THT Morocco Itinerary 2013

COLOURS OF MOROCCO TOUR
6 – 16th May 2013
Itinerary
As you relax in your hammam (steam bath), tuck into your tagine
(stew), bargain in the souks (markets) and slide into your
comfortable caftan you may be surprised at how easily you slip into
another culture and another century. In these small signature
moments of pleasure, Morocco warps all sense of time and place.
To get your bearings, just look to the horizon. You will notice
refined minarets and rugged mud-brick fortifications, a sparkling
coastline with silken sand and striped canyons carved out of the
High Atlas Mountains.
Though you will hear French spoken in city boulevards, a vestige of
the fifty year French Protectorate, half a dozen Berber languages
and Moroccan Arabic are still widely spoken. Morocco is a unique
blend of the African, Berber, Arab and Mediterranean cultures
which makes it absolutely unique.
For centuries travellers have crossed shifting sands and braved
mountain passes in search of magical Morocco. They arrive dazzled
by its Royal palaces, extraordinary oases and spectacular feats of
hospitality. Modern Morocco doesn't disappoint.
COLOURS OF MOROCCO TOUR
6 – 16 MAY 2013
Monday 6th May 2013
Our tour starts in Casablanca, a city made
famous by the movie of the same name with
Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
Our home is the Le Royal Mansour Meridian
that has stunning views of Casablanca
harbour and the Hassan II Mosque.
A charming welcome dinner is held this
evening at the hotel. Before dinner you can
relax in the spa or take a stroll around the
local medina.
Tuesday 7th May 2013
After breakfast in the hotel, we check out and
join our Moroccan guide in an air-conditioned
coach to take a short tour of the city of
Casablanca before heading off to the capital,
Rabat.
Casablanca, or Casa as it is known by the
locals, has over 5 million inhabitants in its
region and is located on the Atlantic Ocean at
the mouth of the Bou Regreg River. It is
Morocco’s largest city as well as its major port.
History has left many traces like the old
Medina dating back to the XVI century and the
French Art Deco district from the French
Protectorate in the 1930s. Today we visit the
Hassan II Mosque, the Ain Diab Corniche with
its
swimming
pools
and
gastronomic
restaurants, the Royal Palace and United
Nations Square.
On arrival in Rabat, we will be escorted on a
guided city tour including the “Imperial Garden
City” with its main monuments, the Oudayas
Gardens, Hassan Tower and Mausoleum.
We will enjoy lunch at the Sofitel Jardin des
Roses Golden Fish Restaurant that prides itself
on its fresh seafood, cooked in local spices and
seasonings.
After lunch, we continue our travels to the
famous Imperial city of Fes where we check in
to the Sofitel Palais Jamai – an outstanding
example of Moorish and Arabic architecture
and a gem amongst luxury Moroccan hotels.
The remainder of the evening is at leisure.
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COLOURS OF MOROCCO TOUR
6 – 16 MAY 2013
Wednesday 8th May 2013
Breakfast is served in the hotel restaurant.
Today we discover Fez, Morocco’s leading cultural
and religious centre and the home of the oldest,
largest and most beautiful medieval city in the
world, a city that has remained almost unchanged
through the modern ages and yet is still most
definitely alive.
Fez el Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage site whose
Medina is believed to be the world's largest urban
car free area. The University of Al-Karaouiyin,
founded in 859, is the oldest continuously
functioning university in the world.
Around the Kairouiyine mosque, there are many
medersas (Islamic schools). The most famous one
is the Attarin Medersa. It was built in the early 14th
century and exhibits a beautiful bronze door and
elegant courtyard. The school has many examples
of beautiful craftwork in marble, alabaster and
cedar. The medersa takes its name from the Souk
al-Attarine the spice and perfume market.
There are many wonderful architecural buildings to
see in Fez. The Medersa Bou Inania was founded in
AD 1351. It is the only medersa in Fez which has a
minaret and is one of the few religious places in
Morocco that is accessible to non-Muslim visitors.
