Day-to-day schedule
Day 1: Casablanca
Welcome to Morocco!
Your tour starts in Casablanca, where you can use your hotel room from check in time (12.00 hrs at noon) on day 1. Most of your travel companions will arrive later this first day, the exact time will be depending on their flight schedule. You will meet your English speaking tour leader at 8.00 hrs A.M. on day 2 in the lobby of your hotel but we recommend that you also try and make contact this evening, after 20.00 hrs.
Today you can take the opportunity to explore this diverse city. You will stay overnight in Casablanca.
Day 2: Casablanca – Hassan II - Fès
In the morning you can visit the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, the worlds second-largest and the only working mosque in Morocco that can be visited by non-Muslims. You can only enter the mosque with an organised tour which are run daily (Except Fridays) at 0900, 1000, 1100 and 1400 and costs 120dh per person.
Fès is one of the most exciting cities in the Islamic world with a labyrinth of endlessly winding alleys, up and down, jostling inhabitants, braying donkeys, bright bold colours, swirling scents and a cacophony of noise. There are numerous Koranic schools and mosques in the ancient city.
Day 3: Fes
It is best to visit Fès with a guide as the old city has retained its essentially medieval character and its winding streets can get very busy. The age-old guild system is still partially in use and the inhabitants are close knit in communities of traders and crafts people. The decline of this medina in the past century has been associated with an exodus of well-to-do families. For those interested, a daylong excursion can be organized to visit the most essential monuments, under the guidance of an expert local guide. This is an optional excursion that can be booked locally.
Day 4: Fès / Optional Volubilis & Moulay Idriss
Free day. You can choose to take an optional excursion to the city of Meknes, and Morocco’s holiest place Moulay Idriss, as well as the remains of Volubilis, the country’s main Roman city. This is where the Berber king, Juba II built the first palace aided by a Roman architect in 32 BC before it was taken by the Romans 80 years later. The 8th century town of Moulay Idriss holds the tomb of the founding father of the first Arab Dynasty in Morocco and is built on two hills, between which lies the tomb.
Meknes, this royal city is situated on hills surrounded by orchards and olive groves. The old medina is characteristic for Morocco’s northern cities and the houses have warm ochre-yellow-washed walls and green roof tiles. The city is surrounded by an extensive system of defence walls built in the 17th century by sultan Moulay Ismail, who also built a huge royal city south of the medina whose walls had a total length of 25km. In the centre of the old city you will find the Place el Hedim, a busy and ideal place to watch the local population going about their business while enjoying a coffee. There are colourful markets for olives, fruit, spices and meat, and souks with beautiful carpets, tiles and Berber silver.
Day 5: Fès-Erg Chebbi
From Fès we journey to the desert towns of Erfoud and Rissani and onto the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga. We drive through a cedar grove where, if you’re lucky, you can see monkeys gathering food, follow the Ziz Gorge, a snaking green palm valley that narrows to a gorge with unusual rock formations. At the end of the day, the tarmac stops and we continue to the dunes of the Erg Chebbi. On arrival at the sand dunes, you will be in awe at this natural phenomenon. At Merzouga we stay in traditional style berber tents at an auberge on the edge of the dunes.
You can choose to take part in an optional excursion of a led camel trip through the desert.
Day 6: Erg Chebbi
Our second say in the dunes. 4 Wheel Drive vehicles can be rented out for expeditions, private tours, and even racing! These trips will provide you with a real thrill and adventure.
Day 7: Erg Chebbi – Gorge du Todra
First, we drive to Erfoud and then onto the Gorge du Dadès, on our way, we pass the Gorge du Todra and if possible, we’ll stop at some tiny villages and as evening falls, a mountainous road leads us to the Gorge du Dadès. Before entering the crevice, there is an endless palm tree landscape to enjoy and the crevice itself is very dramatic, with steep sides and very high walls. The setting sun will lend the landscape a mysterious but magnificent glow.
Day 8: Gorge du Dades
For your next day in Gorge du Dades you can take a hike through crevices, fords and the river with a local guide to spot any snakes or scorpions. Waterproof shoes are a must, everybody with an average physical condition can take part in this walk.
Day 9: Gorge du Dades - Aït Benhaddou
We drive along a magnificent mountain road with views of the so-called ‘monkey finger rocks’, to Aït Benhaddou. This tiny village is situated 30km from Ouarzazate (pronounced wa-zar-zat) and is made up of a few houses, restaurants and the main attraction: the Kasbah. This enormous Kasbah was constantly enlarged and became the scene for films such as Lawrence of Arabia and the more recent Jewel of the Nile and Gladiator. When you walk around here, you will forget you are in the 21st century.
