SENSES of MOROCCO SENSES of MOROCCO

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Leonard Rodgers
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1 SENSES of MOROCCO February 13 20,

Welcome to Morocco, the Prosper Ventures Way SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION: Morocco is one of the most diverse and magical countries in Africa, with high mountains, sweeping desert, rugged coastline, and

2 Welcome to Morocco, the Prosper Ventures Way SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION: Morocco is one of the most diverse and magical countries in Africa, with high mountains, sweeping desert, rugged coastline, and the winding alleyways of ancient medina cities and souqs. From Saharan dunes to the peaks of the High Atlas, Morocco could have been tailor-made for travellers. The varied terrain shapes the very lives of Morocco s Berbers, Arabs and Saharawis. The nomadic southern Blue Men brave the desert s burning expanses in robes and turbans, with mobile phones in hand. Likewise, traditional life continues with tweaks in the techniques of Berber carpet makers, in date cooperatives, in medina spice trading, and in the lifestyles in mountain hamlets and medieval desert kasbahs, like in Ouarzazate. When you hit town and join the crowds, you follow a fine tradition of nomads and traders stretching back centuries. Unesco has given World Heritage status to the Fes Medina, the world s largest living medieval Islamic city, and on the carnivalesque street-theatre of Djemaa el-fna in Marrakesh, both cities being respectively the starting and ending points of our magnificent itinerary. I first went to Morocco in I didn t plan it, but it was one of the happiest accidents of my life. I got wonderfully lost in the medina in Fes, discovered the majestic Sahara desert, the largest desert in the world, and got sunburn in the breathtaking huge and golden desert dunes in Merzouga and Erg Chebbi and hypnotized by the grand spectacle of Marrakesh s Djemaa el-fna and the splendor and glamour of one of the best and most exotic hotels in the world, La Mamounia. Most importantly, it inspired us to come back with The Seekers! Among other activities that we will experience, you will sleep in the famous riads, relax on panoramic terraces and grand squares, mop up tajines flavoured with saffron and argan, camel trekking, shopping in the souqs, getting lost in the medina, and sweating in the hammam. Get ready for another magical and unforgettable adventure with The Seekers to experience The Senses of Morocco! 2

3 Itinerary might be changed due to hotels, transportation and time availability or other major constraints. DAY 1 FEBRUARY 13: ARRIVAL TO FES Arrival at Fes Airport in afternoon/evening or one day before. Fes: Dynasties and booms have all come and gone in the city s 1200-year existence, and Fez is since known as the spiritual capital of Morocco. For visitors, the Medina of Fès el-bali (Old Fez), UNESCO World Heritage, is the city s great drawcard. It s an assault on the senses, a warren of narrow lanes and covered bazaars fit to bursting with aromatic food stands, craft workshops, mosques and an endless parade of people. Old and new constantly collide the man driving the donkeys and mules that remain the main form of transport is likely to be chatting on his mobile phone, while the ancient skyline is punctuated equally with satellite dishes and minarets. The trick is to dive straight in. It is initially overwhelming, but once you adjust to the pace of the city, Fez reveals its charms in most unexpected ways. Seemingly blind alleys lead to squares with exquisite fountains, filled with the rhythmic hammer-music of copper beaters. Getting lost in Fes is where the fun really starts. Reception and welcome: during the afternoon-evening we will make a presentation of the trip and conferences program. We will have a free dinner this day. In our Welcome reception we will review the program for the week: activities, trip theme, mastermind, transformational NSA sessions, etc. Hotel Sahrai, Fes ( 5 Star or similar: rest for an early start on "The Seekers" 2nd day in Morocco! TRIP THEME: the theme on this trip will be... ENERGY & SPIRITUALITY! 3

Indeed, the old medina is rich in heritage. Ramparts, castles, mosques, streets full of scents, its souks which are found nowhere else.

