Private Tour of Morocco - Sophisticates and Sand Dunes ULMO04

Personal Highlights:

• A private tour of, and lunch in, Meknes an Imperial city which is surrounded by 25 miles of walls and had stables capable of boarding 12,000 horses
• A visit to the colorful leather tanneries in Fez
• Spending the night in a luxury tented camp in the Sahara
• Visiting Ait Benhaddou where “ Gladiator” was filmed

Day 1 Depart USA

You board your overnight flight bound for Morocco. Dinner and Breakfast on board.

Day 2 Arrival in Rabat

After arrival formalities at the airport your guide will meet you and transport you to Rabat. This is not only the capital of the country but is also rated as "the best" Moroccan city by many travelers. Far smaller than Casablanca and not as culturally diverse as Marrakesh, Rabat is none the less a hit with travelers because of its blend of old and new. You arrive at your Riad where lunch awaits. After lunch your guide will pick you up for some sightseeing. You will pass through the Amohad gate to the Kasbah des Oudaias, situated on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic. Inside the gates you will discover artisan galleries, an ornate 17th Century palace now part of Museum of Moroccan Arts and the magnificent Andalusian Gardens near the Tour Hassan, a 12th century Minaret intended to be the highest and largest in the Muslim world. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner at a superb Moroccan restaurant.

Day 3 Volubilis, Meknes and Fez

After breakfast, your guide and driver will be waiting to take you to Fez with some interesting stops along the way. You will first visit the Roman Ruins of Volubilis. This town marked the end of the Roman Road. After the Romans conquered Gaul and Spain they captured what is now Tangier but were stopped by the Berbers from entering the Atlas Mountains so Volubilis was the end of the line. At one time the town had 20,000 inhabitants and the remains of the town are impressive. You will have a privately guided tour of the ruins before continuing to the Imperial City of Meknes which, with its 25 miles of walls surrounding the city; is sometimes referred to as the "Versailles of Morocco". Much of it was built by Moulay Ismail who used 25,000 captives as laborers to construct this monumental city including a stable capable of boarding 12,000 horses. You will have lunch in Meknes before continuing on to visit the Holy City of Moulay Idriss where the founder of Islam in Morocco is buried. Your journey ends in the charming city of Fez and your charming Riad. If the weather is conducive, having your dinner on the roof top terrace overlooking the medina is a nice option.

Day 4 The Medina, Mosque and Mellah of Fez

Fez is the spiritual, cultural and religious center of kingdom. Your full day of sightseeing includes the medieval Medina, the University, the Karaouine Mosque with its roof of emerald green tiles, and the magnificent Nejjarine Fountain. You will then continue to the Mellah with its historic cemetery. You'll take a break for lunch then wander the winding cobblestone streets in search of bargains. We'll visit the famous leather tanneries, a honeycomb of vats erupting in an explosion of brilliant color, before returning to your hotel before dinner at La Maison Bleu a superb Moroccan restaurant.

Day 5 Midelt, Erfoud and Dar Kaoua Desert Camp

After breakfast you head south to Erfoud. You'll travel past a pageantry of fragrant, dense pine and cedar forests, terraced farms the mud –brick Berber villages in Azrou known for their wood-carved handicrafts and expert carpet weaving. You stop in Midelt where you have lunch. This sleepy village is flanked by the verdant beauty of both the Middle and the snow-covered High Atlas Mountains, bursting with colorful minerals that mottle the mountainside in a blaze of ruby, emerald and topaz. You continue to the desert town of Erfoud where you swap your Mercedes for a 4wd vehicle to take you to your desert camp. Upon arrival you will take a camel ride on the dunes before enjoying a meal cooked for you under the stars. Then it is time to sleep in your impressive Berber Tent.

Day 6 The Palm Groves of the Todra Gorges

In the morning you enjoy breakfast and the desert silence. Then your guide will take you on a 4wd tour of the dunes before returning to Erfoud where you swap back for your Mercedes. Departing Erfoud you drive through dense palm groves to the Todra Gorges. You then continue along the "Route of a Thousand Kasbahs" and the Dades River Valley where everything is calm, beautiful and fresh, the perfect image of an area where time has stood still for centuries. In the late afternoon you arrive at your hotel in Ouarzazate where you have a chance to take a swim in the pool or perhaps a "Hammam" before relaxing over dinner.

Day 7 Ait Benhaddou to Marrakesh via Tizin Tichka Pass

After breakfast will take you on a tour of the film studio which is still in active use today. You will then go to the walled village of Ait Benhaddou which is very atmospheric but not well populated. It was used in Lawrence of Arabia and, more recently, Gladiator. After lunch and additional sightseeing you depart via the Tizin Tichka Pass of the Atlas Mountains to exotic Marrakesh, at the gateway to the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert.

Day 8 Exploring Marrakesh

An enchanting palm oasis set against the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas Mountains, Marrakesh is Morocco's second oldest majestic imperial city and retains the splendor of its ancient past. Buildings are blushed in hues of the red earth, the horse-drawn carriages clip along broad avenues lined with palm, lime and orange trees. Donkeys pulling carts pass gardens fragrant with roses and honeysuckle. You'll see the ancient Bahia Palace from the days of the harem, the royal Saadian Tombs and the Koutoubia Mosque and Minaret and Djamaa El Fna Square where Berber acrobats, fortune tellers, storytellers and mischievous monkeys perform. This evening, dinner is at Dar Moha Restaurant.

Day 9 Marrakesh at Leisure

Today is at your discretion. Both your guide and your vehicle are at your disposal for more sightseeing, shopping or a return to Djamaa El Fna Square. Lunch is on your own but this evening we take you to Dar Moha Restaurant for a farewell dinner.

Day 10 Return to the USA

After breakfast your driver will be ready to take you to the airport for your return trip to the US. Lunch will be served on board.

Services Included

• All air transportation as part of the program offered including private and charter aircraft. (On those programs requiring private aircraft flights, you will be limited to 33lbs of luggage which can be stored in the safari luggage which we provide to you. Additional luggage will be stored for you for the rest of your trip. In the private camps, daily laundry is available (and, in most cases included).
• Luxury rail travel as indicated
• Superior Rooms at the properties indicated in the accommodations area (We reserve the right to substitute a property of equal quality in advance of departure should the designated hotel be unavailable)
• On Safari, only private camps are used and include all meals and all game viewing in most camps, house beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks (indicated on itinerary)
• Private Transfers to and from the airport at destination
• All meals as indicated on the itinerary by B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
• Private guides for city explorations and private driver/guide while traveling.
• Baggage handling at all hotels and camps
• All applicable taxes and service fees

Services Not Included

• International airfare (round-trip from hometown departure gateway to destination)
• Beverages with included meals (unless otherwise indicated on itinerary page)
• Any meals not indicated on the Itinerary page
• Items of a personal nature e.g. minibar, film, postcards etc.
• Gratuities to Guides and Driver/Guides (we provide suggested guidelines for your selected destination in your pre-departure material)
• Any passport or visa fees or government departure taxes (It is the traveler’s responsibility to secure the latest information regarding passports and visa requirements)

 

Available Year Round