Day 10: Aït Benhaddou - Marrakech
Marrakech is unparalleled in the colourfulness of its population and markets. Until the 20th century, traders from the Sahara desert and the Sahel came here to trade camels, gold and slaves. World-renowned is the Djemaa el-Fna central square, full of fortune-tellers, storytellers and snake charmers. African acrobats perform daredevil feats to the rhythms of large drums. The old city walls of Marrakech are largely preserved as over eight centuries they have been continually strengthened and adjusted to the burgeoning size of the city. You can tour the walls in a horse-drawn carriage, which in this city is still a normal means of transport. The city walls conceal mosques, old palaces and sultans’ tombs like the Bahia palace, the residence of a grand vizier and a magnificent example of Andalusian-Moorish architecture. The quiet in the central courtyard with its fountains and mosaic floor and garden full of palms and orange trees contrasts sharply with the bustle of the surrounding kasbah.
There is also an optional half-day excursion to visit the most important monuments, which can be booked locally. Or you could attend a crash course in Moroccan cuisine, in a beautiful Riad.
Day 11: Marrakech
Today you could visit the Majorelle Gardens. These beautifully serene gardens sit approximately 30 minutes walk from Djemaa el-Fna square in the North East part of the city. The vibrant colours of the bougainvillaea will capture the imagination and themselves be captured by the flash of your camera!
Day 12: Marrakech
Your last day in Marrakech before heading off into the mountains.
Day 13: Marrakech - Atlas Mountains
From busy Marrakech we travel on a wonderful route to reach the High Atlas range, to Imlil, situated in the Toubkal National Park. In this mountain village the guides are waiting with their mules, which will carry your luggage during the walking trip which takes us along rocky footpaths, past villages that seem to disappear into the rock face and through dry riverbeds. You will be treated to grand views and will walk through crevices and valleys. Life in the mountains is calm, hospitable, and very different from Marrakech or the desert.
On arrival by minibus in Imlil, the large luggage is loaded onto the mules. You’ll carry a daypack with the things you will need en route, such as water, camera, and jacket. (Excess luggage that is not needed during the trek can be stored in a local hotel in Imlil for a small fee – your guide will give you details about this during a trekking brief before leaving Marrakech). Regular breaks are held to enjoy the views and to enable the slow walkers to catch up. The main attraction of walking through the High Atlas is that you get a chance to get to know the traditional way of life of the Berber population. If you travel too fast, you will miss the essence.
Day 14: Atlas Mountains
On the second walking day we follow the course of the Imenane River with impressive Berber villages along the way and well-made agricultural terraces. In the village of Imsker (1385 meters) we overnight in our tent. This walk lasts for about four to five hours.
Day 15: Atlas Mountains
As we rise and fall slightly as we negotiate the El Bour Pass, we arrive at Oughlad Imi (1375 m) where residents still use traditional watermills there to grind their grain. We increase in height again as we transcend over the forested mountain slopes which lead to the N'Tacht Pass at 2000 meters where we have a wonderful view of the surrounding mountains. During the descent to the village of Tizi N'Oussem (1722 meters), we see the terraced slopes of the fertile valley of Azad. We stay in a cottage with beautiful views of the valley, after about five hours walking in total.
Day 16: Atlas Mountains
Today we climb up hillsides with large juniper trees to reach the M'Zig pass at 2490 meters. Here we find panoramic views of the village of Imlil, the mountains of the Toubkal and Oukaimeden. After travelling along a small stream then we descend down to Imlil (1750 m). We'll stay in a cottage in Imlil. Duration: four to five hours.
In the afternoon you can still look around Imlil or visit the kasbah (direction Aremd) which once served as a film backdrop for the movie "Kundun" partially included in the High Atlas. The Kasbah is a project of the English inhabitants of Imlil and Discover organization. A refreshment here costs twenty dirhams, but a portion of the money goes to projects for the villagers.
Day 17: Atlas mountains-Taroudant
We go south over the High Atlas, following a route said to be the most beautiful in Morocco, the Tizi n’Test pass to Taroudant, the fifth royal city of Morocco which has a markedly provincial character. Taroudant is in the centre of a fertile agricultural region, which produces vegetables, fruit and olives which is transported on the backs of donkeys, camels and on handcarts. The city’s picturesque souks are too small to lose your way in, and a visit is highly recommended. Taroudant was renowned for its Berber silver, local leather production and Touareg handicrafts, the link with the Sahara peoples still exists and dates from the time of the Sa’ad Sultans who founded Taroudant. The central square has a multitude of cafés that offer shade and the chance to watch life go by.
