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With time to explore Marrakech at the end of our journey, we leave the Red City behind and head east into the Atlas Mountains. Our destination for the day is the well-preserved Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most spectacular sights of the Atlas Mountains, made famous as the filming location for several Hollywood films including 'Gladiator'. The route takes us over Tizi N Tichka pass, the highest in Morocco, arriving mid-afternoon. We will then have time for a walk around the town before dinner.Marrakech –Ait Ben Hadou: 190 km with 4h30min Drive Ksar el janoub or similar
Leaving after breakfast we drive approximately 4 hours on from Ait Benhaddou to reach the Todgha Gorge. A canyon in the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains, 15 miles long and over 1,000m high. On arrival we take lunch and then have a two hour walk, starting in the Todgha Valley before heading into the gorge itself. The walk is not challenging and the natural rock walls of the canyon provide shade from the Moroccan sun. Overnight at our hotel in the valley.Ait Ben Hadou –Tinghir: 210 km 4h Drive Hotel Royal Palms or Similar
Our journey today takes us on one of the smaller passes across the Atlas Mountains to the town of Midelt, a remote settlement still quite new to Morocco's tourist map. The pass takes us through the beautiful Ziz Valley, with its lush palmeries and dramatic mountain views. The town itself is populated largely by Berber people, but was settled by the French at the beginning of the 20th century. It was the second town, after Casablanca to get electricity in the country.On arrival we'll have some free time to explore the town with a stop for tea and cakes with a local family.Tinghir –Midelt: 270km, 5h30 drive Hotel Taddart or Similar
Today we cross the Middle Atlas Mountains. Although not as high as the High Atlas, the range is surprisingly lush containing forests of oak and cedar as well as large swaths of fertile land used for growing all manner of fruits, nuts and cereals. En route we will stop in the small town of Ifran known for its distinctive European architecture, looking more like it belongs in the Alps than the Atlas.On arrival in Fez we should have a some free time before we enjoy a traditional Pastilla dinner, a famous dish from this region of Morocco, at a nearby restaurant.Midelt – Fes: 210 km, 4h30 driveRiad Tafilalet 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 and confusing 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 - from those selling leather to brass, copper and ceramics. And 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 drive to a panoramic viewpoint over the medina.Riad Tafilalet or Similar
After breakfast we travel to Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, housing the largest and best preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. Despite the damage caused by the 1755 earthquake, this important Roman town managed to retain some detailed and very beautiful mosaics. Our next destination is the sacred hilltop town of Moulay Idriss. Once off limits to non-Muslims, the picturesque medina offers an excellent insight into traditional Moroccan life. We will visit a family with whom we will share a lunch of home-cooked couscous. In the afternoon we travel to Meknes, our next imperial city, where we enjoy a walking tour of this former capital, including the impressive gate with its arches of mosaic tiles. Overnight in imperial Meknes.Fes –Volubilis – Meknes: 110 km, 2h30 min drive (1h15 visit volubilis)Hotel Swami or similar
We break our journey to Marrakech in the small town of Bin Louidane. The ride from Meknes takes us on a different road across the Middle Atlas mountain range. On arrival there will be time to enjoy a gentle walk around the lake, a contrasting experience in a country so famous for its dry desert landscape. In the evening we will enjoy a barbecue dinner in the garden of our gite; Dar L'eau Vive on the banks of the river.Meknes—Mrirt—Bin EL ouidan: 310 km, 6h drive Gite L’eau Vivre or similar
From Bin Louidane we continue south to Marrakech, our final imperial city and one of Morocco's most popular and historical destinations. Here we enjoy a guided tour to help us find our feet and soak up the atmosphere of this amazing city. Our guide will take us to the Bahia Palace, the Saadian tombs, ending in Djemma el Fna, where the town becomes a maze of bustling bazaars, palaces and mosques. It is also worth seeing at night when this renowned landmark really comes to life, with the food stalls, snake charmers, juice-sellers and acrobats. It is a place of night-time entertainment for both local people and tourists, not to be missed.Bin EL Ouidan – Marrakech: 190 km, 3h30 min.Les Trois Palmiers or similar
10 days land only / flight inclusive Travel by air-conditioned private
minibus1 night premium hotel, 5 nights premium riads and 3 nights standard
hotelsGroup normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrsFree airport
transfer for any flight
9 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 4 dinners included.Moroccan food is generally very
good. Breakfast usually consists of a variety of breads with
jam/butter/honey and coffee or tea. Meals eaten out are reasonably priced -
kebab costs about £8 (approx. US$13.0). In main towns, it is possible to
find very good French and Moroccan restaurants where a meal and wine will
cost anything from £20 (approx. US$30) upwards. Generally, dinner is likely
to cost between £5-10 (approx. US$8-15) depending on what you drink. Local
beers, wines 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, and additionally, you will enjoy lunches/dinner and afternoon teas
with local families in their homes.Vegetarians can be catered for but there
is a fairly limited choice of vegetarian couscous, tagine or omelettes. This
is particularly the case in more rural areas.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 specialist food items from home.