Opposite the medersa is the Dar Almagana, a wall
with a unique hydraulic clock. The beautifully
restored Nejjarine Museum, in Nejjarine Square,
was once a fundoq - an inn for traveling merchants
who used to keep their animals in the stables
downstairs and sleep in the small rooms upstairs.
You will be escorted back to the hotel mid
afternoon, where the remainder of the day &
evening is at leisure.
Dinner will be own
arrangements.
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COLOURS OF MOROCCO TOUR
6 – 16 MAY 2013
Thursday 9th May 2013
Following breakfast in our Hotel, we head off for
Meknes and Volubilis in our luxury coach, cameras
at the ready to record these amazing ancient sites.
Meknes lived its golden age as the Imperial Capital
of Moulay Ismail following his accession to the
Sultanate of Morocco. The original community from
the 8th century built and lived in the huge Kasbah
that functioned as a fortress. In the 10th century, a
Berber tribe called the Miknasa settled there and a
town consequently grew around the fortress. Today
the city, located 60 kilometres from Fez, is the
centre of an agricultural area, producing olives,
cereal crops and citrus.
Among the impressive monuments in Meknes is the
grand gate named after its architect, El-Mansour, a
Christian renegade who converted to Islam. The
design of this gate is a fine example of Almohades
patterns and zellige mosaics.
The Royal Stables in the heart of the city, was
constructed to comfortably house twelve thousand
horses. Although most of the stables are in ruin, as
we wander through this structure we will be able to
sense the grandeur of a bygone era.
Following lunch, we will visit the famous Roman
ruins of Volubilis. Now a UNESCO World Heritage
archaeological site, it features the best-preserved
ruins in this part of Northern Africa. In ancient
times, Volubilis was an important Roman town
situated near the westernmost border of the Roman
conquests. Original marble flooring depicting life in
ancient times allows us to imagine the lifestyle of
previous dwellers.
As we make out way back to Fez, we will stop by
the famous village of Moulay Idriss that nestles
beautifully on the top of a hill surrounded by rocky
mountains.
Dinner will be at Riad Alkantara in the Fez Medina.
Meticulously restored by a mastercraftsman, the
Riad offers a large and gracious swimming pool and
a rooftop terrace with sweeping views over the
Medina. At the end of dinner, we will be transferred
back to our hotel by luxury coach.
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COLOURS OF MOROCCO TOUR
6 – 16 MAY 2013
Friday 10th May 2013
Today is a day for you. We suggest you start
with a sumptuous breakfast before relaxing
beside the sparkling pool. You can then
experience a traditional hamman body scrub at
the hotel’s spa and lounge area.
Alternatively, you may be keen to do some
shopping in the local markets and soak up the
local atmosphere with a coffee or two.
Saturday 11 th May 2013
Today we leave Fez and drive through the Middle
Atlas mountains via Immouzer Kandar, to a
delightful town called Ifrane, known as “Little
Switzerland” due to its natural healthy climate and
environment. We visit Azrou, a Berber village,
known for its handicraft cooperatives and famous
for its woodcarving and carpet weaving.
The landscape changes once we cross the
mountains towards Midelt and tour along the Ziz
River through a series of fortified villages. The Ziz
Gorges, where we stop for lunch, are breathtaking
in their grandeur and contrast with the beautiful
oases of palm trees and Kasbahs that appear along
our journey.
As we tour through this beautiful country you will
be amazed at the variety of vistas that change as
we head towards the edge of the Sahara desert. We
may even see a Bedouin horse market or camel
caravan on our way!
Our final destination today is Erfoud, a true Arab
town known as the “Gate to the Sahara” due to its
proximity to the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Many movies have been made in this area as the
desert landscape is so appealing. We will stay in the
Xaluca Maadid Hotel that offers a true Kasbah
experience.
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COLOURS OF MOROCCO TOUR
6 – 16 MAY 2013
Sunday 12th May 2013
Now it is time to relax in the oasis of your Kasbah.
Enjoy a swim and laze around the pool, wander
through Erfoud with your camera or spend some
“me” time in the hotel spa.
