South-Morocco From desert to sea Trip code: Group size: Number of days: SMC 4-24 15 Detailed description Welcome Travel through Morocco s high mountains, harsh desert and paradise-like green oases to Berber meeting-places and the medieval medinas of Marrakech and Taroudant. Explore the labyrinths of oriental sultans cities and their picturesque covered markets and sleep in a nomad tent on the edge of the Sahara. Day to Day schedule Below is a summary of the day-to-day description. Transport Route Overnight stay 1 Marrakech Marrakech 2 Marrakech Marrakech 3 Marrakech Marrakech 4 Bus Marrakech Aït Benhaddou Aït Benhaddou 5 Bus Aït Benhaddou Merzouga Merzouga 6 Merzouga Merzouga 7 Bus Merzouga Todra Gorges Todra Gorges 8 Todra Gorges Todra Gorges 9 Bus Todra Gorges Ouarzazate Ouarzazate 10 Bus Ouarzazate Taroudant Taroudant 11 Taroudant Taroudant 12 Bus Taroudant Essaouira Essaouira 13 Essaouira Essaouira 14 Bus Essaouira Casablanca Casablanca
15 Casablanca Day to Day description Day 1: Marrakech Welcome to Morocco! Your tour starts in Marrakech, 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. Day 2: Marrakech Free day. The vibrant colours of Marrakech are displayed through its people and the markets. The famous Djemaa el-fna square is the place of storytellers, snake charmers and daredevil performers. The old city walls of Marrakech are largely preserved continually strengthened and you can take a trip to see these walls in a horse-drawn carriage (still a normal means of transport here). The city walls conceal mosques, old palaces and sultans tombs such as the Bahia palace, the residence of a grand vizier and a wonderful example of Andalusian-Moorish architecture. The quiet central courtyard with its fountains and mosaic floor and garden full of palms and orange trees contrasts strongly with the surrounding kasbah. Day 3: Marrakech Our last day to enjoy this enchanting city before heading on our journey to the ksar or fortified city of Aït Benhaddou. For those interested, you can join a full day excursion to visit Imlil, a village in the High Atlas, which has excellent walking. A local guide will accompany you and lunch is included. TIP: Another possibility is to attend a crash course in Moroccan cuisine, in a beautiful Riad. It takes half a day, and of course participants are invited to enjoy the self-prepared food afterwards. Day 4: Marrakech ± Aït Benhaddou Passing the 4000m high, snow dusted mountain peaks our long journey to Ait Benhaddou will take us through the green foothills of the High Atlas to the picturesque Berber village of Taddert. At a height of 1600m it is the perfect spot for a coffee break surrounded by fields, poplar and large walnut trees. Berber women work the fields and often bear tattoos as a sign of the tribe they belong to. The Tizi-n-Tichka pass lies at a height of 2260m and from here you have a wonderful view of the bare hills in the south signalling the desert ± the only green that is to be seen lies along the riverbeds. In the course of the afternoon, one of the largest kasbah complexes in the country looms swathed in an atmosphere of total tranquillity. You will spend the night in an attractive Kasbah style hotel before travelling through the spectacular Atlas range to the kasbah of Aït Benhaddou. End of tour in Casablanca
Day 5: Aït Benhaddou ± Merzouga First we will pass through black, rocky, mountains, to the Draa River oasis, an area that resembles the Grand Canyon. In the oasis town of Agdz you can stop to take a look at the weekly market (depending on the day of the week), and spend some time in the company of the inhabitants of the remote villages. Berber women have heavy silver jewellery, face tattoos and will be selling their hand-woven carpets. After this we drive to the east past the Saghro mountain range, an area characterized by basalt columns and deep canyons with hidden streams and reservoirs. The road passes straight through an impressive desert landscape to the green palm oasis of the Tafilalt. After Rissani, we reach