Africa Safaris Destinations |WildLife Gorilla Tours |East West & South African Travel Guide |Holiday Vacations: 

Treasures Of Morocco (10days)
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adminafrica on 09 February, 2008 10:56:00
 
Day 1 ARRIVE IN CASABLANCA AIRPORT, RABAT (60 MILES)
Arrive at Casablanca airport, met, assisted and transferred to Hassan II mosque
for an interior visit. The 3rd largest mosque in the world, Hassan II Mosque
covers a total area of 24000 square yards. The mosque is designed in a gigantic
scale, walls are covered with finely sculptured plasterwork and carved cedar
wood. The prayer hall accommodates 25000 worshippers.
Afternoon drive to Rabat, Check into your hotel and visit Mohammed V mausoleum,
a rich decorated modern monument. On to Oudaya, a beautiful garden and museum
containing old rugs, jewellery and musical instruments. The tour ends at the
museum of antiquities exhibiting objects discovered during excavations of
pre-historic roman sites.
Meal(s) Included: Dinner
Overnight at Farah Hotel Casablanca Or Similar
Day 2 RABAT - MEKNES - VOLUBILIS - FES (140 MILES)
After breakfast, departure to Meknes one of the four Imperial Cities. Meknes
was prosperous during the reign of Moulay Ismail. Visit to Bab Mansour, Moulay
Ismail’s mausoleum and on to the holy city of Moulay Idriss and the Roman
town of Volubilis which was the Western capital of the heavily romanised but
semi autonomous Berber kingdom. Continue to Fes, the spiritual and intellectual
capital of Morocco.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Crown Palace Or Similar
Day 3 FES
Fes, founded on 807 AD is considered the most complete medieval city in the
Arab world. Modersas (coranic schools) like the Karaouine which is one of the
oldest universities in the world, founded in 857 Ad. Afternoon visit to Dar
Batha, museum of Moroccan art and nejjarine fountain. The Merinides tombs, the
Mellah (Jewish quarter) and the souks to stimulate the senses with varying
sounds and unfiltered odors.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Crown Palace Or Similar
Day 4 FES - ERFOUD (280 MILES)
After breakfast, drive across the fertile farmland of Saiss up to Imouzzer de
kandar with its gorgeous lake ‘Dait Aoua’ and on to Ifrane, a
charming ski resort, and Azrou, a typical Berber town with its flat roofed
earthen houses.
The road goes through magnificient cedar forest. This itinerary from north to
south offers a diversity of impressions through the Middle Atlas with its high
pastures dotted with shepherds, sheep and black tents. Stop at Midelt for
lunch. The road climbs the first slopes of the High Atlas. After Tizi Ntarghemt
(6040 ft), the road passes many impressive palm groves in the Ziz valley.
Continue south to Erfoud for dinner and overnight
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Belere Hotel Erfoud Or Similar
Day 5 ERFOUD
Early morning drive to Merzouga, where you can watch the sun rising behind lush
sand dunes. Afternoon excursion to Rissani which has a very old and interesting
history.
Continue to the visible ruins of Sijilmassa which was a flourishing town during
the 8th century as the capital of a Kingdom on the Caravan route. Visit the
Palmeraie before returning to Hotel for dinner and overnight.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Belere Hotel Erfoud Or Similar
Day 6 ERFOUD - TINEGHIRE - OUARZAZATE (235 MILES)
After breakfast, drive to Tineghire through a desert of stones and lunar
landscapes. At Tineghire, enter Todra gorges for lunch in a local restaurant.
Continue, to Ouarzazate by way of the south slopes of the High Atlas. Stop at
Kelaa Mgouna in the heart of Dades Valley. Dades Valley is famous for its roses
and perfume essence manufacturing. Continue on to Skoura with its beautiful
villages and palmgrooves. Arrive in Ouarzazate.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Hotel Le Berbere Palace Ouarzazate Or Similar
Day 7 OUARZAZATE - MARRAKECH (125 MILES)
Morning visit to Tifoultoute and Taourirt Kasbahs. On to Ait Benhaddou, one of
the most impressive kasbahs in Morocco which is regularly used as a film
location (Jesus of Nazareth, Lawrence of Arabia, Diamond of the Nile) Afternoon
drive to Marrakech. The road goes up through stretches of desert and farms,
following the river Imini, picturesque Berber villages and many ruined Kasbahs.
The road zigzags higher to Tizi Ntichka pass (7500 ft). Shortly before the pass,
visit Telouat kasbah which was the seat of Glaoua (a powerful Berber family)
that controlled trade from the Sahara to the Atlantic. After the pass, the road
descends offering beautiful sights of terraced Berber villages below the road.
Continue through farmland to Marrakech.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Royal Mirage Hotel Marrakech Or Similar
Day 8 MARRAKECH
Morning at leisure. Tour of Marrakech, centuries old, wrapped in mystery and
considered by many the most fascinating city in North Africa. Marrakech was
founded on the crossroad of ancient caravan routes. We step back in time to
visit the Koutoubia mosque (12th century), Dar Si Said museum and Bahia palace,
a beautiful example of domestic architecture. Walk through the labyrinth streets
of souks with its quarters of dyers, herbalists, jewelers and others. Ending the
tour at Jemaa El Fna square, a big popular fairground unfolding day after day,
with its story tellers, fire eaters, snake charmers, acrobats, jugglers and
numerous performers of every sort. Enjoy mint tea and refreshments on a terrace
overlooking the square. In the evening attend a dinner and Fantasia show.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Royal Mirage Hotel Marrakech Or Similar
Day 9 MARRAKECH/CASABLANCA
After breakfast, take a horse drawn carriage to visit the still basin of the
Menara park mostly planted with olive groves. Continue to Majorelle garden, a
subtropical botanical garden with verdant groves of bamboo, dwarf palms,
multicolored bougainvilea, pink geraniums and various lily- covered pools.
Continue to Casablanca where we will have dinner and overnight at the Hotel.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Sheraton Hotel Casablanca Or Similar
Day 10 DEPARTURE
After breakfast, transfer to Casablanca airport and bid farewell to this
fascinating country that combines the modern with the traditional.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
If only one person travels, the price is $3,090
# of Travelers November - April May - October
Price Per Person in US$
Double Occupancy     Single Supplement *     Double Occupancy     Single
Supplement *
2                     $2,540                     $420                        
$2,380                     $420
* Single Supplement is the additional price paid for single occupancy of a
room.
Special children and group rates available.
Tour Price Includes:
Assistance with airport departure formalities, First-class hotel accommodation
in double occupancy, Tours in modern air-conditioned vehicle, Trained
English-speaking tour guide, * Admissions to all listed sites, Luggage
Handling, Breakfast and dinner daily
Tour Price Does Not Include:
International airfare to Africa, Travel insurance, Gratuity
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