THE SANDS &
SOUKS OF MOROCCO
October 4-14, 2009
Optional Seaside Extension to Essaouira
(escorted)
October 14-17, 2009
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INTRODUCTION
Morocco has historically conjured up images of ancient walled cities,
desert-crossing camel caravans, Arab sultans, Berber tribesmen, and
mud-walled kasbahs shaded by tall date palms. Morocco still delivers
this, plus much more. At the crossroads of Africa, Arabia, and Europe,
21st-century Morocco is an exotic land of intriguing culture, mesmerizing
landscapes, great shopping, memorable experiences, and is very welcoming
of Western travelers. Morocco is filled with unforgettable travel experiences.
Having gained its independence from France just over 50 years ago, Morocco
has, over time, been trodden by many different feet. Its mountains,
coast, plains, and desert have hosted settlers, nomads, and conquerors.
Today this is visible in the country's religion (indoctrinated by marauding
Muslims in the 7th century), artisans and musicians (an aural and visual
mix of Berber, Andalusian, Jewish, and Arabic), and, of course, its
cuisine!
Morocco’s arts and crafts are an extravaganza of delights. You
can’t help being taken in by its architecture, ceramics, clothing,
jewelry, leatherwork, metalwork, and textiles. Shoppers beware!
And our itinerary will take in six of the eight designated UNESCO World
Heritage cultural sites in Morocco:
- the medina of Fes
- the historic city of Meknes
- the medina of Marrakesh
- the archeological site of Volubilis
- the medina of Essaouira
- the kasbahs of Ait Ben Haddou
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DAY-to-DAY ITINERARY
Day 1, October 4, 2009, Sunday
Arrival in Casablanca
Upon arrival at the Casablanca airport, you’ll be met and transferred
privately to our comfortable hotel in the center of this buzzing city,
Morocco’s largest. Early this evening we’ll get together for
our trip orientation and welcome drink and then head out for our welcome
dinner in Casablanca.
Welcome drink, dinner
{Please note: If you’d like to arrive a day early to help shake
off your jet lag or because of a late flight arrival, please let us know
and we can set up an extra night for you at the hotel.} |
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Day 2 Casablanca / to Fes
This morning we will visit the Hassan II Mosque. Built to commemorate
the former king's 60th birthday, Casablanca's premier house of prayer
is one of the largest in the world, able to house 25,000 worshippers and
another 80,000 in the courtyards and squares outside. The country's master
craftsmen pulled out all stops to produce an amazing display of plaster,
marble, glass, wood, and zellij (zellij is ceramic mosaic tile work).
Inaugurated in 1993, the mosque is a truly marvelous piece of architecture.
It is not only one of the world's largest mosques, it's also one of the
world's most high-tech, with heated flooring, retractable roof, a section
of clear-glass flooring -- for worshippers to see water below -- and even
a laser light atop its 700-foot minaret, pointing the way to Mecca each
night. There's also an ablutions hall with more than 40 fountains and
two public hammams (bath houses).
Lunch will follow, and then we’ll board our comfortable train for
the four-hour trip to the imperial city of Fes. After settling in to our
wonderful riad – certainly one of Fes’s most beautiful lodgings
and where we have the pleasure of staying three nights – we will
enjoy dinner in this culinary capital of Morocco.
Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 3 Fes
Fes is undoubtedly the spiritual heart of Morocco and is one the country’s
former imperial cities (along with Rabat, Meknes, and Marrakesh). The
city is one of the undisputed highlights of any visit to Morocco. The
ancient walled city (called a medina throughout the country) is the world's
most complete medieval city and is where the first Moroccan dynasty, the
Idrissids, built their empire.
We have a full day to soak in the myriad sights, sounds, and smells of
this amazing place. Our program includes the stunning Medersa Bou Inania.
(A medersa is a theological college and dormitory.) The most celebrated
of the many medersas built by the Merenid dynasty, it is a group of buildings
constructed in the 1350s. It simultaneously functioned as both an educational
institute and as a congregational mosque, and accommodated shops and a
large public latrine along the front facade. Zellij, carved wood, and
panels of stucco, originally a mix of plaster and egg whites, finely carved
with Koranic verses decorate every available surface of the courtyard.
We will also see the Chouwara Tanneries – a most aromatic and visually
captivating sight. A picture straight out of medieval times, sheep, goat,
and cow skins are cured, stretched, scraped, and dyed in numerous honeycombed
earthen pits in a process that is still as manual as when it began in
the 13th century.