the pink sand dunes of Merzouga, navigating a dirt road. We spend two nights (in July and August one night) in a nomad tent, close to the village of Merzouga. Mattresses (thick) and bed sheets, are provided. Day 6: Merzouga East of Merzouga lie s the Erg Chebbi, an area with sand dunes more than 90m high. Large parts of the Sahara are made up of such ³wandering dunes that continuously change shape as a consequence of the shifting of the fine sand. From the auberge, you can visit Erg Chebbi, which offers a magnificent palette of deep warm shades ± from pink and red to ochre and gold. TIP: Those interested can go on a camel ride into the desert or you can take the camel into the Erg Chebbi, for a night under the stars! Although this is an optional part of the trip, for many it is one of the main highlights. N.B. During July and August we will spend only 1 night near Merzouga in the desert and stay longer at the beach at Essaouira. Day 7: Merzouga ± Todra Gorges In the morning you will be travelling in the direction of Tineghir via Erfoud, with its remarkable Haratin population. These traditionally dressed people migrated here long ago with the camel caravans. We travel along a series of small oases to the deepest river crevice in Morocco, the Gorge du Todra. At its narrowest section it is only ten metres wide but still hundreds of metres high. You stay in Tineghir, near the beginning of the Gorge. Day 8: Todra Gorges You have a free day. Those interested can go on a fantastic walk through the green Todra Valley. We follow the river and irrigation canals, passing under the palm trees, along tracks crossing nursery gardens along villages swarming with children. Day 9: Todra Gorges ± Ouarzazate Today we travel to Ouarzazate, for a visit to the kasbah of Taourirt, the birthplace of the last pasha of Marrakech. Our route takes us along the green Dades Valley, also called µthe land of 1000 kasbahs
Day 10: Ouarzazate ± Taroudant Between the High Atlas and the Anti-Atlas lies the old, extinguished volcano Jbel Siroua which peaks at 3304m. The bare mountain range is impressive, thanks to its wide panorama and craggy rock formations. In summer the area comes to life, when the desert nomads flee the heat of the Sahara and come to graze their sheep here. Crossing the southerly slopes of this bizarre volcano country for six hours, we reach Taroudant. Your day is free to explore Taroudant, the fifth royal city of Morocco which has a markedly provincial character, in the centre of a fertile agricultural region. The city s picturesque souks are too small to lose your way in, and a visit is highly recommended. The central square has a multitude of cafés that offer shade and the chance to watch life go by. Day 11: 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. TIP: Taroudannt is probably the most Moroccan city of the south. The fertile grounds produce vegetables, fruits and olives and the produce is carried using donkey, camel or handcart. Taroudannt is known for its Berber silver and the decorative arts of the Touaregs. Day 12: 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 µthe 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. N.B. During July and August we will spend only 1 night near Merzouga in the desert and stay longer at the beach at Essaouira. Day 13: Essaouira Essaouira also boasts a wide and long beach south of the citadel, where you can enjoy a leisurely µcafé 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 14: Essaouira ± Casablanca Today we drive along the coast to Casablanca, the commercial centre of Morocco with its Art Deco and Neo-moorish buildings. We spend our last evening here, where you can pick up some last minute souvenirs or just relax and take in the atmosphere of this cosmopolitan and exotic city. Time permitting, you may like to visit the Hassan II Mosque, the second largest in the world 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 is run at the mosque daily (Except Fridays) at 0900, 1000, 11,00 and 1400 and costs 120dh per person.