In the afternoon, we are in for a treat as we
transfer by 4WD to the sand dunes for an overnight
stay in a traditional Kasbah in the desert of
Mergouza. Upon arrival, we will set off on camels
across the dunes to enjoy a spectacular sunset
where the sounds of silence and the evening
breezes are the only music to our ears.
La Belle Etoile is a tented bivouac located on the
edge of the famous Erg Chebbi Dunes near Lake
Yassmina in the Merzouga region. Staying in the
desert in authentic camel skin tents (with modern
amenities) makes for a memorable evening.
We will feast on a traditional targine dinner around
a campfire while local folkloric bands entertain us
under an incredible starry sky.
Monday 13th May 2013
Today we will journey towards Marrakesh via
Ouarzazate, stopping first at the Todra Gorges that
rise 1000 feet above the desert. Often called
Morocco’s Grand Canyon, this gorge is hemmed in
on all sides by vertical limestone cliffs whose
colours change as the sun moves across the sky.
We travel further west to the Dades Gorges and
Valley – where the Dades River has created a green
and fertile land that abounds in colourful fruit and
nut trees. Extraordinary rock formations can be
found along the “Road of 1000 Kasbahs” where we
stop for a light lunch at Kalaa Meggouna, the centre
of the rose industry that is vital to Morocco’s body
care products, exotic oils and perfumes.
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COLOURS OF MOROCCO TOUR
6 – 16 MAY 2013
Monday 13th May cont’d
Ourzazate is a town chiefly inhabited by Berbers
who constructed many of the prominent kasbahs
of the area. We visit the Ksar of Ait Benhaddou, a
traditional community-housing compound that is
typical of the Maghreb district.
Recognised as a World Heritage site by UNESCO,
the Ksar consists of large and small houses all
made from moulded earth and clay bricks. The
structures seem to melt into each other, huddled
together in a strategic position up against the
mountain. Their walls and towers are often
decorated in original motifs and the view from the
top over the land is extensive.
We continue on to Marrakesh via the High Atlas
village of Telouet across the Tizi-n-Tichka pass,
enjoying the far reaching views of small Berber
villages that cling to the mountainsides as
featured in the movie Babel with Cate Blanchett
and Brad Pitt.
Once we reach the vivid city of Marrakesh, our
home is the beautiful Sofitel Marrakesh Hotel
where you can refresh with a swim or spa and
relax at your leisure for dinner.
Tuesday 14th May 2013
This morning is free for you to relax around the pool
or enjoy the hotel spa. After lunch, we will visit two
special sights that Marrakesh is famous for.
The Majorelle Gardens created by French artist
Jacques Majorelle and later restored by Yves St
Laurent is a colourful oasis full of exotic plants and
a unique cactus garden. A garden that is a tribute
to the fashion designer’s love of colour and flowers.
The Bahai Palace is a real jewel of Moorish
architecture and art from the end of the 19th
century. It is full of history and mysterious stories
of the people who lived there once including the
Sultan’s many wives, children and concubines.
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COLOURS OF MOROCCO TOUR
6 – 16 MAY 2013
Tuesday 14th May
Ample time will be available to wander in the
maze of souks (markets) in the Marrakesh
medina this afternoon before we meet in the
famous Jamaa El Fna Square at sunset.
Known as the heart of the Medina, this
massive square turns on a party every night
with street entertainment performed by snake
charmers, monkey trainers, singers, dancers
and fortune tellers.
Wednesday 15th May 2013
Today is at your leisure to shop and explore
the Medina further or to discover modern
Marrakesh, with its own Zara home shop and
contemporary take on café design.
Breakfast is served in the hotel restaurant and
lunch is your own arrangement.
Our farewell dinner is at the elite Lotus Club,
where the high society of Marrakesh meets for
a cocktail or two. The perfect opportunity to
see modern Morocco interior design and enjoy
the ambience of this fashionable scene.
From its red-carpeted courtyard of palm trees
and lanterns to its avant-garde lighting and
luxurious textile decoration, the Lotus will
provide us with a fabulous celebration dinner
to end an amazing tour.
THURSDAY 16TH MAY 2013
After enjoying our last breakfast together,
this morning we will checkout and transfer
to Marrakesh airport for our homeward flight.
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