We’ll “get lost” inside the ancient medina -- a medieval
city as alive today as it was 1,200 years ago. Its 9,500 alleyways, lanes,
and streets are largely pedestrian only, and one turn can reveal a heaving
mass of people, donkeys, and produce, while another brings a calm, quiet
picture of serenity. We’ll wander along Talaa Kebira, Fes’s
longest and most evocative street, and past the Kariaouine Mosque (which
non-Muslims are not allowed to enter). Workshops housing skilled craftsmen
abound throughout the medina. We’ll see the restored carpenters’
souk, and in the alleys leading from it are the carpenters' workshops,
enveloped by the sweet smell of cedar wood.
Also on our itinerary are the Fassi potters, located just outside the
medina's walls. They are among the best in Morocco. The pottery made here
is shipped all over the country and, unlike in other countries, the goods
are actually put to use in people's homes. A stop at one of the lively
food markets is also a must for us where vendors sell their produce, meat,
spices, and so on.
This evening is free, and as Fes is very well noted as a gastronomic center
of Morocco, there are many interesting options for dinner.
Breakfast,
Lunch
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Day 4 Volubilis / Moulay
Idriss / Fes
Today will be a day trip to a couple of nearby noteworthy sights. First,
a visit to the excavated ruins of the ancient Roman city of Volubilis
– a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- is part of our program. These
are the best preserved Roman ruins in Morocco. From 45 to 285 A.D., Volubilis
was the capital of the province Mauritania Tingitana, the southernmost
outpost of the vast Roman empire, and home to at least 20,000 inhabitants
during its peak. We’ll see the site's triumphal arch, forum, and
faded but still beautiful mosaics. The city was a big exporter of olives,
wheat, and wild animals to Rome.
We’ll continue to the village of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, a place
of pilgrimage for Moroccans who come here to pay homage at the shrine
of the founder of the country's first Islamic dynasty – Idriss Ben
Abdallah Ben Hassan Ben Ali, the great-great grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.
Non-Muslims aren't allowed to enter his shrine but we can wander the village's
steep, winding streets to absorb the almost festive atmosphere that emanates
from here. At the top there is a rewarding view over the sanctuary, showing
the courtyards, roofs, and adjacent royal guesthouse (the Moroccan royal
family are regular pilgrims).
Our lunch stop will be in the city of Meknes, the imperial home of the
country's longest reigning and most ruthless ruler, Moulay Ismail. While
here we’ll pass by Bab Mansour (a bab is an ornate gate to a city),
one of the grandest of Moroccan gateways, resplendent in green and blue
zellij and towering columns.
After returning to Fes, the rest of your day is open, and again you can
take advantage of the many good dining opportunities the city has to offer.
Breakfast, Lunch |
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Day 5 to Erfoud
Today’s long but comfortable day of travel will have us journeying
through Morocco’s beautiful Middle and High Atlas mountain ranges
on our way to the country's northern sand dunes. The landscape changes
from fertile farming plains to mountains blanketed with cedar forests
or sliced by deep gorges and palmeraies (lush green oases, often with
hundreds or thousands of palm trees) before flattening out to the pre-Saharan
hammada (rocky desert plain).
One could argue that the Middle Atlas is perhaps the prettiest of the
country's ranges, covered for its greater part with aromatic forests of
pine and cedar. These are broken up by carpets of green pasture, where
Berber communities — some still nomadic — tend to the herds
of cattle and flocks of sheep that feed the country.
Toward the end of the day we’ll arrive in Erfoud, on the edge of
the Sahara desert, and settle into our comfortable hotel here. During
the October date harvest (the exact dates depend on the timing of the
harvest) Erfoud organizes a festival involving music and folk dance, tastings,
and a fashion parade with the election of Miss Date. Dates play an important
role in the Moroccan culture. Their sweetness makes them an ideal token
of good luck, which is why they are a traditional gift at important ceremonies
and an offering to friends or strangers. Erfoud, with its one million
date palms, is at the heart of the date-producing area and is therefore
the center of festivities.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 6 Erg Chebbi Desert / Camel Safari
/ Dune Camp
After a leisurely morning at our pleasant hotel we’ll embark on
our desert adventure. The Erg Chebbi (erg is desert) is fed by the ever-advancing
Sahara Desert, and its color can change from golden to pink to rust red,
depending on the time of day. Your first glimpse of this “mountain
range” of dunes is sure to be exciting and something to treasure.
We begin by driving to Merzouga, a small village at the edge of the dunes
where we’ll be treated to a Gnaoua music performance. This music
is a mixture of African, Berber, and Arabic religious songs and rhythms.