Day 15: Casablanca 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 Casablanca 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 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 posttour nights, bearing in mind that accommodation for the night of the final day of the tour (day 15) is not included. More info What's included: Accommodation in hotels; 13x breakfast (in Marrakech, Merzouga, Gorge du Todra, Ouarzazate, Taroudannt, Essaouira and Casablanca); 2x dinner in Marrakech; visit to Hassan II (excluding entrance fee); transportation with AC (mini) bus only for transfers from hotel to hotel; English speaking tour leader. What's excluded: International flights; all other meals; tips; visas; optional excursions; all entrance fees; airport transfers; booking fee; travel insurance. Attention Pay attention: We will stay only one night in the desert at Merzouga, and will stay one night longer at the beach of Essaouira in the months of July and August. Travel documents
Travelling with the correct travel documentation is your own responsibility. Please ensure your passport is valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the finish date of your trip. For Morocco, a visa is not required for many nationalities. You will receive a free entry stamp on arrival, allowing you to stay for up to 3 months. Please check this information in good time before your trip commences as this information is always subject to change. You can check this information through a site such as this one. Accommodation and transport Transport For your comfort and convenience we make use of our own private minibus during this tour. Depending on the group size we travel around in either one or two minibuses. The buses usually have air conditioning but it is often nicer to have the windows open instead of the air-conditioning. On some routes (steep mountain roads) the AC cannot be turned on. The bus is non-smoking. The transfers to and from the airport are not included. Any additional transportation costs of optional excursions are not included. ATTENTION: If flying with Royal Air Maroc you need to be present at check-in at least 3 hours before departure! Accommodation During the tour we stay in hotels in the two-or three-star category in 2 person rooms usually with a private bathroom. In the selection of our hotels, we pay particular attention to the location, cleanliness and atmosphere. Most hotels have their own restaurant and roof terrace, courtyard or garden. In some places in this journey we stay in simple lodgings: In Merzouga we stay in original nomad tents with shared sanitation provided by a nearby hostel. In Essaouira some of the rooms have shared facilities. The check in/out time at the hotels is usually 12:00. The following meals are included: 13x breakfast (in Marrakech, Merzouga, Gorge du Todra, Ouarzazate, Taroudant, Essaouira and Casablanca), 2x dinner in Marrakech. Some of the planned hotels have a swimming pool, for your pleasure! This applies to the accommodation in Aït Benhaddou, Merzouga, Tineghir, and Ouarzazate. It can occur that during a major drought there is no water present in the pool. In exceptional cases it may happen that we have to change hotels and that these hotels are without pools. If this happens then we will find suitable alternatives. In Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) those nature lovers can opt for a night in the desert. You will sleep in 2- person nomad-tents with shared sanitary facilities. If you prefer, you can sleep outside, under a star-filled sky. There are toilets and washbasins but no showers. At sunrise, ride by camel back to your accommodation near Merzouga, where you can shower and take breakfast. Participants who book individually will share a room with another participant. We of course keep in mind that you should share with someone of the same sex. If you would like a room for yourself for the entire trip, it can be easily arranged. Please select the single room at time of booking (a single supplement will be charged). Please note: There are only 5 single rooms available per each departure of this tour. During your trip, it is possible to participate in 'single' excursions offered locally by the tour leader. These excursions are optional. To allow you to plan a budget for your trip we have provided you with an idea of the cost of these excursions. The price can change due to currency fluctuations. The amounts are therefore only meant to give you an indication of the cost. Entrance fees will often change and therefore are excluded from the prices displayed (unless explicitly stated). We display the prices in Euros/GB Pounds/US Dollars. When you are in your destination, it is possible to pay for the excursions in local currency.
