1 FIDIC 2016 Social Program Marrakesh
2 SOCIAL PROGRAMME Marrakech: ½ Day Excursions 1. Historical Visit of Marrakech 2. Pm: Visit of Souks and Djemaa El Fna square 3. Pm: Visit of Majorelle and Ménara gardens 4. Ourika Valley
Historical visit of Marrakech 09h00: departure from the hotel for the visit of the monuments of Marrakech The Koutoubia Mosque - Morocco s most famous mosque built in the 12th century whose minaret is regarded as symbol of Marrakesh. The Bahia Palace: "the Brilliant one" was built during the last quarter of XIX century so that Ba Ahmed, chamberlain of the Sultan Alaouites Moulay El-Hassan, could place there with its 4 wives and his/her 24 concubines. On a surface of eight hectares, it shelters nearly 150 parts. Planted patios, riads cypress and rare plants, splendid fountains and basins form a true labyrinth. Ben Youssef Medersa, an Islamic school attached to the Ben Youssef Mosque, is home to some of the most beautiful art and architecture in Marrakesh. The Medersa, where students memorized the Qur'an, was founded by the Merenid Sultan Abou el Hassan in the 14th century.
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5 Visit of Souks & Djemaa El Fna Square On your tour of Morocco, explore the colourful souks (open-air markets) of Marrakech. You will be taken on a shopping tour to the colourful souks (market places) of Marrakech. Explore the market, which is divided into smaller souks according to goods sold, this grand labyrinth features hand-crafted Moroccan good such as babouche slippers, woodworks, brass works, ironworks, bronze works, jewellery, kaftans, carpets, spices, and pottery. You will also be able to visit the best galleries for leather, antiques and hand crafted gold jewellery. Take home Moroccan artefacts as reminders of this unforgettable shopping tour in Marrakech. The Jemaa Fna square, this unique place in the world! That is more than a place, it is still a sea, a huge stage for 150 yards on 100 between Medina and the Koutoubia pointing to the sky, where the show is transformed from morning to evening, where Marrakech focuses entire population yesterday, dressed to the Berber or Arabic with these women face veiled and men with long thick coats or mild
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7 Menara & Majorelle Gardens Menara Gardens With its backdrop of the Atlas Mountains, it is no surprise that the Menara Gardens are one of the most photographed places in Morocco. It is also a popular place among locals for picnics. The best time to come is late afternoon when most of the tourists have left. More a working farm than a garden, the Menara was laid out in the 12th century by the Almohads. Around 30,000 olive trees are set around a magnificent reflecting pool, filled with fish that leap above the surface to the surprise of passing walkers. The well-kept picnic pavilion, the menzeh, was built much later in 1869. The first-floor open balcony offers a wonderful view over the pool and the mountains beyond.
8 Majorelle Garden and Museum of Islamic Art Given by the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent as a gift to the city of Marrakech, this botanical garden was created in the 1920s by French artists Jacques and Louis Majorelle. Perfectly manicured gardens, with pools, giant cacti, bamboo, coconut and banana trees, stand out against the bright-blue wash that covers the villa and garden walls, with splashes of lemon yellow and emerald green on planters, doors and furnishings. A must-see, both for the garden and a peek inside the Majorelles' old studio, which now houses Yves Saint Laurent's collection of local arts and antiques in the Museum of Islamic Art.
Excursion to Ourika Valley 30-70km (19-43 miles) from Marrakesh The High Atlas mountains hover tantalizingly close to Marrakech, and if you don't have the time to explore them in great detail, some areas are easily accessible for either a day or overnight excursion. During the oppressively hot summer months, a drive up to the Ourika Valley is a pleasant and popular escape for both locals and visitors alike. The main places of interest, for a day's excursion at least, are the winter ski resort of Oukaïmeden (also a great spring/summer hiking spot) and the riverside village of Setti Fatma, site of one of Morocco's biggest moussems, which takes place in mid-august. Both villages are only about 70km (43 miles) south of Marrakech, and most travel agencies in the city offer guided day tours, or you can charter a grand taxi for the day. Adventure travelers should consider setting aside a few days to explore the area further, as there are opportunities for mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, trekking, and, in winter, skiing. Birdwatching around Oukaïmeden can be quite rewarding at the end of spring and during summer and autumn.
