ADVENTURES WITH ALI
Call Ali: 212 661 56 36 11 Email: alimouni@hotmail.com
Berber men greet each other at Ait Bougamez market
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Marrakesh to Fez 14 days
Day 1. Fly from Home to Marrakesh.
Day 2. Arrive Marrakesh, Ali will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. City tour with Ali at your convenience. Begin exploring souks. After dinner wander around the Jemaa El Fna, the huge square filled with magicians, dancers, fortune tellers, snake charmers, potion sellers, etc. and myriad food stalls. It is safe to eat here. O/N Marrakesh
Day 3. Marrakesh on your own. A caleche ride around the city is a delight, visit silversmiths in the mellah ( the old Jewish quarter) , the artisans shop, or return to the souks whose mysteries you will have barely penetrated. Drop by the famed La Mamounia Hotel for a drink and enjoy the exquisite Moroccan lobby and gardens. O/N Marrakesh
Day 4. Drive to Ouarzazate over the famed Tiz n'Tichka pass (2,260 meters) with a stop at Kasbah Telouet, the home of Thami El Glaoui one of the last great Berber chieftains. Although now in ruins, some of the reception rooms retain their beautiful filigree and tilework of Andalusian style. The view from the upper floors is breathtaking particularly in spring when there is sure to be snow on the Atlas peaks. Arrive Ouarzazate in late p.m. Visit Kasbah Taorirt which once housed several hundred members of the Glaoui family and their servants. From here walk through the mellah, browse around some shops or just relax by the hotel pool. O/N Ouarzazate
Day 5. Morning visit to Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, the largest kasbah in Morocco. Actually a walled village, Ait Ben Haddou has 6 kasbahs and a synagogue that is still used at least once a year on Jewish holydays. A local guide can be hired for two U.S. dollars and a few coins will get you across the stream on a donkey if the river is full. You can visit a home here and take tea with the family for a small donation. This is fun and a good photo opportunity. Allow 2 hours to see everything. Then drive eastward to Boumalne Dades with stops at local potters for such practical items as tagine cooking utensils, table ware, jugs etc. El Klaa is famous for its roses. The rose water sold here will make your linens smell wonderful and bring back memories of Morocco long after the vacation is over. And, of course, since this is the way of a thousand kasbahs, there will be plenty of opportunities for the photographers in the group as well as just exploring.
Arrive Boumalne Dades in late p.m. Enjoy a walk in the canyon by the rushing stream. It is possible to hire a local guide to take you into the mountains to visit Berber families who live in caves. You must start at 8:00 a.m. The trek takes 6 to 8 hours. Ali will help you find a guide. IF YOU DO TAKE THE TREK, REVISE THE DAYS ON THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE. O/N Boumalne Dades
Day 6. Todra Gorge via Tinerhir. Spend the night in the heart of the gorge,under the towering 300meter high red rock cliffs. Activities include rock climbing, hiking through the palmeries, and exploring the town of Tinerhir with its mellah, kasbahs and shops. O/N Todra Gorge
Day 7. Drive to Rissani a market town at the site of famed ancient city of Sijilmassa. Visit the market, held three times a week, walk through the kasbahs which are rarely visited by tourists. In the fall, there is a big date market here. In the afternoon drive across the oen desert to Merzouga, Ali's village. O/N Merzouga
Day 8. Morning spent relaxing, walking around the village where you will see the women baking bread in communal ovens, or visit the small village shops where carpets and other handicrafts are usually priced lower than the cities. In the afternoon, if you choose to go on the desert bivouac, you will mount your camel for a three hour trek into the dunes for your night under the stars. You will be welcomed to the oasis with a traditional glass of mint tea and while dinner is being prepared you can climb the dunes to watch the glorious sunset. After a delicious tagine prepared by Ali, you will be entertained by Moroccan drumming. This glimpse into desert life will be a lasting memory. O/N Oasis
Day 9. Return to Merzouga in the morning. Freshen up at hotel and drive to Azrou which is located near the cedar forests. A walk here will probably result in a Barbary Ape sighting. Azrou is also known for its weavings and crafts. These can be seen at the Ensemble Artisanal. O/N Azrou.
Day 10. Early morning drive to Volubilis, Roman ruins dating from the 1st through the 3rd centuries after visit the holy city of Moulay Idriss which only recently allowed non-muslims to enter. Arrive Meknes in late p.m. O/N Meknes
Day 11. Explore Meknes in the morning, visiting souks, and ruins of Moulay Ismail, including the vast underground granery, stables and mausoleum or drive a bit out of town to visit the Royal Stud Farm to see the famed Barb horses. O/N Meknes.
Day 12. Short drive to Fez. After checking in at hotel go on a tour of the city with an official guide who will show you the ancient medina, tanneries, Islamic schools, mosques, (non-muslims are not allowed to enter mosques in Morocco) and the outstanding gates to the city walls.
Day 13. Fez as you like.
Day 14. Transport to airport for return flight home.
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