Single excursions Excursion Details Price Marrakech - Imlil Tour, High Atlas mountains Book at location At 09:00 hours you will be picked up at your hotel. You travel by bus to Imlil, a town in the High Atlas Mountains, at an altitude of approximately 1700 meters. The Berber village is surrounded by mountains of about 4000 meters, with peaks that for a large part of the year are covered with snow. On a clear day you can see the top of the highest mountain in North Africa, Toubkal (4260 meters) from Imlil. In this area is a beautiful walk, which is also in the program. Bring comfortable, well worn walking shoes. You will be accompanied by a mountain guide and will enjoy lunch in a Berber house. The hike takes you over rocky trails, through villages that are tough to see because they are built from the same rock, and dried riverbeds. You will be pampered by beautiful scenery, ravines and valleys of lush green fields. Higher up perhaps you see the girls who collect plants for their goats. At the end of the afternoon you drive back to Marrakech. Note: This tour operates with a minimum of 5 participants. Included: mountain guide, transfers, lunch Not included: drinks, tips 37
Marrakech City tour (half day, with guide) Book at location Marrakech is also known as the "Red City" because of the terracotta-like colours of the mighty walls and gates. For centuries the city has acted as a trade and exchange center for the surrounding Berber tribes. Even today, this character is preserved in the old town. During this walking tour that takes half a day you visit some interesting places. The Saadian Tombs are among the finest examples of opulent Islamic architecture in Morocco. The tombs date from the late 16th to the 18th century. You also visit the Bahia Palace, a beautiful building with pavilions at the ground floor. This is because the former Grand Vizier Bou Ahmed was very large and could not walk the stairs. The palace was built around 1900. You will also see the Koutoubia Minaret (only outside) and the famous Djemaa el Fna. The square buzzes and moves all around you. Storytellers, fortunetellers, acrobats, musicians, dancers and snake charmers all have their own spots. Behind the square begin the extensive souks, traditional Moroccan markets where everything is for sale, from slippers to spices, to carpets and amulets. You'll visit part of the huge souk. Since a large part of Marrakech is car-free, this excursion is on foot. You see more this way. Included: English speaking guide. Not included: drinks, transfers, entrance fees, tips. 12 Marrakech: Cooking class Book at location 47 Do you enjoy cooking and love Moroccan cuisine? Not far from the square at Djemaa el Fna a Dutch cooking enthusiast has started a cooking school in a beautiful riad. You meet her or her assistant at 11:00 am on the square and go along the souk in search of the necessary ingredients. You learn the quality of various products. Make sure to look, feel, smell and...to taste! This is very fun to do, because as you shop and stroll through the streets, you experience the Moroccan city life all the better. After shopping, it's time to roll up your sleeves to start work. Under supervision, you will learn at least three Moroccan dishes, think of a tagine (a stew of vegetables, fish or meat dish), or a Moroccan couscous salad. During cooking, there are appetizers, which of course you make! To quench your thirst while cooking you have mint tea and wine. Obviously, you can eat your cooking results afterwards with the other participants. At around 15:30 hours, the course ends. Note: The cooking class will run with a minimum of 6 participants and a maximum of 12 participants. The course is only given on Mondays and Thursdays. Included: assistance with cooking, cooking, home cooked meal and appetizers, unlimited mineral water and mint tea, 2 glasses of house wine, list of recipes Not included: other drinks, tip
Merzouga - Camel trip in the Erg Chebbi desert Book at location At the 'auberge' where you are staying, you climb on the back of a dromedary (single-humped camel) and enter the gold sand desert. For about 45 mins you'll ride along the beautiful sand formations. Beautiful sand patterns formed by the wind provide the backdrop for the photogenic camel caravan (with camels elongated shadows). You then arrive at the camp where you spend the night. Those who want to can climb a high sand dune for the panoramic view at sunset. As the sun disappears below the horizon you can enjoy dinner. You can spend the night in one of the nomadic tents (a bed sheet is provided but you may like to bring a sleeping bag/sleeping bag liner), or outside in the sand on a mattress with a view of the moon and countless stars. Awake early and enjoy the sunrise over the sand dunes. You then mount your dromedary again for the return journey back to your accommodation for breakfast. An ultimate desert experience! Note: There is no minimum number of participants for this excursion. 32 Included: guide and camel drivers, bivouac in the dunes, dinner, camel ride Not included: drinks, tips Festival info News 6/2/2014 July/August change to itinerary Please note that we will stay only one night in the desert at Merzouga, and will stay one night longer at the beach of Essaouira during tours departing in the months of July and August. General information Tour leader Our tours are led by trained, local English speaking tour leaders. We know that our travellers appreciate being accompanied by these local tour leaders who, compared to their counterparts (living outside of the destination) have more detailed knowledge of their country. He/she knows the area well, can provide background information and ensure that the trip goes smoothly. He/she knows what to do if something were to go wrong, but is not a "walking encyclopedia". Therefore we would like to refer you to study a good travel guide (book) in advance of travel. Your tour leader understandably expects a tip at the end, if she/he has completed the job well. Shoestring pay the tour guides a wage which is higher than that of most adventurous travel companies. Our guideline for tipping is between 1, - and 2, - per passenger per day (the equivalent thereof).
