South Morocco and Marrakech

( 5 Star )

Visit: Ouarzazate- Merzouga-Agdez- Alnif-Merzouga- Skoura-Marrakech - Studios - Ait Ben Haddou

Itinerary
Inclusion / Exclusion
Dates Pricing

Upon arrival in Ouarzazate airport, you will be met by our expert and English speaking tour leader who will assure your transfer to the hotel in Ouarzazate. Overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel. cross the city of Ouarzazate and head South towards the Saharan mountain ranges of theAnti-Atlas. On descending the High-Atlas, the scenery will slowly change, becoming more barren withinteresting geological formation and canyons, signaling the beginning of the Sahara desert. InAgdezyou will start a drive along the Draa valley inhabited by a mix of Berber, Arab and African populations. Passing by the Reg Desert of Jebel Saghro and different nomadic and semi nomadic tribes coasting thesouthern side of the Anti Atlas mountains. Stop for lunch in Alnif before you head towards the legendary Saharan town of Rissani from where camel caravans used to start their long journeys across the Sahara desert. Stop to visit some of the historical sitesbefore you continue to the edge of the Reg desert, in Merzouga where the Saharan sand dunes begin. Hereyou will start an adventure riding camels across the sand dunes enjoying the emptiness and the silence, as well.as a breath taking sunset.Lunch at leisure. Overnight stay in desert camp

After breakfast, drive across the Saharan plains where the nomads herd their camels, to the marvellousvalley of Todgha, considered as one of the most beautiful in the South of Morocco. This is a lush greenoasis running along a beautiful deep valley inhabited all along by a Berber population in Kasbahs andnicely designed villages. Take a walk along the spectacular gorges and stop for lunch. In the afternoonwe begin our journey along the “Route of a Thousand Kasbahs”. This is a region of earth made fortresseswith elaborately decorated façades making this architectural technique and style quite unique to this partof the South of Morocco. We will drive through “The Valley of the Roses” and El Kelaa M’gouna, Morocco’s“rose capital” before arriving in Skoura.Lunch at at leisure

After breakfast This morning you will wake up in the country that played the most important political rule in the south of Morocco being the home of the powerful Berber tribe of the Glaoua family. After visiting the Kasbah of Taourirt which was once the home of the "Lords of the Atlas" we leave Ouarzazateto drive across a spectacular barren plateau with some film sets and studios where a certain number of famous movies have been shot. We will make a stop at the UNESCO protected village of Ait Ben Haddou. Thisis one of the most beautiful examples of the Berber architecture that the UNESCO is trying to preserve. Thenatural beauty of the whole area and the architecture of this village have attracted many film producerswho made this place the background for the making of films such as Kingdom of Heaven, Gladiator, Babel…Before we continue across of the High Atlas mountains and go as high as at 7000 ft of altitude at the Tizi N’Tichka pass before you drive down to the plains of Marrakech. Overnight stay

After breakfast this morning we will be guided in an interesting exploration of the authentic side of the old cityof Marrakech, where we will see the traditional activities of the inhabitants of the old city and understandtheir way of life as well as some remains of the glorious past of this medieval capital of Morocco. We will crosssome the oldest quarters in the city hearing children in different Koran schools reciting verses, see oldfountains, historical gates, visit an old bakery and taste the local bread, see the furnace that heats the publicsteam bath and learn the role they play in the social life of each quarter. Finally we will discover the hiddenquarters and the historical Fondouks used once as hotels for the caravan traders. They are still in use today byMarrakech artisans who have set their workshops in many of them to perpetuate their ancestral skills ofmaking all sorts of local crafts. This afternoon is at leisure to enjoy one of the spas of the city or explore moreof Marrakech. In the afternoon. we take time for a stroll in the famous garden created by the orientalist painter JacquesMajorelle in 1920’s. The Garden houses a collection of plants from the four corners of the world which flourishamidst elegant ornamental ponds and an Art Deco villa of which the special shade of bold cobalt blue isnamed after the artist, ‘Majorelle blue’. The garden hosts also more than 15 bird species that are endemic toNorth Africa and has an amazing collection of cacti. This garden has been owned by the French designer, Yves Saint Laurent. We will visit the beautifully designed Berber museum displaying Yves Saint Laurent’spersonal collection of Berber antiques to learn some fascinating facts about the Berbers of Morocco andadmire this marvellous treasures of local antiques. the visit.From here we will walk to Yves Saint Laurent Museum dedicated to his career’s artistic design and creation.This new museum houses an important selection from the designer’s impressive art and design collection andwas inaugurated at the same time as Yves Saint Laurent in Paris. The two museums will showcase a collectionmade up of 5,000 articles of clothing and 15,000 haute couture accessories. Overnight Stay.

After breakfast this morning we will go for a delightful walking tour inside the colourful traditional markets of the old the Medina of Marrakech. This experience will offer us a feast for our senses as we will taste somelocal produce, smell the fragrance of the local spices and oils, touch the texture of the local fabrics, seethe colourful artisan workshops and listen to the sounds of everyday life in this world of its own. We will endby exploring the famous square of Jemaa El Fna with our guide to discover the local entertainments andauthentic activities, sampling some of the local street foods of the country. Overnight stay

After breakfast, your tour leader will assist you with your transfer to the airport for an easy check in andformalities.

Inclusion

06 Nights Accommodations at hotels as shown or similar / with
daily Breakfast
A/C Private deluxe Transport at disposal
High qualified English Speaking Guide throughout
Entrance fees to monuments
throughout the program
Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
4x4 Vehicles in Merzouga
Camel Ride at Merzouga
VIP Fast Track at the airport (arrival & departure flights)
Water in the car during the Tour
All Local taxes.

Exclusion

International / Domestic Airfare
Optional activities
Meals, drinks, tips and other personal expenses or services not specified on the program
Personal equipment
Travel insurance
Gratuities
Voluntary tips for guides or drivers
Travel and medical insurance
Personal expenses
Certain meals not included please refer to Inclusions