It combines music and acrobatic dancing. The music is both a prayer and
a celebration of life. Then we’ll ride in 4x4’s through the
dunes to see the lake and villages of the area, eventually reaching the
camels that will be waiting for us to begin our short camel trek (about
an hour) to our overnight camp among the dunes. Men dressed in the flowing
blue caftans and robes of the famed Tuareg nomads walk alongside the loping
one-humped dromedaries and guide us into the seemingly never-ending dunes
of Saharan sands. Once we arrive, enjoying the sunset atop one of this
sand sea's 500-foot dunes before spending the night under the stars is
an extraordinary experience, almost spiritual for some. The soft glow
of the morning light is equally beautiful.
{Please note that this camel trek and overnight at the dune camp is optional.
Guests who would prefer to skip this can stay at a comfortable hotel in
a nearby village.}
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 7 Todra Gorge
This morning you may want to get up early and enjoy the sunrise over the
dunes — a memorable experience. Our camels will take us back to
the village, where we can freshen up before we continue with our journey.
Today’s destination is the Todra Palmeraie and Gorge. The palmeraie
is a stunning sight, a river of green slicing through the otherwise endless,
rocky, brown landscape. Walking within the palmeraie is a wonderful attack
on the senses, as fruit and palm trees overlook crops of grains and vegetables.
The palmeraie ends at the entrance to the majestic Todra Gorge, about
1,000 feet in length, 160 feet across, and with towering thousand-foot
walls. The afternoon sun is absorbed by the gorge's walls and produces
beautiful shades of orange and red. Here you'll find the above-ground
beginnings of the Oued (river) Todra, and dipping your toes in its icy
waters is the best way to relax and take in one of Morocco's most dramatic
natural sights. The amount of walking you do at Todra can be customized
to your interest and ability.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 8 Ouarzazate / Ait Ben Haddou
Ouarzazate is a French creation — a once isolated military outpost
that still exudes a frontier-type atmosphere. The town was discovered
by Hollywood in the 1960s and 70s, and there are a number of film studios
based in Ouarzazate that attract their fair share of big budget productions.
About 15 miles from Ouarzazate is Aït ben Haddou: one of the country's
most picturesque, mud-walled kasbahs. Aït ben Haddou has also seen
its fair share of Hollywood stars, having been used in movies such as
Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia. Perched upon a low hillside overlooking
an often-dry riverbed, the Aït Ben Haddou ksour, or kasbahs, are
one of the most scenic sights in the country. Towering defensive walls
and elaborately decorated corner towers surround the collection of houses,
stables, lofts, and even a mosque — all constructed from a mix of
red earth and stone called tabout — connected by a maze of narrow,
winding lanes. Probably established as early as the 11th century, at this
UNESCO World Heritage site imaginative minds can conjure images of a time
when this was one of the most important stops on the lucrative West African
caravan trade route. A few families that still reside here eke out a rural
existence.
A ruined fortified granary, or agadir, sits atop the hill and explains
the historical reasoning behind the kasbah's strongly defensive position
-- their highly prized supply of grain. We will overnight in pleasant
accommodations overlooking the ksour.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 9 to Marrakesh
The final leg of our Moroccan adventure makes its way to Marrakesh via
an impressive feat of French colonial road building. The Tizi n'Tichka
pass in the mighty Western High Atlas mountains, at 7,400 feet, offers
a spectacular view with many twists and turns in the road to reach it.
When we get to Marrakesh — the jet-setting sister of Morocco's four
imperial cities — we’ll check into our beautiful and charming
Dar in the center of the city. Marrakesh’s ancient medina has got
it all: shops and souks specializing in most of the country's renowned
crafts; a central square, Jemaa el Fna, where the most fascinating spectacle
takes place daily; and a plethora of restaurants and accommodations ranging
from traditional and conservative to ultrachic and sexy.
We’ll spend the afternoon attacking the medina. One visit will be
to Ben Youssef Medersa, Marrakech's 16th-century former Koranic school
and one of the country's best examples of Islamic architecture. Marvel
at the carved cedar facades and exquisite stucco and zellij. The upper
dormitories' cell-like rooms housed up to 800 students. Apart from learning
the Koran, students would also immerse themselves in Islamic law and the
sciences.
Also on our program is the Bahia Palace, constructed in the late 1800s,
taking nearly 15 years to complete. Its name translates as “The
Brilliant.” The attractive, well preserved, Harem Courtyard has
featured in many movies. Part of the palace is closed to visitors as it
is still used by the Royal family of Morocco and their staff. Nearly 150
rooms housed the Grand Vizier Ba Ahmed, his 4 wives, and 24 concubines
plus servants and guards. The palace is set within extensive gardens.
Its large, rambling plan includes a mosque in addition to several tiled
courts surrounded by lavishly decorated reception halls and private quarters.