Sustainability We know that travelling to remote corners of this planet has its effects. At Shoestring we really try to make an effort to keep our impact to a minimum. We try to avoid the use of plastic water bottles on our treks through Nepal and we do not dump our litter during our trips through Africa. All of our staff have been trained to take special care to ensure we make as little impact on the environment as possible. Furthermore we support a lot of local projects which are mostly related to clean drinking water or making sure that children get vaccinated against illnesses such as tuberculosis. On most tours you will be able to visit some of the projects we support through our local agents. Find out more about the different projects Shoestring are involved with, how you can make a difference and our environmental policies here Further important info...
We recommend preparing well before you go on this trip so please read about your destination and carefully check which vaccinations and other medications you might need. Here are a few important points. Prior to the trip After making your booking, if you have not heard whether your trip is definitely going ahead then it is safe to assume that this is the case. If we unexpectedly have to cancel the trip, we will let you know no later than three weeks prior to your departure. It is not common for a trip to be cancelled, so please do not worry unduly. Incidentally, even if the minimum number of participants is not reached, Shoestring can still choose to let the trip proceed anyway. Guarantee Shoestring offers a unique guarantee, but what does a "guaranteed price" mean? It simply means that you pay the price that appears on the website at the time of booking. We guarantee that price. Any price increases made later will not be passed on to you! Personal Information Make sure when completing your booking to fill all details in correctly. This includes your passport and personal information (such as gender, date of birth and first and last name as stated in your passport). These details are necessary for confirming any domestic flights or transportation tickets and at some hotels that form part of your itinerary. Check your (digital) receipt of your booking confirmation details to make sure they are listed correctly. You are responsible for providing correct information. Incorrect information can lead to you not being admitted onto a train or into a hotel! Further information for your trip No later than one week prior to departure you will find your departure letter on your personal myshoestring site. Any tickets for local flights/other transportation will be controlled by your tour leader and provided locally. Single travellers About a third of our travellers are single travellers. This does not have to cost more as you can share with one of the other travellers in your group. We of course keep in mind to pair you with someone of the same sex. If you would prefer a room to yourself then this is usually possible. Please indicate this when booking and the applicable supplement will be added. Feedback While we put a lot of effort into the execution of your trip, it still occurs that travellers have comments about various aspects. To ensure that these observations can be addressed immediately we ask that they are notified to the tour leader in writing whilst on tour. If comments are not communicated in writing to the tour leader during the trip then this will affect how we are able to handle any potential complaint after the trip has concluded. Newsletter We regularly send out a digital newsletter, our E -zine. Here you can read stories, offers, tips and latest news about our travels. Do you receive this newsletter? Sign up easily through this link. Kuoni Specialists Ltd Shoestring is part of Kuoni Specialists Ltd, a group of adventure travel companies that interact in various ways to ensure that the traveller gets true value for his/her money. Behind the scenes, there is cooperation in the field of purchasing and handling of the trips and for the traveller, it means that we have an enormous amount of extra resources behind us, in the event they should be required. Have fun with the preparations for your trip! Insurance
Travel insurance, including medical repatriation insurance, is mandatory. It is not included with our packages and it is your responsibility to purchase suitable travel insurance. Make sure that it covers all the activities that you are likely to undertake, such as rafting and trekking. Many free insurances that come with banking packages, credit cards etc, are quite often inadequate to cover you on our tours, so make sure you check the policy before you travel. You should enter your travel insurance details via your my.shoestring account and you are required to give a copy of your insurance policy to your tour leader upon arrival. Without proper insurance like this, you will not be allowed to join the tour as we will not be able to respond adequately in case of an emergency if you do not have the right insurance. Address Shoestring International Entrada 223 1114 AA Amsterdam-Duivendrecht, The Netherlands. www.shoestring.com You can call us on number +31 20 6850203 or +44 (0)1306 744797 and email us at info@shoestring.com Opening hours Monday to Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM (Local times in Netherlands).