Deserts and Kasbahs

from USD 1580 for 15 days

Our journey through Morocco takes us from the noise and mayhem of the Fes medina, with its famous leather tanneries, to the silence of the great sand dunes at Erg Chebbi on the edge of the Sahara. We visit the spectacular Todra Gorge and travel along the "Valley of 1000 Kasbahs" to the exotic city of Marrakech. The trip ends with a chance to relax in the beautiful old Portuguese fishing port of Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast.

Detailed Description Show brief

Day 1 - CASABLANCA

Arrival day.

Casablanca
The name Casablanca conjures up many a memory – Ingrid Bergman, Humphrey Bogart... but Casablanca the city has much more to offer. A good place to start is the Grand Mosque Hassan II which juts out into the ocean. Although it is a very new complex, here you'll get your first taste of the beauty of Islamic architecture and culture. If you wander off the beaten track you can explore the Old Medina, or the Cathedral de Sacre Coeur and Quartier Habous (the New Medina). When the sun goes down you still won't be short of things to do. Take an evening stroll amongst the throngs of people promenading along the seafront and watch the sun go down over the Atlantic. Sample one of Casablanca's wide variety of restaurants – whether it be French cuisine, traditional Moroccan fare or the abundant seafood available – or sit in a café in the Habous watching life go by in front of you.

Day 2 - CASABLANCA - FES

Free morning before taking the train to Fes. (B)

Day 3 - FES

A guided walking tour of the Medina and souqs (markets), including the leather tanneries, noted as much for their overpowering smell as for their spectacle! (B)

Fes
The oldest of the Imperial Cities, and one of the holiest cities in the Islamic World, Fes is steeped in ancient charm. Fes is divided into three distinct parts. Fes El Djedid (Fes the New), established in the 13th century, is where you'll find most of the royal palaces, gardens and museums. For those with extra energy, a climb to the Merenid tombs and a panoramic view of Fes is a must. Then there's the Ville Nouvelle, the modern city built by the French in the 20th century, which has tree-lined avenues packed with cafés, fresh juice shops, patisseries and restaurants – the perfect place to relax in the evening and watch the Fassis (people of Fes) pass by. But the real Morocco is captured in Fes el Bali (Old Fes), in the labyrinth of 9400 narrow, twisting and turning lanes. Wandering through the local souqs is like taking a step back into the Middle Ages, as the locals go about their work the same way they would have done 1200 years ago. The clanging of the copper smiths, the powerful ‘aroma’ of the tanneries, bundles of colourful yarn hanging in the dyers souq, children carrying trays of bread balanced neatly on their heads and the cries of ‘balak, balak!’ or ‘attention’ which send you scrambling to hug the walls, well out of the way of heavily laden mules. Fes El Bali also has its share of elaborate buildings; in particular the old medersa or religious colleges which combine the beauty of Morocco’s artisan skills with intricate mosaic tiles, carefully carved stucco and elaborately decorated cedarwood ceilings.

Day 4 - MEKNES - VOLUBILIS

Though not as large as Fes, Meknes has a charm of its own and is far less frequented by travellers. We have time to explore before continuing to the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Return to Fes for the night. (B)

Meknes
Meknes is the perfect place to get lost in a traditional souq (market) where you'll find activity at every turn from local saw-millers to tentmakers sewing up sacks and colourful canvas; men selling finely ground salt direct from the source; flea markets heaving with everything you could ever need; woodworkers carving elaborate tables; metalworkers creating a din as well as carefully crafted wrought iron products; coppersmiths constructing huge urns big enough to cook enormous feasts; the musical instrument souq, packed full of tam-tams, cymbals and lutes, and carts laden with pomegranates, prickly pears, apples, peaches, melons and chickpeas – in fact you name it, you can find it here! However Meknes doesn’t lack cultural sites. Founded by the most ruthless sultan in Moroccan history, you can visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail and his impressive granary, featuring huge vaulted storerooms; the Dar Jamai Museum, with an impressive collection of Moroccan crafts and the Bou Inania Medersa.

Volubilis
A surprising sight, Volubilis is Rome’s most far-flung base, in the midst of Morocco’s hills and valleys. Set in a picturesque valley, Volubilis once supplied 60% of Rome’s wheat and olives. Exploring this ancient civilization is a real treat and we see magnificent mosaics and ruins of ancient Roman villas and temples.

