run trips in this period.
However, the energy levels of our staff and some local guides may be a bit
lower and some restaurants may be closed during the day. Ramadan is a
special time to visit a Muslim country - each evening the streets empty for
an hour while everyone breaks their fast, and there's a feeling of festivity
in the air at sundown.
Hotel, Gite & Bedouin Camp
You will spend 6 nights 3-star hotels, 1 night auberge, 2 nights riad, and
1 night Sahara camp, 2 nights lodge and 2 nights Kasbah. Some accommodation
standards are more often comparable with those found in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Some hotel water supplies are heated via solar panels, so hot water can not
always be guaranteed, especially in Tijhza. However, all are clean,
comfortable, with traditional Moroccan elements.
Please note that from the Spring 2019, local authorities have forbidden camps
inside the sand dunes in Erg Chebbi. This is for environmental reasons. This
means that all Bedouin camps will be set up on the edge of the desert, fairly
close to built accommodation.
*Premium Departures* - on these dates we have upgraded the hotels, and in
Marrakech and Essaouira we stay in historic riads right in the heart of the
medina. These small family-run guesthouses offer tranquil, authentic stays in
the heart of the old city.
You can request a single room on this trip subject to availability. The
single supplement applies to hotel nights only and therefore does not cover
any nights spent in the mountains, desert or Bedouin camps.
Please note that in Winter months some of the accommodation can feel quite
cold as they are often poorly heated. Some properties in more rural areas may
only have power in the evening (which also means only heating in the evning),
however blankets are provided to keep you warm at night.
Hotel Gomassine, 
There will be a local leader and a driver and local guides where needed.
14 breakfasts and 4 dinners included.
Moroccan food is, generally speaking, excellent though not particularly
varied. Breakfasts usually consist of bread and jam with coffee or tea. Meals
eaten out are reasonably priced - kebab and bread cost is approximately GBP4
(USD7). In main towns, it is possible to find very good French and Moroccan
restaurants where a meal and French wine will cost anything from GBP20
(USD30) upwards. Generally, dinner is likely to cost between GBP5-10 (approx.
USD8-15) not including drinks. Local beer, wine and soft drinks are
reasonably priced, but you can pay UK prices or more for imported alcohol.
Your leader will recommend restaurants for each evening.
Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of
vegetarian couscous, tajine or omelettes. This is particularly the case
during the more rural sections of the trip. Please note that if you have any
special dietary requirements you should inform the Exodus Office prior to the
trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (i.e. coeliac or vegan) you
may find it helpful to bring some items of food with you from home.
For most of this trip, we use a private bus, the size of which will depend on
the group size, with a local driver.The roads in Morocco are reasonably good
and driving conditions in towns and on the plains are good. On mountain
roads, the pace will be slower.
Buses usually have air-conditioning and heating but please note this is not
up to European standards.
*Travelling flight inclusive from London: 15 Days*
The group flight from London is a daytime flight departing on Day 1 of the
itinerary.
*Flights from London*
We normally use the scheduled services of Royal Air Maroc (depending on
availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we recommend
you call one of our specialist sales staff or
your agent to confirm up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change
at a later date and cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before
departure.
There are alternative flight options from regional airports (Bristol,
Liverpool, Manchester…) Please ask our Sales team for more information.
*Travelling land only: 15 days starting and ending in Marrakech*
Your trip normally starts at our accommodation in Marrakech in the evening
of Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point are
provided in the Final Joining Instructions ‐ sent approximately two weeks
before departure.