The palace's decorative program consists of carved stucco, carved and
painted woodwork, and glazed ceramic tile.
Marrakech's famed square, Jemaa el Fna, is the setting for an incredible
spectacle that begins in the morning with snake charmers, West African
Gnaoua musicians, and veiled women ready to tattoo any bare piece of flesh
with their henna-based designs. Come late afternoon, they are joined by
all manner of performers -- acrobats, dancers, musicians, and storytellers
-- and the square's heart converts to the country's largest open-air restaurant.
More than a hundred food carts offer traditional dishes such as couscous
and tagine, along with specialties such as boiled escargot and roasted
sheep's head. Surrounding the "show" is a circle of stalls selling
freshly squeezed orange juice and dried fruits and nuts. It all adds up
to a visual extravaganza, and each "performer" is ready and
willing — with a small payment — to be photographed
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Breakfast, Lunch |
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Day 10 Marrakesh
On our last full day of the main tour you will be able to follow your
own interests in this fascinating city. With a profusion of choice almost
every form of Moroccan arts and crafts can be found within the souks and
shops of Marrakech's medina. From antiques to woodwork, carpets to clothing,
it's all available and ready to be haggled over!
As one option you wish to take in the Majorelle Garden. This small botanical
garden was created in the 1920s by French artist Jacques Majorelle and
reflects his affection for contrast and strong color. The scent and color
of bamboo thickets, huge cacti, multicolored bougainvillea, and towering
palms is offset by the brilliant cobalt-blue of Majorelle's former studio,
now a small Museum of Islamic Arts. Inside are some of the artist's engravings
and paintings of the Atlas range as well as a personal collection of North
African artifacts belonging to the garden's current owner, Algerian-born
French designer Yves Saint Laurent. The layout of the garden lends itself
to a feeling of tranquility and is a welcome break from the busy streets
outside.
Another possibility is the Marrakesh Museum housed in a palace built in
the late 19th century. It now houses temporary contemporary art exhibitions
(some pieces are for sale) in what were the palace kitchens, as well as
permanent displays of traditional arts and crafts in what were the main
hall and the now-restored hammam. The building's centerpiece is a peaceful
covered inner courtyard with a towering brass chandelier hung above a
central fountain.
Or the Saâdian Tombs may be of interest to you. This high-walled
compound, shaded with palms and dotted with bright zellij-topped tombs,
is the final resting place of the Saâdian dynasty's sultans, princes,
and other members of the royal household. The principal structures were
built in the late 1500s by Sultan Ahmed el Mansour, who lies in the larger
of the two main mausoleums within the compound in a central room called
the Hall of the Twelve Columns. The other smaller, older mausoleum houses
the tombs of el-Mansour's mother and the founder of the Saâdian
dynasty. Between them, the two mausoleums house 66 tombs, while out in
the courtyard and garden you'll find more than 100 others.
After your free day of exploring this fascinating city we’ll come
together again this evening for our farewell dinner.
Breakfast,
Dinner |
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Day 11 Departure, October 14, 2009,
Wednesday
This morning you’ll be transferred to the Marrakesh airport for
your homeward journey during which you’ll have plenty of time to
reflect on the amazing experiences you’ll have had in Morocco!
Breakfast |
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OPTIONAL ESCORTED
EXTENSION TO ESSAOUIRA |
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Day 11 to Essaouira
Three to four hours away from Marrakesh is Essaouira, easily Morocco's
most likeable seaside resort. This is a great place to unwind after your
Morocco adventure. After our guide checks us into our very pleasant Dar,
you can soak up the atmosphere with a wander along the city's pedestrian-only
streets, including visits to the numerous souks such as Souk el Ghezel,
known as the Spice Souk; La Joutia, the town's flea market; and place
Marché de Grains (the old corn market). You can catch the sunset
atop the ocean-facing ramparts, Le Skala de Kasbah.
Breakfast |
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Day 12 Essaouira
Essaouira’s medina is Morocco's most traveler friendly. Large enough
to wander around for a couple of days but small enough to never get too
lost, it's a delightful mix of modern and traditional. There's a range
of restaurants and cafes, all combining with traditional sights such as
the fish market and jeweler's souk. There's also a large square that's
perfect for a coffee break and quality people-watching, which leads onto
a quaint port where fishermen still bring in the daily catch and mend
their nets. There’s an eclectic mix of art galleries and shops selling
everything from local woodcrafts and argan oil-based products to surf
wear and handmade leather goods.
Breakfast |
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Day 13 to Casablanca
A good part of today will be taken up with our transfer back to Casablanca.
