DISCOVER SOUTHERN MOROCCO 10 Days 9 Nights DAY TOUR FOR THE DISCERNING TRAVELLER Marrakech ~ High Atlas ~ Pre-Sahara Marrakech Discover s most popular tour, the result of 20 years experience in Morocco, begins in the enchanting and ancient city of Marrakech, the most southerly and famous of Morocco s four Imperial cities. Here, within massive red-washed walls, on streets lined with orange trees and in the labyrinth of the souk, a great mixture of Arab, Berber, black African and European influences has created what is arguably Africa s most exciting and romantic city. To the south, beyond the encircling palm trees and the olive and orange groves of the Haouz plain, the snow-topped peaks of the High Atlas rear up, a breathtaking and unforgettable backdrop. Marrakech was founded in 1060 and has twice been the capital of Morocco. Its importance and prestige in earlier centuries derived principally from its role as entrepot for trade across the Atlas with lands south of the Sahara. The first day in Marrakech begins with a tour by horse-drawn caleche taking in the Kasbah quarter, the mellah, the medina and a tannery. Then on foot with our Marrakech guide we explore The Souk. Properly speaking this is a mosaic of many souks each devoted to a separate trade, including: pottery, woodwork, coppersmithing, leather, slippers and carpets, and the apothecaries souk where we usually visit a spice shop. Afterwards we head back to the centre to the Jemaa el Fna Marrakech s famous square, which is the city s living theatre, where milling throngs of people watch displays by musicians, dancers, storytellers, boxers, snake-charmers and more besides, and all put on for the benefit of Marrakchis, not the tourists. Stalls sell freshly-squeezed orange juice, peanuts and roasted chick peas, while cooking smells waft from stalls selling soup, kebabs, and grilled fish among other weird and wonderful local delicacies.
Imlil and the High Atlas After Marrakech we travel into the High Atlas Mountains, now the homeland of the Berbers, the original inhabitants of the whole of North Africa. These friendly, independent people have a way of life that has only recently begun to change as the services that we take for granted begin to arrive in the mountains. Here Berber, not Arabic is spoken and you will notice a difference in the appearance of the people and in the dress of, particularly, the women. Berber carpets, pottery, jewellery and cuisine will already be familiar from your wanderings in the souks of Marrakech, a city which, incidentally, they founded. We travel through the spectacular Reraia River gorge to the market village of Asni. Here we transfer to smaller vehicles for the final 12 miles of dirt road up the Ait Mizane valley to Imlil for the next stage of the tour at Discover s spectacular Kasbah du Toubkal. Imlil not only marks the end of the road from Marrakech it is also the normal starting point for the trek up Jbel Toubkal, at 4165m (13,665ft) the highest mountain in North Africa. The Kasbah is perched on a great rock outcrop above the village and those looking ahead will have seen it long before the vehicles arrived at Imlil. It is reached on foot up a steep path and your baggage will be brought up from the village car park by mule. The word Kasbah is applied both to single fortified houses and to the walled huddle of housing, sometimes quite large, which grew around such houses. Occasionally these larger Kasbahs were themselves subsumed as a town grew up around them, as happened in Marrakech. The Kasbah at Imlil was built as a summer residence by a rich member of the Berber Glaoui tribe Caid Souktani, once dominant throughout this region of the Atlas. A wall encircles the great outer courtyard which slopes up to the house itself, built on the remaining three sides of the rock outcrop. The rooms inside, all furnished in Moroccan style, are clustered around a tiled inner courtyard which is open to the sky. Stairs lead to the large flat roof which offers spectacular views. There are also 5 en suite rooms situated in the garden area. All around rise the mountains and on the steep valley sides, among walnut groves and tiny terraced fields, are stepped clusters of mud-coloured houses. At the head of the valley to the south is the snow-capped peak of Toubkal, at 4165m (13,665ft), the highest mountain in North Africa. So impressive is the scenery that film director Martin Scorsese chose Imlil as one of the locations for Kundun, his film about the Dalai Lama, temporarily transforming The Kasbah into a Tibetan monastery.
Over the mountains The next stage of the tour is a journey across the Atlas to Zagora on the edge of the Sahara, stopping en route at Ouarzazate to break the journey. We return to Asni and the Haouz Plain before turning onto route P 31 and heading up to the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass (2260m), after which the road begins a long winding descent to Ouarzazate and the desolate Anti Atlas. There is constant visual interest especially in the contrast between the green, irrigated areas of Berber cultivation and the barren mountainsides above. All along the roadside through the mountains you will also see stalls selling minerals and fossils, evidence of Morocco s fascinating geology, which has been described as by far the most variegated geological smorgasbord in all north Africa. Just before reaching Ouarzazate, we turn aside to visit the small town of Ait Ben Haddou which boasts one of the most dramatic Kasbahs in the country. The ruined main house stands on top of a steep, small hill, the sides of which are covered with small houses and narrow alleys. Not surprisingly, it has been used as a set for about 20 films, including Lawrence of Arabia and Jesus of Nazareth.. Continuing south the road soon climbs into the mountains again running alongside the astonishingly shaped Jbel Kissane, nicknamed, The Pavlova Mountain. The arid Anti Atlas landscape, which rarely gets rain, eventually gives way to the Draa Valley palmerie and the river itself, running alongside the road.