*The airport in Marrakech is famously inefficient, and transit through it can
be a lengthy process. Upon arrival, you can expect at 2 hours to be spent in
getting through immigration, security and baggage reclaim. You should have a
pen with you to complete the arrivals form and have the details of your
accommodation to hand also for this purpose. Operators are not allowed to
wait inside the terminal building for clients, so please find your Exodus
representative outside the main doors.*
*Upon departure from Marrakech, we always suggest allowing 3 hours to
navigate the airport as checking in, bag drop, immigration and security can
take even longer on exit for Marocco. The airport doesn't accept mobile
boarding passes, so we suggest having a printed boarding pass to avoid
subjecting yourself to further delays.*
From April to June, and in September, Marrakech and the north are pleasantly
hot, with temperatures averaging 26ºC in the day and falling to 16ºC at
night. It is unusual for there to be much humidity so it is quite pleasant
except at midday when the sun is very strong. Desert temperatures are similar
to those in Marrakech, with the nights usually a little cooler and the days a
little hotter. Mountain temperatures are cooler than in Marrakech.
In the winter months, the daytime temperatures in Marrakech are around 18 to
22ºC with night temperatures falling to 4 to 7ºC. The days should be sunny
and a particularly attractive feature of the winter months is the clear views
of the snow-covered Atlas. The temperatures in the south are generally a
couple of degrees higher than those north of the mountains. There is a small
chance of rain and it has even been known to snow very infrequently in
January and sometimes February on the higher desert plateau (in which case it
is cold at night and early in the morning on the southern side of the Atlas).
* Waterbottle
* Sunhat, sun cream and sunglasses
* Daysack
* Lightweight walking boots with good ankle support and sole protection
* Torch (flashlight)
* Towel - essential in Tijhza, (this is due to water scarcity in the region,
which means that it is best used for farming than on washing towels for
tourists)
* Light jacket and waterproof jacket
* Wet wipes, soap, toilet paper/tissues
For November to March departures you will also need:
* A fleece jacket
* Warm trousers
* Gloves & hat
Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet
widely available; they often end up in landfill sites or get burnt, both
processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our
impact here. For your trip we have decided to include drinking water in order
to reduce the amount of plastic used. This means that safe filtered drinking
water will be available throughout which means all you need to do is bring a
bottle to re-fill along the way. Please add this to your packing list!
* Some hotels may have swimming pools so we recommend you also take a
swimming costume
* Earplugs
As Morocco is a Muslim country, we recommend that men, women and children
wear suitable clothing, i.e. over the knee skirts/shorts/trousers and with
shoulders covered. Additionally, women should avoid wearing close-fitting or
revealing clothes.
If while packing you find a spare bit of space in your bag please be sure to
check out our partner ‘Pack for a Purpose’
http://www.packforapurpose.org
"http://www.packforapurpose.org/"http://www.packforapurpose.org. This is a
great opportunity to bring small items needed locally by schools and medical
clinics. While in Tijhza your Tour Leader can assist with donating the items
at the Kasbah Oliver.
The following items would be much appreciated:
Pens, pencils, rubbers, rulers, kids scissors etc.
Playing cards, Snap, Uno etc.
Footballs, tennis balls etc.
Hand tools (non-electrical trowels etc.)
Work or gardening gloves
Paint brushes, trays etc.
Toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap
Although most are included, there may be some entrance fees to certain
optional historic and religious sites: allow up to £5 (approx. US$8) per
person if you intend to visit them all.
Please allow approximately £2‐4 (approx. US$3‐6.50) per person per day
to cover postcards, small
souvenirs, soft drinks etc. (see also Food).
Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work with Exodus and
tipping is at your discretion for both the leader and the local staff.
However we would like to advise that tipping is part of the local culture and
generally expected. If you do wish to tip, we have found it useful for the
group to have a kitty for tipping – about 300 dirhams per person, this can
ease confusion and embarrassment of not knowing how much or how little to tip
local staff (such as cooks and guides, hotel staff etc). If you do not wish
to join in on the group kitty, do not feel pressured. Many clients also wish
to tip their leaders and drivers at the end of the trip, we suggest 30
dirhams a day per person for the leaders and 10 to 20 dirhams a day per
person for the drivers. This is completely at your own discretion and to be
used as a guideline only.
* Travel insurance
* Visas or vaccinations
* Single supplement
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.
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