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Departing on October 17, 2021.
In the early evening, there will be a welcome briefing with your tour leader, followed by an optional group dinner if you would wish to join. *Riad Hamdane or similar*
A modern and commercial seaport, Casablanca is a complete contrast to the Morocco we are soon to explore. This morning we make our way 3 hours to Casablanca to visit the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world. Afterwards, we drive 2 hours to Rabat for lunch, 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. *Hotel le Musee or similar*
This morning we strike out from Rabat over the Northern plain towards Meknes, a drive of around 3 hours. 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 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 to the ancient city of Fez, where we spend two nights. *Riad la perle* *de la medina 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. *Riad la perle de la medina or similar*
Today we have a long journey, approximately 10 hours spent on the road including plenty of stops and some superb scenery along the way. We venture 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 Yasmina 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 1.5-hour 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 Luxury Camp Yasmina*
After sunrise, we leave our desert camp and travel by camel back to the auberge where we can have breakfast and a shower. We then head towards the little city of Skoura, nestled on a beautiful palm grove and located near Ouarzazate. En-route explore Todra Gorge, and the picturesque oases they hide in (journey time approximately 4 hours). Following the 1000 Kasbahs Road for approximately another 2 hours, you will marvel at the breath-taking vistas of impressive ancient Kasbahs nestled in lush palm groves. *Kasbah Sawadi or similar*
There is the opportunity to take a 1 hour drive to Toundout Valley and enjoy a four hour guided hike crossing through a Berber village and Imi-noulawen valley, 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. *Kasbah Sawadi 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 Tijhza 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! Tijhza 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 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. You can expect a total journey time of approximately 10 hours today, with plenty of comfort breaks and photo stops along the way. *Essaouira Wind Palace 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. *Essaouira Wind Palace 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 and the Saadian tombs, 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. *Riad Hamdane 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. *Riad Hamdane or similar*
* 10 nights boutique hotels and premium riads, 1 night auberge, 2 nights
mountain gite and 1 night Bedouin camp
* Group normally 9 to 16, including RCGS guide plus local leader. Min age 16
yrs
* Travel by private minibus and camel
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 7
CAD/5 USD/4 GBP.
In main towns, it is possible to find very good French and Moroccan
restaurants where a meal and French wine will cost anything from 33 CAD/25
USD/20 GBP upwards. Generally, dinner is likely to cost between 8-16 CAD/6-12
USD/5-10 GBP not including drinks. Local beer, wine and soft drinks are
reasonably priced, but you can pay western type 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.
* 10 nights boutique hotels and premium riads, 1 night auberge, 2 nights
mountain gite and 1 night Bedouin camp
* Group normally 9 to 16, including RCGS guide plus local leader. Min age 16
yrs
* Travel by private minibus and camel
This trip provides an insight into the enormous variety that Morocco has to
offer, including cities, history, architecture, desert and mountain scenery.
We spend quality time in the places that matter, 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 and on
this Premium departure, we have upgraded to premium riads and hotels in some
towns and cities. 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.
Hotels, Riad, Gite & Bedouin Camp
Accommodation on this departure is a mixture of superior 3* hotels, offering
a more premium standard of accommodation. In Merzouga and Skoura, the
properties have swimming pools. In Marrakech, you stay in a premium Moroccan
riad that simply adds to the traditional exotic experience. The single
supplement does not cover nights spent in the desert camp (day 6) and the 2
nights spent in the village of Tigzha (day 9 & 10).
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.
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.
This departure will have a Royal Canadian Geographical Society Guide plus an
experienced Exodus English-speaking local Leader throughout the trip, along
with 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 7
CAD/5 USD/4 GBP.
In main towns, it is possible to find very good French and Moroccan
restaurants where a meal and French wine will cost anything from 33 CAD/25
USD/20 GBP upwards. Generally, dinner is likely to cost between 8-16 CAD/6-12
USD/5-10 GBP not including drinks. Local beer, wine and soft drinks are
reasonably priced, but you can pay western type 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.
*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.*
*Free Transfers*
Exodus offers FREE airport arrival and departure transfers on any flight for
this trip, for all clients. Unless specified otherwise, the transfer will be
to the Exodus start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour)
hotel, and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to
other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra
charge. Transfers may be shared with other Exodus customers on the same
flight, or on a flight with similar arrival times. All those taking advantage
of the free airport transfers must provide full flight details for both
arrival and departure in advance.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to
you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at
least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our
office or your travel agent.
From April to June, and in September, Marrakech and the north are pleasantly
hot, with temperatures averaging 26ºC/79ºF in the day and falling to
16ºC/61ºF 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/65 to 71ºF with night temperatures falling to 4 to 7ºC/39 to
45ºF. 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).
* Refillable waterbottle
* Sunhat, Sun cream, and sunglasses
* Daysack
* Lightweight walking boots with good ankle support and sole protection
* 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 strict 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.
Although most are included, there may be some entrance fees to certain
optional historic and religious sites: allow up to 8 CAD/6 USD/5 GBP per
person if you intend to visit them all.
Please allow approximately 3-7 CAD/2.50-5 USD/2‐4 GBP 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 (41 CAD/30
USD/25 GBP).
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 (4 CAD/3
USD/2.50 GBP) and 10 to 20 dirhams a day per person for the drivers
(1.30-2.70 CAD/1-2 USD/.80p - 1.60 GBP). 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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