4 DAY 2 FEBRUARY 14: FES Before breakfast we will have an uplifting Yoga & Meditation session. Visit and lunch in "Old Fes": Old Fes and Medina, a UNESCO world heritage site, oozes the charm of millenarian history. Indeed, the old medina is rich in heritage. Ramparts, castles, mosques, streets full of scents, its souks which are found nowhere else. We can thus get around the city through the gates of Bab El legendary Guissa. These streets lead to the souks of Al Attarine (spice market and henna), and also to the world famous Tanneries. 4

An official Fes guide will help us to explore the UNESCO protected Fes of Medina. Fes is made up of 9,000 streets and alleyways and it s best to explore it with an expert.

Its university is the oldest in the world. Visit the neighborhood of the tanners and discover a terrace overlooking the tannery.

5 An official Fes guide will help us to explore the UNESCO protected Fes of Medina. Fes is made up of 9,000 streets and alleyways and it s best to explore it with an expert. Fes Medina is the oldest and most beautiful in Morocco, almost unchanged since the Middle Ages. The doors lead us to a tangle of narrow streets and alleyways around the mosque Kairouine. Its university is the oldest in the world. Visit the neighborhood of the tanners and discover a terrace overlooking the tannery. Landmark sites will include the Al-Karouine University (founded in AD 859), the 11th century Chouwara Tannery, the Nejjarine Museum of Woods and Crafts, the souks and artisans at work. After lunch there will be some free time in the afternoon to spend at your leisure. Moroccan Dance Show and Valentine's Day Dinner. Hotel Sahrai, Fes ( 5 Star or similar 5

still home to a sizeable military population stationed here to keep an eye on the nearby border with Algeria.

6 DAY 3 FEBRUARY 15: FES ERRACHIDIA MERZOUGA ERG CHEBBI Before breakfast we will have a healthy and uplifting Yoga & Meditation session, and then: Transfer by charter flight to Errachidia (TBC): Established as a military garrison for the French Foreign Legion, Er-Rachidia is still home to a sizeable military population stationed here to keep an eye on the nearby border with Algeria. Much like Ouarzazate, it is an expanding modern town staking out ever larger residential suburbs thanks to being the main entrance for tourism to the majestic Sahara desert. 6

4 Wheel Drive to Merzouga Desert Camp: Upon arriving to Errachidia we will be take our 4 4 vehicles to start a unique drive through kasbahs and berber villages to Merzouga, a town on the outskirts of

7 4 Wheel Drive to Merzouga Desert Camp: Upon arriving to Errachidia we will be take our 4 4 vehicles to start a unique drive through kasbahs and berber villages to Merzouga, a town on the outskirts of the Sahara Desert. We will get a picnic lunch on our way. Once through Rissani the terrain changes dramatically as we head for our penultimate destination of Merzouga and where the tarmac ends! Our 4x4s now take to the Sahara. Climbing and gliding through the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. When a wealthy family refused hospitality to a poor woman and her son, God was offended, and buried them under the mounds of sand called Erg Chebbi. So goes the legend of the dunes rising majestically above the twin villages of Merzouga and Hassi Labied, and for many travellers fulfill Morocco s promise as a dream desert destination. But Erg Chebbi s beauty coupled with Merzouga s accessibility has its price. Desert tourism is booming. The end of November, and January and February are the quietest times and some of the best weather-wise. The desert expedition also provides a fascinating opportunity to spend time in the wilderness with our professional guides and discover how to find water, follow the stars and learn about desert survival skills. By late afternoon we arrive at the Erg Chebbi Luxury Desert Camp where guests will be shown to their accommodation in private tents. Shortly after, your camel guides invite you to mount up and enjoy a Sunset Camel Trek amid some of the most amazing scenery on the African continent. A traditional evening meal prepared by your Berber hosts, music and entertainment awaits for a spectacular night under the stars, Berber music and delicious food prepared specially for you. A night you will not forget. Erg Chebbi Luxury Desert Camp, ( 7

DAY 4 FEBRUARY 16: MERZOUGA - DADES After an early breakfast, we will return by camel to the 4 4 s and head back to Erfoud, not before seeing the breathtaking sunrise over the golden Sahara sand

We will take a walk up in the towering Todra Gorge, with sheer cliffs of 985 feet high. The picturesque river valleys and oases make for a beautiful journey towards the southeast of Morocco.