Breakfast |
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Day 14, October 17, 2009, Saturday
Departure
After breakfast you’ll be transferred to the Casablanca airport
for your homeward journey.
Breakfast |
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ACCOMMODATIONS
Throughout most of this trip we will be using very small unique accommodations
– all very comfortable and upscale. The medina throughout Morocco
is the ancient walled city constructed through the ages by the country's
various dynasties, protected from invaders by the imposing walls that
now separate it from the rest of the city. The traditional dwellings
within the medina are called riads or dars, and many
of these have now been converted into beautiful accommodations for tourists.
The Arabic word riad translates to “garden,” while
dar simply means “house,” and this is the main
distinction between the two dwellings. Both typically have no windows
onto the street outside, instead having all windows opening inward to
an open-air central courtyard that is the heart of the house. The service
areas -- kitchen, hammam, and laundry -- are normally on the entrance
side near the street.
The courtyard in a true riad has both a fountain and garden,
or at least some fruit trees. Riads tend to have many salons
on multiple levels, often on all four sides but sometimes on only three
sides, with the garden up against the fourth wall. A dar mirrors
a riad in much of its design, but is generally smaller. While it might
have a fountain, it lacks the central garden in the courtyard. The principal
elevating characteristics of both dwellings are their sanctuary from
the busy streets outside and their interior courtyards that are open
toward the sky.
We will be staying in this type of accommodation for most nights on
the tour, and we have chosen carefully a selection of beautiful, upscale
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TOUR PRICING
$2,995 with 11-12 participants
$3,095 with 9-10 participants
$3,195 with 7-8 participants
Pricing is per person, based on double occupancy
Single Supplement: $615
Pricing includes:
* Carefully chosen accommodations — mostly in small, unique, upscale
properties with much local character
* Most meals
* Welcome drink
* All non-alcoholic beverages
* All admission fees to sights mentioned in itinerary
* Camel trek
* Full-time Moroccan tour guide with the group for the duration of the
tour
* Full-time tour manager to accompany group for the duration of the tour
* Private ground transportation in minibuses (with one day on public train)
* Airport transfers
* Drivers’ tips
Pricing Does Not Include:
* International airfare into Casablanca and returning from Marrakesh or
Casablanca
* 1 lunch and 3 dinners
* Alcoholic beverages
* Tipping to tour guide and tour manager
* Any extra hotel nights that may be needed or desired
* Personal expenses such as phone calls, laundry, room service, etc. |
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TOUR PRICING – ESSAOUIRA EXTENSION
$555 with 11-12 participants
$600 with 9-10 participants
$640 with 7-8 participants
Pricing is per person, based on double occupancy
Single Supplement: $255
Pricing includes:
* Two nights’ accommodation in Essaouira and one night Casablanca
* Breakfast at our accommodations
* Full-time tour manager to accompany group for the duration of the extension
* Private transportation in minibuses: Marrakesh to Essaouira; Essaouira
to Casablanca
* Airport transfer in Casablanca |
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TOUR MANAGER
Eric Monkaba will be leading this amazing journey through Morocco for
us. He currently resides in Cairo, Egypt and understands the
in and outs of the North African way of life and culture. Eric
has led dozens of tours through Morocco and is excited to share his knowledge
of this beautiful country with you. |
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TRIP DEMANDS
Our itinerary involves a good amount of walking. Trip participants should
be comfortable with walking between three and six hours a day. Much of
the ground we walk on will be hilly and uneven. There are also some long
drives involved, the longest being eight hours on Day 5 to reach the edge
of the Sahara Desert. A few days will see drives of roughly four hours.
For those who do the seaside extension to Essaouira, the drive back to
Casablanca on the last day is six hours. Certainly we take breaks for
pit stops during these drives. |
ITINERARY CHANGES
While as accurate as possible at the time of printing, the detailed
itinerary should be considered an approximate indication of the schedule
and scope of activities, trip routing, and meals, rather than an inflexible
schedule of events; it is subject to change due to circumstances beyond
our control. This trip is subject to the Limitation of Liability and
all the Terms and Conditions as detailed in the Trip Enrollment Form.
To realize the maximum enjoyment from your Venture Out trip, you must
remember that it is an adventure. The essential requirements are flexibility,
a sense of humor, curiosity and enthusiasm about new peoples and places,
and an openness to the unexpected. With a spirit of adventure and positive
attitude, we’re sure you will have a very special travel experience.
If you are uncertain about the level of comfort, difficulty, or any
of the activities described in this itinerary, please call Venture Out
at 1-888-431-6789 to discuss your concerns.
California Seller of Travel #2036134-4 |
