Down to earth holidays

Description

This is a journey through the country, culture and landscapes of Morocco. It combines the hustle and bustle of Marrakesh with the drama of the Atlas Mountains and the silence of Sahara Desert.

Marrakesh is loved by travellers for its incredible atmosphere, the souks (markets) with their narrow lanes stuffed with goodies from carpets to lanterns to spices and slippers, and of course the Djemma el Fna. This is the main square where hundreds of people congregate each evening to socialise, eat and enjoy the entertainments such as acrobats, fire eaters, storytellers and musicians.  Marrakesh new town is a great place for shopping too, and you could also get a horse-drawn carriage to the outskirts of town to see the beautiful Majorelle Gardens of Yves St Laurent.

Heading out of town we take you south over the Atlas Mountains and include a stop at the famous Ait Benhaddou. This is a ksar (a fortified village or  collection of kasbahs) on a hill, and it has been made famous by being a film set for films such as Gladiator.

On the way to the desert we drive through the Draa Valley with its dramatic scenery and huge palmeries, and you will see the Berber kasbahs which dominate this area.

Once we cross from Zagora to Erfoud, we are close to the Erg Chebbi. This is an area of Saharan sand dunes near the village of Merzouga, and it is one of Morocco's most evocative sights, and not to be missed. Not only will you see these fields of dunes, but we will watch the sun set here, and camp for a night in the desert.

On the way back to Marrakesh we'll stop at the gorges and valleys at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, such as the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge. Both are famed for their stunning scenery and we can enjoy a walk here to see the steep-sided cliffs.

This is an adventure journey through Morocco which combines bustling Marrakesh with the natural beauty of the valleys, gorges and desert.  It's a great combination and great fun.

Detailed Itinerary

1. DAY 1: On arrival in Marrakesh, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day free.
   
   
2. DAY 2: Your driver will collect you after breakfast this morning and you drive south. The journey will take you over the Atlas Mountains and then you drop down towards the Sahara. This afternoon you will have time to stop and visit Ait Benhaddou before checking in at your hotel in Ouarzazate. B,D
   
   
3. DAY 3: After breakfast you will drive over the Tizi nTnifift pass and into the Draa Valley which has areas of stark beauty as well as palm groves and kasbahs dotted through the landscape. You end the day in Zagora which is one of the gateway towns to the desert. B,D.
   
   
4. DAY 4: Today we don't go into the desert close to Zagora but instead we head northeast towards the Erg Chebbi. Travelling via Nkob and Alnif we eventually come to Erfoud, the main town near the Erg Chebbi. Overnight here. B,D.
   
   
5. DAY 5: After breakfast, drive the to ancient fortified desert town of Rissani, the last visible point of the Ziz River and the start of the desert. Here you will visit the home of a local family before continuing to the barely visible ruins of Sijilmasa, which flourished int he 8th century and was the famous captial of a caravan route. We also visit a palmery and a quarry from where many fossils are recovered.  In the late afternoon, we drive 40 minutes to the Merzouga dunes and watch the dun set. For a taste of Berber life we spend a night in a private tent at the dunes of Erg Chebbi. The camp has two single beds in each tent with an adjacent toilet and shower. Enjoy a candlelit dinner with entertainment by local Gnaoua dancers around a campfire. B,D
   
   
6. DAY 6: Today we drive back to Ouarzazate. On the way we drive through the lunar-like landscape of Tineghir, one of the largest oases in Morocco. At nearby Todra Gorge enjoy a walk with canyon walls rising 1200ft on either side. After lunch, we continue on to the Dades Valley and the oasis of Kelaa Mgouna, famous for its Persian roses and manufacture of rose water perfumes.  We arrive in the evening in Ouarzazate in time for dinner. B,D
   
   
7. DAY 7: Today we head back to Marrakech (about 3-4 hours drive). The rest of the day is free. Enjoy the hotel's pool and relax after your journey. B.
   
   
8. DAY 8: This morning you have a half day city tour and the rest of the day is your to explore the city further. B.
   
   
9. DAY 9: Free day in Marrakech. B
   
   
10. DAY 10: Transfer to the airport in time for your flight home. B
    
    

Is it for you?

This is not a difficult trip, though in summer it will be very hot. The desert camp has two single beds in each tent with an adjacent toilet and shower.

Best times to go

Can be taken all year, but July & August are very hot, and in mid-winter some roads can be blocked with snow.

Getting there

Royal Air Maroc has daily flights to Marrakech via Casablanca throughout the year, though many travellers choose the no-frills airlines such as Ryanair for better prices and a direct flight to Marrakech.

Responsible Travel

How your holiday helps:
This is not one of our holidays which helps any specific community project or conservation project.

Carbon Offsetting :
For every client we take on holiday we plant 10 indigenous tree saplings. This is used as a poverty alleviation and biodiversity scheme as well as helping with carbon offsetting.

Giving to grassroots projects:
Our registered charity, The Tribes Foundation, is currently raising funds for a project in Morocco. The kindness of strangers can make a big difference, so if you’re a travel philanthropist considering donating to a worthwhile charity, please consider backing this excellent community project.

In Morocco we are raising funds for a village about 1½ hours drive from Marrakech. The inhabitants are extremely poor and live from subsistant farming and breeding goats as well as the making of traditional plain pottery. The inhabitants of the village do a great damage to the environment by cutting wood and the rare bushes that grow in this area. Our program with the people in this village is to help them understand the danger of destroying their environment that way and trying to help them find other alternatives. We are also helping the pre-school here too.

You can see photos and more details of this project on www.the-tribes-foundation.org.

Shop ethically:
If you support buying fair trade, ethical and organic goods, please take a look at our online ethical shop for books, maps, travel gadgets, first aid kits etc before you travel. This is also a great place to find organic goodies and handmade crafts, many made in the countries and areas that we visit.

FOR MORE GENERAL DETAILS ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL PRINCIPLES, CLICK HERE.

Comments

Trip Code: MOR1

Validity: 1-3-09 to 31-12-09

Individual Trip Dates & Prices

4+ people can take this holiday on most days of the year, subject to availability. Please call us to check availability.

1 March to 15 December 09 : from £1460 pp for two travelling together.

• Prices are based on twin share, excluding flights.
• We can quote for more people. Please ask.
• Please ask about child rates (if available) and single supplements.
• Exchange rate fluctuations may affect these prices (see our Booking Conditions).

Group Trip Dates & Prices

Min / max : 4 / 12

2009 group price: £1460

2009 group date: 10-19 Oct 09

• Prices are based on twin share, excluding flights.
• Please ask about child rates (if available) and single supplements.
• Exchange rate fluctuations may affect these prices (see our Booking Conditions).

Duration: 10 days

Included
Airport transfers, accommodation based on twin share (B&B in Marrakesh, half board elswhere), half day city tour Marrakech (not inc entrance fees), private vehicle and driver from day 2-day 7, English-speaking Moroccan guide from day 2-7, local taxes, porters.

Not Included
International flights, insurance, drinks, items of a personal nature.