8 DAY 4 FEBRUARY 16: MERZOUGA - DADES After an early breakfast, we will return by camel to the 4 4 s and head back to Erfoud, not before seeing the breathtaking sunrise over the golden Sahara sand dunes. From Erfoud, we set out behind the High Atlas Mountains on route to the Todra Gorges, the most impressive canyon in Morocco, having a picnic lunch on our way. We will take a walk up in the towering Todra Gorge, with sheer cliffs of 985 feet high. The picturesque river valleys and oases make for a beautiful journey towards the southeast of Morocco. Then continue our journey towards another impressive gorge, Dades Gorge and Valley, passing by the strange rock creation of Tamnalt Hills. Nomad crossings, rose valleys and two-tone kasbahs: the Dadès Valley stretches the imagination. The valley is dotted with oases and mud brick palaces that give the region its fairytale nickname Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs. 8

formations reminiscent of Utah. A series of crumbling kasbahs and ksours line the valley in the Berber villages.

9 As the local saying goes, the wind has a son who lives in Boumalne, which is why he rips down this valley to visit him in winter. Sitting in the rain shadow of the Central Atlas, the Dadès Gorge presents a dramatic landscape: ancient rust-red and mauve mountains stripped back to zigzagging layers of strata and knobbly rock formations reminiscent of Utah. A series of crumbling kasbahs and ksours line the valley in the Berber villages. The road is sealed all the way to Msemrir (63 km north of Boumalne de Dadès), but you ll need a 4WD beyond that especially for the piste that leads southeast into Todra Gorge. Mid afternoon we will arrive to our hotel in Dades for another yet unforgettable Moroccan night. Hotel Xaluca Dades Kasbah ( 9

DAY 5 FEBRUARY 17: DADES - OUARZAZATE Before breakfast we will have a healthy and uplifting Yoga & Meditation session.

Tucked away in the High Atlas Mountains, one of the jewels of Morocco is Kasbah Ait Benhaddou one of the many iconic images of Morocco.

A setting that hasn t gone unnoticed by movie producers.

10 DAY 5 FEBRUARY 17: DADES - OUARZAZATE Before breakfast we will have a healthy and uplifting Yoga & Meditation session. After breakfast we will set off towards the High Atlas Mountains via Ouarzazate in Authentic morocco. Tucked away in the High Atlas Mountains, one of the jewels of Morocco is Kasbah Ait Benhaddou one of the many iconic images of Morocco. Granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1987, Aït Ben Haddou is nothing short of spectacular. A setting that hasn t gone unnoticed by movie producers. The high, defensive walls, narrow passages, earth and clay construction and exotic landscape surrounding, have been the location backdrop for numerous blockbusters like Lawrence of Arabia, Indiana Jones, Prince of Persia, Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Le Berbere Palace, Ouarzazate ( 5 Star or similar 10

After checking in our world famous majestic hotel of La Mamounia we will have a tour of the landmark sites of Marrakesh.