Day 5 - FES - ERG CHEBBI

A long days drive across the Middle Atlas Mountains, via the remarkable rock formations of the Ziz Gorge. Continue to the western fringe of the Sahara desert where we stay by the great dunes of Erg Chebbi. (B)

Atlas Mountain Drive
The Atlas is Morocco’s greatest mountain range and today's drive through stunning scenery will give you a real glimpse into typical life in Morocco. We drive through the picturesque Middle Atlas Mountains, where cedar trees tower over the forests and you may catch a glimpse of the famous Barbary Apes. You'll see the local Berber people herding sheep, working in the fields, and nomadic farmers living in traditional goat-hair tents. We continue on over the High Atlas Mountains where we encounter fortified kasbahs, ochre-coloured towns, black shawled women, and of course the Sahara. The day is just filled with snapshots of traditional Moroccan life.

Ziz Gorge
The Ziz Gorge is a spectacular chasm filled with curious rock formations. The gorge is dramatically lit by shafts of afternoon sunlight which accentuate its beauty, and from certain points there are wonderful views punctuated by kasbahs and lush oases. "Ziz" (or "gazelle", in the language of the Berbers) is also the name of the beautiful river valley that we’ll follow on our journey today. The valley is a well-known resting place for migrating birds, and the landscape here is most unusual.

Erg Chebbi (Dunes of Merzouga)
Bathed in the glow of afternoon light, the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi rise dramatically 50m from the desert floor. They run in a line almost perfectly north-south to the village of Merzouga and beyond, and mark the western fringe of the Sahara Desert, dividing Morocco from Algeria. We’ll have a chance to explore this magnificent desert surrounding - you might like to take an optional 4 x 4 excursion around the dunes. Climb the dunes for sunrise or sunset to watch the light and colour of the sands change. As the stars come out you can often hear distant tribal drumming in the still night.

Day 6 - ERG CHEBBI

Enjoy sunrise over the dunes. This morning there is the option to take a 4wd excursion to some of the surrounding villages to see how people live in this desert environment. In the afternoon we take a camel ride into the great dunes to our desert camp for the night. (BD)

Camel Ride
Riding a camel is an essential part of the desert experience. Hang on tight as they heave themselves to their feet, and then relax into the rhythm and enjoy the camel’s-eye view of the desert. Travelling by camel caravan you’ll enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. You'll need a small daypack to carry water and a few personal items. You should bring a torchlight, a small handtowel/cloth for freshening up and any personal medication.  We recommend that you wear loose cotton clothing with long sleeves and long trousers. You’ll camp overnight in the dunes, and as the desert nights can be cold you should bring a warm jacket. Your main luggage will be left at the auberge.

Desert Camp
Facilities are basic, but the tranquillity of the desert and the spectacle of the changing colours of the dunes will more than make up for it. Mattresses are provided in the tents. There is a supply of sleeping bags and blankets at the auberge if you prefer not to bring your own sleeping bag. You may like to bring a light sleeping sheet should the nights prove warm or as a liner to the sleeping bag.  On our return to the auberge next morning there will be a chance to wash and shower before continuing with our journey.

Day 7 - ERG CHEBBI - TODRA GORGE

Leaving the eastern desert region we continue to Tinehrir and the Todra Valley. (B)

Todra Gorge
A journey into the south of Morocco is simply incomplete without a visit to the Todra Valley and the gorge for which it is famous. Rising out of the desert floor, a clash between the Anti-Atlas and High Atlas mountain ranges, the stunning Todra Gorge soars to 300m high. We spend two nights in this breathtaking setting and have plenty of time to explore the area, which is teeming with wildlife - especially birds.

Day 8 - TODRA GORGE

Morning walk through the lovely Todra Valley palmery. Afternoon to explore the spectacular Todra Gorge, a deep chasm cutting through the desert mountains. (B)

Todra Valley Walk
In the morning, before the heat rises, we take a leisurely walk through the beautiful Todra Valley – a lush green oasis nestled between towering red cliffs. Sampling the delicious local fruit, chatting to local women at work in the fields, and exploring the abandoned kasbahs which are fast eroding into the earth, you’ll see Berber life at its best and enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery in Morocco.

