Great South & Kasbahs (8 Days)
Itinerary
The Southern and Northern lands of Morocco differ completely from one another, contrasting both in climate and landscape. The South seems to embody a step backward in time, to an era of biblical aura of an ancient Mesopotamia. The vast Sahara seems surreal, with its plateaus bordered by mirages. Along these valleys and waddies you will discover sandcastle-like Kasbahs and romantic oases, where tall date palms grow surrounded by silver-green reeds. Sand dunes in the far horizon are constantly reshaped by gentle winds, sheltered by azure-blue African skies shape the backdrop of these lush vistas.
These breath-taking landscapes have attracted artists, poets, and filmmakers. Even Cecil de Mill and Martin Scorsese were unable to capture on film the majesty and unsurpassed beauty of Morocco's Southern lands. It is literally heaven on earth, which has a depth that can only be truly embraced and appreciated by the naked eye.
Day 1: New York – Casablanca – Marrakech
You will depart from New York on a Royal Air Maroc overnight flight to Casablanca, where you will board a plane to Marrakech. Dinner will be served on board, and a movie will be available for your entertainment during the flight.
Day 2: Marrakech
Upon your arrival at the Menara Airport in Marrakech, you will find your guide waiting to take you to your hotel for check-in. You will devote your day to the exploration of Marrakech's many historical sites.
You will devote your morning to the exploration of Marrakech's many historical sites, starting at the Menara, a magnificent pool surrounded by flowerbeds, reflecting the image of an exquisite Moorish edifice. It was constructed in 1866 for dignitaries, who enjoyed glorious sunsets with the ethereal Atlas Mountains as a backdrop. The pool also functions as an innovative irrigation system that is serving dry life in the desert.
Your tour will cover many impressive sites, including the Koutoubia Minaret (which is identical to la Giralda, a tower found in Sevilla, Spain), and the Saadien tombs, which demonstrate Moorish architecture at its best. The tombs consist of sixteenth-century mausoleums, which had lain walled-in and undiscovered until 1917. Next, you will explore the gardens of the Agdal then the Marjorelle. Finally, you will return to your hotel for dinner and other accommodations.
Day 3: Marrakech – Tinghir
You will spend most of your day en route to Tinghir, exploring the legendary Kasbah of Aït-Benhaddou, a renowned architectural marvel classified as UNISCO world heritage. Your journey will lead you to the highest pass in Morocco, the Taddart and Tizi Tishka pass, at an altitude of 11,000 feet. This pass divides the mountains into two distinct facets: the harsh, stark side acting as a shield that protects the hinterland from the dry expansion of the Sahara, and the lush side, soft and evergreen, which collects the moisture from the Gherbi winds of the Atlantic Ocean.
You will arrive in Ouarzazate, a city of pleasure for both visitors and locals, where southern tribesmen and Berber villagers bring their goods to market. After lunch in Ouarzazate, you will continue to explore the Dadès Valley, traveling through El Kelaâ De Mgouna and Boumalne to view the inimitable natural vistas and unusual rock formations. You will then continue onward to Tinghir, which is one large oasis that intercepts the flow of water between the Dadès, the Todra valleys across the majestic High Atlas Mountains. This is an ideal place to stop for the night. You will conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations in your hotel.
Day 4: Tinghir – Erfoud
Your morning will consist of a visit to the Todra gorges, after which you will continue to Erfoud, where you will explore the Ziz valley. One of the most aesthetically pleasing of all southern routes, Erfoud is a dry, red belt of desert with a sudden drop into a valley filled with date palm groves; it is a land lost in antiquity. You will then continue to Erfoud, one of the most delightful southern regions. You will visit the gorges of Ziz and some of the oases and natural sites before you reach the magnificent oasis of Erfoud.
Once you arrive in Erfoud, you leave your vehicle and hop into the 4-Wheel Drive cruiser which takes you to meet a caravan of camels that you will ride to camp. You will conclude your day in your camp over the dunes of Merzouga where tents are pitched for you to enjoy a night under the African Skies. After dinner, the Rokba drummers will illuminate your night with their lively dances and moving chants. Enjoy this encounter of Man and nature at its best.
Day 5: Merzouga Dunes – Rissani – Zagora
4-Wheel Drive Cruisers will take you across the desert to the magnificent dunes of Erg Chebbi. You will not want to miss the breathtaking sun rise over the spectacular Merzouga dunes in the Sahara.
Afterward, you will eat breakfast with the Tuaregs, and start your trip across the desert back roads towards Zagora exploring the holy city of Rissani and its adobe Medina, the valley of Draa and its breathtaking oases. You will reach Zagora and lodge at the legendary Riad Dar Lamane. You will conclude your day with dinner and other
Day 6: Zagora – M’Hamid – Tinfou – Tamegroute
You will spend your day on an excursion that will take you to the real gateway of the Moroccan Saharan Desert. You will drive through the lowlands and along the mountain passes to Tamegroute a humble village where deep knowledge is transmitted in the most simplistic way. There you will visit the famous Moorish Koranic Library. Full of rare books and documents, the library includes 13th century writings made on gazelle hide. Afterward, you will return to Zagora for the night. You will conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations in your hotel.
Day 7: Zagora – Ouarzazate – Marrakech
You will spend most of your day en route to Marrakesh, exploring Berber villages and oases, the Taddart and Tizi-n-Tishka pass, at an altitude of 11,000 feet. You will arrive in Marrakech, a city of pleasure for both visitors and locals, where southern tribesmen and Berber villagers bring their goods to market and find a variety of entertainment. To tourists, the city is a feast for the imagination, full of incomparable beauty, situated before the towering mountains that provide a thrilling backdrop.
After a visit to the bustling Souks for last minute shopping, you will conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations at your hotel.
Day 8: Marrakech – New York
You will depart from the Marrakech airport for your transatlantic flight, connecting via Casablanca on your way to New York.
- 6 Nights Accommodation in 4-Star Hotels with Full Bath
- Full Boar (breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily)
- Land Transportation in AC, 4WD Vehicle
- Services of English-Speaking Guides and Escorts
- Entrance Fees to Monuments and Museums
- Hotel Tax and Service Charges
- Marrakech: 2 nights, Grand Imilchil
- Tineghir: 1 night, Kasbah Lamrani
- Erfoud: Kasbah Mounia (1 night)
- Zagora: Hotel Rida (1 night)
Price for Great South & Kasbahs Package: $1885.00
Single Supplement: $385