Most people are ready for the swimming pool among the palm trees at the hotel when we arrive in Zagora! Those with energy left climb the mountain behind the town to view the sunset over the palmerie. Our guide for the whole of our time in and around Zagora, appears dressed in the blue robes of the desert man and patiently begins his never-ending task of teaching people how to fix on their desert headdress. The next day we visit the village of Tamegroute with its ancient Koranic library and wood-fired pottery. Then we investigate the village of Tinfou, a living workshop for trials of methods against sand encroachment, and the first chance to see sand dunes. The camel ride (optional) After lunch we return to Zagora and mount up on camels for a 2 to 3 hour ride into the desert for a night sleeping out in a Tuareg tent, surrounded by sand dunes. Sipping glass after glass of mint tea, watching bread being cooked on hot stones, eating a superb meal sitting cross-legged on carpets spread on the sand, listening to Berber music the cameleers join the dancing, and falling asleep with the stars blazing brightly make this the highlight of the trip for many people. The next day after returning to Zagora and taking another dip in the pool, we visit the nearby village of Amezrou with its Jewish Kasbah. The Jews all left for Israel after 1948 but the silversmithing which they formerly controlled is carried on by Moroccans and we will see jewellery being cast. An early start the following morning puts us back on the road to Marrakech where the souks await anyone who still has a souvenir or a present to buy, the Jemaa el-fna seethes with life and a last feast awaits us at our hotel before departure from Marrakech airport the following morning. For those who wish to get back to Marrakech more quickly we can arrange private air charters ( max passengers 12, min 5 passengers ) from Ouarzazate airport to Marrakech journey time is approx 40 minutes by plane.
ITINERARY Day 1: Arrive Marrakech - usually in the evening. Welcome drink and room allocation and introduction to the tour. (Accommodation - 4* Hotel / Riad) Day 2: Day 3 & 4. An insight into life in Marrakech, a traditional Arab City with its city walls, medina, Kasbah and mellah. Plus it s unique Square - the Jmaa El Fnaa - with its snake charmers, jugglers and story tellers. The day will include a tour of the city by "caleche", the traditional horse-drawn taxis of the city. (Accommodation - 4* Hotel / Riad) Depart for the mountains. The next few days are spent exploring the lush terraced valleys and Berber villages of the High Atlas - with their snow-capped peaks towering above us (Jbel Toubkal 13,665 ft). If desired a trek up Jbel Toubkal is possible during this time. (Accommodation - The Kasbah du Toubkal ) Day 5: Day 6-8: Day 9: Day 10: Today we depart for the South crossing over The High Atlas via the Col de Tizi-N-Tichka, a ribbon of road through the lands of the "Lords of the Atlas" and continuing south we follow the exotic river valley of the Draa to the oasis town of Zagora. Stopping en route at Ouarzazate, a rapidly expanding town on the southern edge of the Atlas. (Accommodation - 4*Hotel) Based around the oasis town of Zagora, we explore the surrounding area of date palms and villages seemingly carved out of mud. Visits to the Koranic library and pottery makers of Tamegroute, and village of Tinfou being overrun by sand encroachment. For those that choose we ride out on camels for a night spent out in the Sahara desert. (Accommodation - 4* Hotel/Berber tent) Return to Marrakech for our final night in this vibrant city. (Accommodation - 4* Hotel / Riad) Tour ends in the morning with transfer to the airport for homeward flight This basic itinerary is fairly flexible and can be altered where possible to meet your requirements. Additional days can also be added to your tour: Ascent of Toubkal - The highest mountain in N. Africa 13,655ft. An extra 2 nights is all that is needed to make this major and memorable achievement - participants must be fit but do not need to be mountain climbers - it is a walk not a climb. You will be accompanied by a qualified local mountain guide and have mule support on the access route to the Neltner hut.
Enquiries and bookings If you have any queries or wish to make a provisional booking, please contact: For reservations or if you wish to discuss any matters please contact: Mike McHugo or Kerrie Wrigley (based at French Centre Eagles Nest) (based at French Reservations Office) Tel: 00 33 (0)4 66 45 83 95 Tel: 00 33 (0)5 45 71 52 04 Fax: 00 33 (0)4 66 45 84 73 Fax: 00 33 (0)5 45 71 52 79 Mike@discover.ltd.uk or Kerrie@discover.ltd.uk DISCOVER LTD, TIMBERS, OXTED ROAD, GODSTONE, SURREY RH9 8AD Fully bonded ATOL 3274 ABTA V4335 Web: www.kasbahdutoubkal.com