Day 9 - "VALLEY OF 1000 KASBAHS" - AIT BEN HADDOU

Journey along the "Valley of 1000 Kasbahs" to the desert city of Ouarzazate and visit the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou. (BD)

Valley of 1000 Kasbahs
The unique architectural feature of the south, the Kasbah, is a stunning sight to behold in the midst of the stark desert landscape. Kasbahs are found in large numbers throughout the valleys of southern Morocco. This is particularly true of the Dades Valley, which has been dubbed the 'Valley of 1000 Kasbahs'. Built to defend profitable trade routes, these fortified family dwellings have housed Berber tribes for centuries. Constructed from the natural surroundings, with mud walls and palm structures, they feature intricately decorated turrets and Berber tattoos carved into the walls. Either beautifully restored or slowly eroding back to the earth, the Kasbahs will be one of the most memorable sights from your time in south Morocco.

Ouarzazate
Famed as the centre of Morocco’s film industry, there are several studios in town and if you've seen a Hollywood movie with a desert scene in it lately, it may well have been shot in Ouarzazate. The rugged mountains surrounding Ouarzazate attract today’s filmmakers, but the city originated as an isolated French military post, intent on suppressing the local Berber tribes. Today it's an unprepossessing town with a small souk and a pedestrian precinct with a few shops.

Ait Benhaddou
Appearing out of the harsh desert landscape, your first glimpse of Ait Ben Haddou will be of a spectacular collection of Kasbahs perched upon a hilltop. You’ll soon realise just why film-makers were attracted here to film movies such as 'Gladiator', 'Jesus of Nazareth' and 'Lawrence of Arabia'. Explore the village in the late afternoon light and wind your way slowly up to the agadir (grain storehouse), for a beautiful view of the valley below. We spend the night in a hotel overlooking this great fortified village.

Day 10 - ESSAOUIRA

Today we travel to the Atlantic Coast and the 18th century Portuguese fishing port of Essaouira. Plenty of opportunities to sample the local seafood, take walks on the beach out to the ruined castle, or watch sunset from the ramparts. Approx 5 hours driving. (B)

Essaouira
Essaouira, with its whitewashed houses, vivid blue doors, and laid back coastal feel, is the perfect place to cap off your holiday. A haven for many artists in the 60s, including Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones, you’ll soon realise why they couldn’t prise themselves away. Essaouira’s long stretch of beach tempts you to walk its length to the picturesque fort slowly sinking into the sand. And don’t miss the most spectacular sunset in Morocco from the town’s ramparts. Whether it’s last minute shopping in a hassle-free environment, lazing on the beach, sipping coffee in the plaza and watching life go by, or sampling the superb fresh seafood at the local fish grills, Essaouira is sure to charm you.

Day 11 - ESSAOUIRA

A full day to explore this whitewashed city, famous for its woodwork shops, or relax on the beach. (B)

Day 12 - ESSAOUIRA - MARRAKECH

Travel to the legendary city of Marrakech, once the great meeting place for Morocco’s remote tribes. Approx 2 1/2 hours driving. (B).

Marrakech
Charming, chaotic and charismatic, Marrakech has a truly unique atmosphere. Heaving with activity, Djemaa el Fna, the central square, has been a meeting point for centuries. Packed full of traders, Berber musicians, acrobats, snake charmers, witch doctors, wise men, acrobats and tooth pullers, the square’s hypnotic charm will soon rub off on you. There's no better way to experience Djemaa el Fna than to sample the local specialities on offer at the night-time food stalls. With lights flickering and smoke rising, watching the hive of activity from a café is the ideal way to capture the mystical atmosphere. Marrakech has lots more to offer with souqs bursting with Moroccan crafts, the immense Koutoubia Mosque, and countless museums, palaces, gardens and cultural sites. After a hectic day, the haven of the Marjorelle Gardens, full of cacti and vivid blue buildings, or a sunset drink in the gardens of La Mamounia Hotel, is the perfect way to unwind.

Day 13 to Day 14 - MARRAKECH

Two full days to explore this exotic city. Wander through the enigmatic souks, experience the pulsing activity of Djemaa el Fnaa, or perhaps take a trip to the High Atlas mountains to hike among spectacular scenery and traditional villages. (B)
 

Day 15 - MARRAKECH

Tour ends. (B)