Morocco Encompassed-15 day - Overland Trip

Accommodation

Camping and 5 nights 2/3* hotel

Kitty Notes

Local Payment includes all food, accommodation, guides, excursions and camel trek in the Sahara.

Itineraries (Tangier - Tangier)

Day 1: Tangier
Saturday. Welcome to Morocco ! Be sure to arrive in time for your pre-departure meeting at 6:00pm, an arrival transfer from Tangier airport or the office next to the ferry port is included on day 1. Your first night will be spent at our pre-expedition beachfront hotel. Tonight we enjoy a traditional dinner.
(Dinner & overnight – Tangier).

Day 2: Rif Mountains
Tangier - Chefchaouen - breakfast. Departing the hustle and bustle of Tangier, we head to the rif mountains to Chefchaouen, a haven of peace and tranquillity. High up in the rif mountains, Chefchaouen is a beautiful blue door and white-walled medina that was originally a Berber post. The main square is the heart of Chefchaouen, with the Kasbah (built back in the 18th century), central mosque and cafes with authentic Moroccan style menus. The market is a mix of traditional Moroccan and tourist tat, very busy but worth a visit for the bargains on killims. ( Lunch, dinner & overnight – Chefchaouen)

Days 3 - 4: Volubilis & Fes
Chefchaouen - Volubilis - Fes - breakfast. En route for the oldest imperial city in Morocco , Fes, we will take a tour of the Roman ruins at Volubilis, the largest ancient site of Morocco . UNESCO-listed, the site dates back to AD40 and once ruled the entire Roman province of Mauritania . The oldest and largest medieval city in the world, Fes is a bustling hive of activity. The medina is a must – a heady mix of aromas, sounds and sights from the tanneries, spice tubs, carpets, pottery and leather goods. To navigate, follow the tourist circuits. There are 5 circuits, each with a different colour, each with a different theme, such as palaces and gardens, traditional crafts etc. There are plenty of mosques and palaces to visit, but be aware that only Muslims can enter Mosques in Morocco . Looking down on the old quarter from the surrounding hills is a quite an experience in Fes . Muffled sounds of the lively chaotic city add to the appeal. After a day exploring the UNESCO-listed Medina , dye-pits, tanneries and restaurants, we return to camp to get ready for a night of first class Moroccan entertainment and food at a restaurant in town. ( Lunch, dinner & overnight (2) - Fes )

Day 5: Gorge du Ziz & Berber Camp
Fes - Gorge du Ziz - Berber Camp - breakfast. This morning we journey over the Moyan Atlas, through the Gorge du Ziz. This is truly a stunning drive as we journey across 3 mountain ranges. This afternoon we head towards the desert for Merzouga, where we transfer to camels for a trek into the desert to a Berber Camp. This evening we enjoy local food and an amazing night out under the Saharan stars.
(Lunch, dinner & overnight - Berber Camp)

Days 6 - 7: Todra Gorge
Merzouga - Todra Gorge - breakfast. Leaving the desert, we spend the day travelling to Todra Gorge, in anticipation of our gorge exploration the next day. This 1000ft gorge is hemmed in on all sides by vertical limestone cliffs and is also called Morocco ’s Grand Canyon . There’s time to explore the gorge, from its plunging depths to dizzying heights. The charm of Todra lies in it’s changing colours as the sun slowly moves from east to west. ( Lunch, dinner & overnight (2) - Todra Gorge)

Days 8 - 9: Marrakech
Todra Gorge - Marrakech - breakfast. We head through the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, en route to Marrakech, one of Morocco ’s four Imperial cities. Set against the snowcapped Atlas Mountains , Marrakech has long been a travellers favourite stop-off point. After all, it is situated on ancient caravan routes. Its great pride and landmark, visible from many miles, is the Koutoubia Tower , sister to the Tower of Hassan in Rabat and the Giralda Tower in Sevillle. It is said that after the third of these was completed, the sultan had the eyes of his architect put out, lest he should build another more beautiful tower elsewhere. No visit to the city is complete without a visit to the city’s UNESCO-listed medina - Djemâa-el-Fna, an extraordinary gathering and market place. ( Lunch, dinner & overnight (2) – Marrakech)

Day 10 - Ourika Valley
Ourika Valley - breakfast. We take the short journey upto Ourika, high in the Atlas mountains through the stunning Ourika Valley. We will have a guided trek here. En-route we will take the scenic walk up to a series of 5 waterfalls where it is possible to paddle in the small pools at their base. ( Lunch, dinner & overnight - Ourika Valley)

Day 11: Essaouira
Ourika Valley - Essaouira - breakfast. A morning drive takes us to Essaouira, a colourful fishing town situated within 15th century Portuguese fortifications. Great beaches and surf beckon. Relax on the beach or alternatively explore the UNESCO-listed medina with its various souks and woodcarving workshops. Any city gate leads to the Medina , so you’re unlikely to get lost. The beach is in front of the Medina and there are plenty of cafés with terraces, both ideal for relaxing for a few hours. Blue doors and window frames abound as do the artists shops – buy a carpet or Thuya wood carving or sit on the beach sipping a mint tea as the sun sets, an antidote to the bustle of the Imperial cities. (Lunch, dinner & overnight – Essaouira)

Day 12: Casablanca
Essaouira – Casablanca – Breakfast. En-route this morning we travel upto Casablanca. Made famous by Humphrey Bogart in the film “Casablanca”. We will visit the stunning Hassan 2 mosque, which has the world\'s tallest minaret and is the third largest mosque in the world - it can hold 25,000 worshippers at any one time. (Lunch, dinner & overnight – Casablanca)

Day 13: Moulay Bousalhem
Essaouira - Moulay Bousalhem - breakfast. Moulay Bousalhem is a quaint fishing village with a good beach and nearby lagoon. (Lunch, dinner & overnight - Moulay Bousalhem)

Day 14: Cap Spartel

Moulay Bousalhem - Cap Spartel - According to legend, Hercules rested in caves just five kilometres south of the lighthouse on Cap Spartel, after having dug out the straits between Europe and Africa with his club. Dug into the cliff, the Hercules caves were shelter to Neolithic man. In the 20th century they were used as a setting for sumptuous parties by Tangier\'s international jetsetting crowd. The caves offer a splendid view of the ocean through their openings in the cliff face. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight - Cap Spartel)

Day 15: Tanger

Cap Spartel - Tangier. We head back to Tangier on the morning on day 15; our arrival in Tangier marking the end of the expedition. (Breakfast)

Optional Activities: (see tour dossier for full details)

•Rock climbing - (Todra Gorge)
•Hammam - (Marrakech)
•Quad biking - (Essaouira)
•Horse trekking - (Essaouira)
•Wind surfing - (Essaouira)

Optional activities are operated by third parties and although every measure is taken to ensure quality control, Nomadic Expeditions can not accept liability for passenger participation in these activities.

If you decide to take part in an optional activity, make sure that your travel insurance covers participation in such activities.