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9
DAY IMPERIAL CITIES, DESERT AND KASBAH
Day 1: We
board our Royal Air Maroc jet at JFK airport New York for our nonstop
6-hour flight to Casablanca.
Day 2: Upon
arrival at Mohamed VI Airport in Casablanca, our driver will meet you
and assist you with the customs officials. After a short tour
of the Mohamed VI Square, the central market, and the Hassan II Mosque.
You won ill continue to Rabat where you will visit the Oudaya Kasbah,
which is the "heart of the military history" of Morocco. The kasbah is
named after a Bedouin tribe that came into Morocco in the 13th century.
We continue our tour, visiting the Hassan Tower with its Mausoleum and
see the beautiful Chella Gardens which houses a famous historical ruin
in Morocco. The Chella Gardens are also home to many
interesting bird species. The city tour will be with an official
English speaking guide who will take to visit the Old Town (Ancienne
Medina) and the Mellah (old Jewish Quarter) .
Day 3:
Depart for Fes. The road to Fes takes us along a beautiful
stretch of farmlands where olives, grain, vegetables and grapes are
grown. Before arriving to Fes you will visit Meknes and Volubilis.
Volubilis is the sight of the famous Roman ruins left from the Roman
Empire's most southern outpost. Meknes is the site of the
first Arab dynasty created by Moulay Ismail and has the Medersa Bou
Inania and the Bab Mansour, the Gateway to Moulay Ismail
Palace. This leads us into the Heri es-Souani, the horses
stable and graneries. Upstairs is a rooftop garden and cafe
with a great view of the city. Arrive into Fes, check into
the hotel.
Day 4:
After breakfast, you will begin your visit of "the oldest living Medina
in the world"with a local official tour guide. You will tour
the medina with its "souks" (markets), stopping at the gateway of the
Royal Palace, the 9th century Karouine mosque and University.
You will visit also the tomb of the city founder "Moulay Idriss
II". Lunch will be at one of the traditional restaurants in
the old Medina. After lunch you will continue your tour to
visit the Najarine Fountain, the old Harem Garden and the Batha
Museum. On the way back to the hotel, you will stop
to enjoy a panoramic view of the city.
Day 5:
Depart to Erfoud across the cedar forest in the Atlas Mountains,
stopping at the mountains villages of Ifrane and Azrou to see this
beautiful area that the French once built their vacation homes
in. Along the way we will see the Berber monkeys who live and
frolic in this area. Before descending to the Ziz Valley, we
will stop for lunch in Midelt. You will arrive in Erfoud and
continue through the"hammada" to get to the highest dunes of Merzouga,
where you will meet our Bedouin nomad camel team members and exchange
your Landrover for Camels. After 2-1/2 hours riding, you will
arrive at our camp in an oasis. Enjoy a Saharan dinner around the
campfire and the Sahara drumming with the Bedouins. You will
be mesmerized by the desert night sky with its unclouded view of the
stellar constellations.
Day 6: You
will wake up early and walk across the dunes to see the beautiful
sunrise. You will have your breakfast, pack your gear, ride back to
your car and drive across the desert landscape and see many fortified
villages in the magnificent palm gardens of the Ziz Valley. Arrive in
toTinghir, you will stop for lunch in the heart of the spectacular
Todra Gorge, with its huge, breathtaking red cliffs. It is a
paradise for mountain climbing. After lunch, take a
small hike through the canyons and explore the area. In the afternoon,
you will continue to Ouarzazate via the "Road of One Thousand Kasbahs",
the Roses and Dades Valleys. Arriving to Ouarzazate and check into the
hotel.
Day 7:
After breakfast you will visit the old part of the town, where you will
see the beautiful Kasbah of Taourirte and have lunch at the Kasbah
Restaurant. In the afternoon you will depart for Marrakech,
you will drive through one of the highest passes in the country, the
Tizi-n-Tishka, which is 2260 meters at the top. On the way, you will
see the traditional Berber farmers using the terraced style of planting
on the mountain sides. You will visit the famous Ksar of Ait
ben Hadou, which has been declared the site of a UNESCO project for
restoration of its ancient architecture. It also serves as the setting
for many movies such as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "the Jewell of the
Nile". Arriving to Marrakech you will check into the Hotel.
Day 8:
There is much to see in this great city which Winston Churchill called
"the most beautiful place in the world at sunset". You will visit the
Koutoubia Mosque and its Minaret, the hidden tombs of the Saadian
dynasty, the Menara Gardens and Pavilion, the Bahia Palace, the Ben
Youssef Medrassa and chapel of el-Baaiyn. Entering into the
souk you will see some of the age old art guilds at work.
Finally, you end up in the famous place "Djemaa-el-Fna" with its circus
atmosphere of itinerant dancers, jugglers, acrobats, storytellers,
soothsayers, snakecharmers, medicine men and public scribes.
Day 9: You
will wake up early in order to have breakfast and depart for the Menara
Airport where you bid farewell to Morocco. Departure with
Royal air Maroc to New York via Casablanca.
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