10 days land only / flight inclusive Travel by air-conditioned private
minibus1 night premium hotel, 5 nights premium riads and 3 nights standard
hotelsGroup normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrsFree airport
transfer for any flight
This trip provides a good introduction to Morocco. The itinerary is quite
busy, we travel by private minibus (usually 18-seater for a group of 16) and
there are a couple of long drives (especially across the mountains), to be
able to experience the distinctly different aspects of this wonderful
country. Although there is an organised itinerary every day, the walks are
optional. The mountain and lakeside walks are undemanding for anyone with
experience of hill or mountain walking. For those less familiar with hiking
should be prepared for mountain paths are stony and uneven. Morocco generally
enjoys a good year round climate (sun-soaked in the summer and reasonably
warm in the winter).Please note Ramadan runs from 2 April to 1 May
2022. Ramadan is a special time to visit Morocco as it is one of the most
important times on the Muslim calendar. Each evening the streets empty while
people return home to break the fast and then there is an air of festivity
every evening. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we
continue to run trips however please be aware their energy levels may be
slightly lower. Tourist sites are still open although closing times may be
earlier than usual. Your leader will know how the timings for each day need
to be adapted in order to still experience all the inclusions on this trip.
Restaurants may close during the day and this is also accounted for in
planning meal arrangements for your group. Shops are usually open though
their hours may vary and they will definitely be closed during the breaking
of the fast. To fully enjoy your holiday experience at this unique time of
year we suggest patience and flexibility. (In fact these are useful at any
time of year on any overseas holiday.)
Riad, Hotel and GiteYou will spend 5 nights in historic premium riads in all three imperial
cities that we visit. These small boutique guest houses offer tranquil,
authentic stay in the heart of the city.In the mountains and Midelt we stay
in small comfortable hotels, while in Ben Louidane we stay in a gite on the
banks of the river, what this property lacks in luxuries is more than made up
for by the friendly welcome, barbecue food and beautiful, tranquil setting.
Kasbah Taborihte, Todgha
There will be a local leader and a driver and local guides where needed.
9 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 4 dinners included.Moroccan food is generally very
good. Breakfast usually consists of a variety of breads with
jam/butter/honey and coffee or tea. Meals eaten out are reasonably priced -
kebab costs about £8 (approx. US$13.0). In main towns, it is possible to
find very good French and Moroccan restaurants where a meal and wine will
cost anything from £20 (approx. US$30) upwards. Generally, dinner is likely
to cost between £5-10 (approx. US$8-15) depending on what you drink. Local
beers, wines 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, and additionally, you will enjoy lunches/dinner and afternoon teas
with local families in their homes.Vegetarians can be catered for but there
is a fairly limited choice of vegetarian couscous, tagine or omelettes. This
is particularly the case in more rural areas.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 specialist food items from home.
For most of this trip we use a private bus (usually an 18-seater minibus for
a full group of 16) 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, but the roads are still good. Please note
there are some long drives on this trip. Buses usually have air-conditioning
and heating but please note this is not up to European standards.
Travelling flight inclusive from London: 10 DaysThe group flight from London
is a daytime flight departing on Day 1 of the itinerary.Flights from
LondonWe normally use the scheduled services of British Airways or easyJet
(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: 10 days starting and ending in
MarrakechYour 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 26degC in the day and falling to 16degC 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.
WaterbottleSunhat sun cream and sunglassesDaysackLightweight walking boots
with good ankle support and sole protectionTorch (flashlight)light jacket and
waterproof jacketWetwipes, soap, toilet paper/tissuesFor November to March
departures you will also need:A fleece jacketWarm trousersGloves and
hatPlastic 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!
As Morocco is a traditional Muslim country, we ask that men and women 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.
Extra Expenses and Spending MoneyAlthough 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 £4-8 (approx. US$5-10) 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 200 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 insuranceVisas or vaccinationsSingle 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.