11 DAY 6 FEBRUARY 18: OUARZAZATE - MARRAKESH Transfer by charter flight to Marrakesh (TBC) to fly over the highest Atlas peaks to our finale! No one come close to that of spending a few days in the Red City of Marrakesh: the Pearl of Morocco. After checking in our world famous majestic hotel of La Mamounia we will have a tour of the landmark sites of Marrakesh. Become a part of living history in the North Africa s largest market square: Djemaa El Fna. If the snake charmers, storytellers, acrobats and the overall carnival atmosphere of the square do not ignite your senses, then head straight into the most exotic, mysterious and vastest Souks in Africa. A labyrinth of winding paths (watch out for donkeys and mopeds!) almost tempt you to lose your way as you explore and bargain with the time-honoured artisans and shop-keepers. Guaranteed that it will attack all your senses in the most exhilarating way! 11

The tour will conclude with an exploration of the Souk (market) filled with mounds of spices, intricately woven Berber carpets, ceramics, hand-made leather goods, and

12 You will discover the Palace of Bahia, the Saadian Tombs, and many other hidden treasures. After lunch, you will continue the tour to the magnificent Koutoubia Mosque and the famous square Djemaa el-fna, one of the spectacular attractions of Marrakech. The tour will conclude with an exploration of the Souk (market) filled with mounds of spices, intricately woven Berber carpets, ceramics, hand-made leather goods, and tantalizing food stalls. Free time in the afternoon for relaxing or having a hammam or spa at our luxury hotel, shopping or strolling around this magical town of Marrakech. Free Dinner. Hotel La Mamounia, Marrakesh ( 5 Star L or similar. 12

DAY 7 FEBRUARY 19: MARRAKESH We will have the morning free for relaxing in the pool or having a hammam or spa at our hotel, shopping or strolling around this magical town of Marrakech.

people-packed alleys for carpet bargains and babouches.

13 DAY 7 FEBRUARY 19: MARRAKESH We will have the morning free for relaxing in the pool or having a hammam or spa at our hotel, shopping or strolling around this magical town of Marrakech. Start at action-packed Djemaa el-fna and head north into Marrakesh s maze of souqs, where Berber tribes once traded slaves, gold, ivory and leather, and where modern tourists scour people-packed alleys for carpet bargains and babouches. Beyond the souqs, the medina is an ideal place to explore private palaces and riad mansions, many of which now provide the city s most atmospheric accommodation. Next Prosper Venture, Global Partners Presentation and Farewell Moroccan Dinner & Party. Hotel La Mamounia, Marrakesh ( 5 Star L or similar. 13

our flights back home. End of another "The Seekers" unforgettable journey! See you again soon! THANKS FOR YOUR PATRONAGE!

14 DAY 8 FEBRUARY 20: MARRAKESH & FAREWELL After breakfast we will have some time free to relax in our magnificent hotel, stroll again though the souk or make some last minute shopping before getting our Transfers to the Marrakech Airport for our flights back home. End of another "The Seekers" unforgettable journey! See you again soon! THANKS FOR YOUR PATRONAGE! TRAVEL, GROW & PROSPER with PASSION! And please, come back! The Seekers is now Your Family! You belong with all of us! 14

ITINERARY MAP PRICE INCLUDES: 5 Star Luxury Hotels and Desert Camps, where available, on shared Double Room: $1,095 Supplement for single room occupancy.

15 ITINERARY MAP PRICE INCLUDES: 5 Star Luxury Hotels and Desert Camps, where available, on shared Double Room: $1,095 Supplement for single room occupancy. All meals, except 3 night dinners on free time. All visits and activities. Visits and activities might change due to time availability. All air and land transportation within Morocco, except getting in and out at the end of the trip or any extension. Availability of the 2 transfers flights Fes-Errachidia and Ouarzazate-Marrakesh still to be confirmed. Company Travel insurance. It is highly recommended that participants have their own personal travel insurance coverage in addition to our agency's. NOT INCLUDED: Private NSA sessions, flight tickets in and out of Morocco, tips and personal expenses (laundry, meals, drinks, telephone, etc). 15

16 Join! In an unforgettable Journey of Connection & Growth! Early Bird till Dec. 15: $3,995 (in Double Room) 16

A suggested 13 night trip to Morocco

A suggested 13 night trip to Morocco Fes - The Desert - Marrakech - The Atlas Mountains - Essaouira Day 1 On arrival at Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca, you will be transferred by chauffeur driven car