11 Day excursions with Lunch 1. Excursion to the dam lalla Takerkoust with lunch 2. Excursion to Asni & Ouirgane with lunch 3. Excursion to Essaouira with lunch All day excursions include transportation and guide (Minimum 6 participants)
Excursion to the lake of Lalla Takerkoust with Lunch 35km (22 miles) SW of Marrakech A short drive from Marrakech on the road to Amizmiz is the Barrage Lalla Takerkoust dam. Constructed by the French in the 1930s to irrigate the surrounding Haouz plains and generate additional electricity for Marrakech, the dam's lake is the closest thing to a beach the city has to offer -- and it's not half bad. Along the lake's 7km-long (4 1/3-mile) shoreline are opportunities to jet- and water-ski as well as kayak -- a paddle across to the more secluded, far side of the lake can even involve a bit of turtle spotting.
Lunch at Villa du Lac or similar Situated on a hill overlooking the dam of Lalla Takerkoust lake (Barrage Cavagnac), the Villa du Lac guest house lies at the foothills of the Atlas mountains in direction of Amizmiz and is a haven of peace just 30 minutes from Marrakesh. It is a small paradise in the heart of a magical and authentic country setting surrounded by olive groves and eucalyptus. This 3 star guest house will ensure guests a relaxing break thanks to the swimming pool with views over the lake and the High Atlas mountains, a barbecue, a bar, a solarium and a nomad tent on the bathing area at the lake, serving as the backdrop for dinners with typical Gnawa dancers. Designed from the ground floor around an Andalusian patio, the house is decorated in the spirit of the country.
14 Excursion to Asni & Ouirgane with lunch Asni is a berber village at an altitude of 1500 meters. It is dominated by the Djebel Toubkal, with the highest summit of Morocco at 4 167 m, 75 kms from Marrakech. You will reach the foothills of a huge 3000 meter high massif from which soars mount Toukbal at 4167 meters. It is also the place of departure for a lot of hiking in the High Atlas. On the way, in the valleys with several villages, one can admire the vast countryside covered with green oaks, cypresses and other typical vegetation of the Atlas. The route offers you a variety of overwhelming landscapes. Then we will take a small mountain-pass to arrive at Ouirgane and we will enter in the canyons of the Oued N'Fis. From the mountain-track there is a magnificent view of the surrounding area. This excursion is best done on Berber Souk days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Excursion to Essaouira Essaouira is generally acclaimed as one of the most enchanting spots along Morocco's Atlantic coast. It enjoys this status because of a unique combination of factors: its sunny and temperate climate which hardly varies from one month to the next, the generosity and warmth offered by its inhabitants, its inheritance of treasures both architectural and cultural and, most crucially, the liberal and tolerant atmosphere which so strongly characterizes the mood of its streets, where fishermen, locals, tourists both Moroccan and European, merchants, craftsmen, musicians, and artists of all kinds come to share their work, perspectives and friendship. Its architecture is both harmonious and yet varied, displaying at different times its French, Portuguese, and Berber heritages. In 2001 UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site, describing it as an outstanding and well preserved example of a late 18th century European fortified seaport town translated to a North African context.
Pre & Post Conference Tours 1. Imperial Cities: 6 nights/ 7 days Marrakech / Fès / Meknès / Rabat/ Casablanca/ Marrakech 2. South and Kasbahs: 6 nights/ 7 days Marrakech/ Ouarzazate / / Zagora / Erfoud / Ouarzazate / Marrakech
Contact Us FIDIC Conference Secretariat Tour Reservations fidic2016@arianetours.net Tel: + 212 660 15 3520 Address: C/O Ariane Tours 2, rue Copernicia, Secteur 19, Hay Ryad. Rabat, 10000, Morocco