| HIGHLIGHTS: Casablanca - Meknes - Fes - Midelt - Erg Chebbi - Todra Gorge - Dades Valley - Ait Benhaddou - Telouet - Marrakech
Morocco is considered one of the most romantic countries in the world. It boasts a heady mix of European, African, Moslem and Berber cultures along with legendary cities, ancient mud - brick kasbahs, rolling sand dunes, snow - capped mountains and an extensive and largely undeveloped coastline. It is so colourful that first - time visitors might be excused for thinking they have walked into the middle of a Hollywood movie set.
Indeed, Morocco has long been a favoured location for the film industry, due in part to an accommodating local bureaucracy. As we travel through this amazing country we are hit with an overwhelming sense of unreality. Is it really possible that a place can be both so exotic and so improbably picturesque? This, then, is the secret of Morocco, a destination that bombards the senses as we take the backroads from Casablanca to Marrakech.
From Casablanca we travel by train to Meknes, to explore the beautiful old medina. A little further on we reach Fes, where time seems to have overlooked the ancient streets and alleyways of the old quarter. We spend two days here, immersing ourselves in this splendid medieval city, and then travel south to explore the great sand dunes on the western edge of the Sahara.
A dramatic change of landscape finds us in Todra Gorge and nearby we explore the picturesque Dades Valley. We then travel along the fabled 'road of 1000 kasbahs', visiting an amazing family home at Skoura and the outstanding mud - brick town of Ait Benhaddou. Our final destination is Marrakech, where we spend our last evening in the great square - Jemaa el Fna - the heart and soul of this fine old city.
Day 1 Casablanca. Your trip starts today in Casablanca. No activities are planned so you may arrive at any time. Rooms are generally available after 1.00 pm. If you have not pre-booked an arrival transfer you will find taxis available on arrival at Casablanca Airport. Make sure you agree the price before you set off into town Your tour guide may make contact tonight, otherwise you will see him tomorrow morning at breakfast.
Day 2 Casablanca - Meknes. After breakfast we can make a quick visit to the impressive Mosque of Hassan II, built in 1993 by a team of over 6000 craftsmen. Located on the shores of the city it is an imposing edifice and one of the few mosques in Morocco that foreigners are allowed to enter. Later we make our way to the station where we catch the local train to Meknes, a journey of about four hours. Once here, a local site guide walks us through the old medina, one of the most picturesque in Morocco, and the rest of our day is free to explore the souk.
Day 3 Meknes - Fes. We continue our journey to Fes, a large, fascinating and at times confusing place, made up of three distinct 'cities', or quarters. With our local site guide we walk downhill into the heart of the old city (Fes - El - Bali) encountering a hive of activity, with people and donkeys laden with produce all jostling for space in the cramped alleyways. We visit the superb Funduk Nejjarine, a beautifully - restored lodging house, and make our way towards the Quaraouiyine Mosque, hemmed in on all sides by busy streets where hawkers sell their wares. Although the mosque is closed to foreigners we are able to catch several glimpses of its elaborate interior as we make our way through this section of the city. Rounding a corner our nostrils are assailed by the acrid smell of sheep hides as we approach one of the main tanneries, where the curing of skins and the subsequent dyeing process has been carried out since the Middle Ages. Nearby we can visit the Medersa el Attarine, built in 1323, with its beautiful courtyard and simple student accommodation. After time for lunch the rest of the day is at leisure to explore further.
Day 4 Fes. Today is free to further explore Fes. Many will want to return to the old city, while others might wish to explore Fes - el - Jedid, the so - called 'New City', which dates to the 13th century. Another possibility is an optional excursion to the nearby spa town of Moulay Yacoub, a pleasant trip through picturesque countryside.
Day 5 - 6 Fes - Midelt - Erg Chebbi. Travelling south through a variety of terrain, we reach Ifrane, a mountain resort established by the French in 1929. Further south, at Midelt, the landscape opens up and we enjoy expansive views to the west. Midelt is a fantastic place for an overnight stop. We rest here for the night, and enjoy an easy but spectacular walk. En route to the desert, we stop at the spectacular narrow defile known as the Gorges du Ziz and then head to the large town of Er Rachidia. We pass the 500 - year old ruins of the Ksar of Meski before descending into the Ziz Valley, a particularly fertile region producing figs, olives, dates and tamarisk - a fruit grown for its tannin and used in the curing of leather skins. We reach Merzouga, where we drop our main bags off at a simple Auberge before heading into the desert on camels for the magical sunset. We spend the night at a simple desert camp.
Day 7 Erg Chebbi - Todra Gorge. Rising early, we enjoy another fun camel ride through the sand dunes. Sunrise is a magical time of the day and we experience the amazing interplay of light as the Sahara slowly comes alive all around us. Returning to the Auberge we collect the rest of our gear and then travel west to Todra. Almost imperceptibly, a bright tablecloth of green appears before our eyes as we enter a lush valley packed with palm trees and mud - brick villages. At the top of the valley we reach our hotel and then take a short hike into the celebrated gorge where sheer cliffs rise over 1000 feet above us. We spend the night at a local hotel in the gorge.
Day 8 Dades Valley - Ait Benhaddou. From Todra Gorge, we travel along the 'road of 1000 kasbahs' and enjoy a walk in the impressive Dades Gorge. We also stop to visit the beautiful family - owned mud - brick home at Skoura, rising like a mirage beyond a dry riverbed, and continue to the fabulous medieval mud - brick town Ait Benhaddou, at its best in the late afternoon sun. We explore the many old streets and climb up to the fortress for a superb view over the old town. We can also - for a small fee - enter one of most interesting of the old houses, climbing up to the turrets for a view over the river. We spend the night just outside the walls.
Day 9 Ait Benhaddou - Telouet - Marrakech. We continue our journey west, passing numerous Berber villages and enjoying expansive views of the countryside. Leaving the main road we arrive at the village of Telouet, home to the infamous Glaoui family whose repressive regime was something of a legend. We visit their crumbling mud - brick citadel, one of the most spectacular in the region, where several rooms are still in a good state of repair. We then wind our way up towards Tizi 'n Tichka (2260m), the highest pass on the road to Marrakech and often covered with snow during the winter months. Leaving the Atlas behind we descend into the plains that surround Marrakech, which we reach in the late afternoon. One of the main attractions of Marrakech is Jemaa el Fna, where we find fire - eaters, fortune - tellers, actors, musicians and all manner of hawkers. In the centre of this vast throng are hundreds of foodstalls selling hot tagine, spicy dips and numerous other tasty dishes.
Day 10 Marrakech. Marrakech is lovely city, with palm - lined streets, earthy colours and the Atlas Mountains rising in the distance. There is much to see and do and we enjoy an orientation walk around the old medina. Our time is then free to explore the souks and alleyways that lead off to the north of Jemaa el Fna. Alternatively, some may wish to visit the 16th century ruins of the El Badi Palace, the famous Majorelle Garden or the adjacent Museum of Islamic Art. In the evening we will no doubt be drawn back to Jemaa el Fna for a final night out together.
Day 11 Marrakech. Your trip ends today, after breakfast. Check - out time is usually around 12.00 noon and you are free to leave at any time. Additional accommodation can be pre-booked if you wish to spend more time exploring Marrakech.
Meet friendly locals, wander old-world kasbahs and bask in beautiful landscapes 11 day tour departing Casablanca. 1 night accommodation camping. 9 nights accommodation in budget/tourist class hotels. 10 breakfasts, 3 dinners. Gecko's expert English-speaking local guide throughout the tour, and local site guides at some sites. Sightseeing including entrance fees where applicable. Camel ride
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