Day 18: Taroudant
When going shopping in Taroudant, bear in mind that the Berber market in Taroudant is called Jnane al-Jaami and here you can buy spices and dried fruits but mostly household goods and clothes. The Arab souk, however, specializes in handicrafts such as wrought iron, pottery, terracotta, brass and copper, leather and carpets/rugs and also jewellery.
Day 19: Taroudant - Essaouira
Essaouira is the most picturesque and relaxed coastal town along Morocco’s Atlantic coast. The town lies on a rocky base surrounded by low shrubs and woods, projecting into the ocean. An isolated spot battered by high foamy waves the whole year round, it’s often called ‘the windy city’ and famous for windsurfing. The old citadel of Essaouira is entirely surrounded by city walls, the tall houses towering above them– whitewashed and often with their doors painted a fresh blue. The medina is quite orderly, with the alleys laid out in a rectangular pattern.
Day 20: Essaouira
Essaouira also boasts a wide and long beach south of the citadel, where you can enjoy a leisurely ‘café au lait’; stroll along the sandy expanse or through the alleys of the attractive market. In the evening, there is fresh fish to savour in the many restaurants.
Day 21: Essaouira - Marrakech
Today we return to Marrakech for our last evening and you can pick up some last minute souvenirs or just relax and take in the atmosphere of this cosmopolitan city.
Day 22: End of tour in Marrakech
The last day of your tour. The tour leader and the rest of the group will normally depart early in the morning but you can use your hotel room in Marrakech until check out time (most times at 12.00 hrs noon). We wish you a comfortable journey home and are sure you will take with you some wonderful memories of this Morocco.
Your personal ‘my.shoestring’ page on our website is the perfect way to make contact with other travellers before and after your trip. You can read and create journals from trips and upload your photos onto the photo gallery. Visit my shoestring today.
When booking your tour, please check to see whether you need any post-tour nights, bearing in mind that accommodation for the night of the final day of the tour (day 22) is not included.
Extension information
Arabic lessons in Rabat
Take the chance to learn the basics of Arabic and immerse yourself in a fascinating culture. Before your trip, you can learn Arabic for a week under the guidance of a local teacher. This makes for a nice start to your trip: with a little vocabulary you can learn about the country and its' people that little bit easier.
Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
Day-to-day description
Day 1
Rabat, arrival
Classes begin on a Monday, so you can fly to Casablanca on Sunday. You will be met by our local representative on arrival in Casablanca (at extra cost). This brings you to your accommodation in Rabat (1.5 hours drive from Casablanca).
Day 2-5
Rabat, Arabic lessons
While staying in Rabat you will have 5 days of individual instruction in Arabic, with a special emphasis on Arabic the way it is spoken in Morocco (and parts of Algeria). The course is tailored to your needs and interests (in consultation with your teacher), and is the quickest and most intensive way to learn the language in such a short time. Every day you get 4 x 45 minute lessons, the lesson times will be set in consultation with your teacher. The rest of the day you are free to explore Rabat.
You stay in a modern student residence, about 3 miles from the center of Rabat (15 minutes by taxi). There is a cafe and study space available. Linen and towels are also available. The school is located approximately 2.5 kilometers from your residence and there is a bus going directly.
After and between lessons, you are free to explore Rabat. Rabat is the most western city in Morocco and has its' own unique atmosphere. Mohammed VI spends most of the year in Rabat, where large palaces are to be found everywhere. The souks of Rabat are very relaxed compared to those of older cities like Fes. Moreover you will find in the main streets many chic international stores for the elite. One of the best places is the old fortress, the Kasbah des Oudaïa. The large terrace in front of the parliament is an ideal place to meet people and to give your newly acquired Arabic a try! Enjoy the delicious Moroccan food and exuberant street life.
Day 6
Rabat, end of extension
The group arrives in Casablanca. After your last lesson you will join up with the group. Now you can make a good impression with all that you have learnt this first week!
Cost: £ 779 per person (based on double occupancy)
Single supplement: £ 90 per person
High season surcharge: 06/03/12 to 08/25/12: from £ 22 pp
Included:
- 5 nights in Rabat in a modern student residence
- 4 x 45 minutes private lessons in Arabic for 5 days
- Qualified Arabic teacher
- Course certificate
Excluded:
Meals, excursions, entrance fees, personal expenses and tips
Surcharges:
- Surcharge return transfer (to and from the airport in Casablanca): £ 195 pp (one way: £ 98 pp)
- Extra night residency, based on double room: £ 22 pp
- Extra night residency, based on single room: £ 36 pp
Note: On 11/1, 1/5, 30/7, 20/8, 21/8, 5/11, 6/11, 15/11 2012, the school is closed. During Ramadan, the school is open but it is harder to obtain food.