NOMADIC EXPEDITIONS

Specialist overland tour operator in Morocco & West Africa.

Marrakech & Sahara 8 days Tour Dossier

Important information:

JOINING POINT & TIME

Your tour starts in Marrakech. We will arrange a FREE transfer from the airport only if you are going directly to the joining hotel.

FINISHING POINT & TIME

Your tour finishes after breakfast on day eight in Marrakech.

HIGHLIGHTS

¤ Marrakech

¤ Ait Benhaddou

¤ Gorge Du Dades

¤ Todra gorge

¤ Sahara camel trek

¤ Berber camp

¤ Marrakech

FACT-FILE

Tour type – hotel  /   Vehicle type - expedition truck or mini-van  /   Crew – 2 crew  /   Tour rating - easy   

PRICE

ITINERARY

Day 1:   Marrakech
Welcome to Morocco ! Be sure to arrive in time for your pre-departure meeting at 6:00pm . Your first night will be spent at our pre-expedition hotel in the centre of town. (Dinner and overnight - Marrakech)

Day 2 : Gorge du dades

Leaving Marrakech, we drive through the Gorges du Dades, a stunning valley which extends from the High Atlas to the Jebel Saghrou range in the south. Berbers built many kasbahs in the vicinity of gorges for defence purposes. These many kasbahs combined with the stunning natural beauty make this a beautiful region through which to travel. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight - Gorge du Dades)

Day 3: Todra Gorge
Today is spent exploring Todra Gorge, from its plunging depths to its 1000 foot high cliffs. Discover the charm of Todra on your trek. Witness it's changing colours as the sun slowly moves from east to west. Or alternatively, you could choose just to chill out for the day. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight - Todra Gorge)

Day 4: Sahara Desert - Berber Camp
Crossing the Jebel Saghrou, we head down to Erg Chebbi sand dunes, which signify the commencement of the mighty Sahara Desert . Transferring to camels, we trek into the desert to a berber camp, enjoying local food and a night under the Saharan stars. ( Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight - berber camp)

Day 5: Ouarzazate
Leaving the desert, we travel through the verdant Draa valley, along the route of 1000 Kasbahs, a beautiful landscape. We continue on to Ouarzazate, which African traders once used on their journeys up to Europe . It has also been used as a film set, for Alexander the Great, The Last Temptation of Christ and The Living Daylights. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight - Ouarzazate)

Day 6: Aït Benhaddou
We head to Aït Benhaddou, a ‘fortified city', situated along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. It is situated on a hill along the Ouarzazate River and boasts some beautiful examples of kasbahs, some of which remain inhabited. Granted UNESCO World Heritage listing, the site had been the setting for many films including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.We then travel over the high atlas mountains on our way to Marrakech. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight - Marrakech)

Days 7: Marrakech

Glowing red, like a welcoming campfire, against the snowcapped High Atlas Mountains, the very name Marrakech conjures up images of an exotic, distant city, of magic carpets and snake charmers and of frankincense and myrrh brought in by camel trains. Set within the rose-coloured walls of the medina lies a reality that is not that far removed from an exotic film set – a tangle of winding streets that open onto verdant gardens and dark alleyways that lead to bustling souks. The focal point is the central square, the Djemâa-el-Fna, an extraordinary gathering and market place. Full of colour, spicy aromas and traders. It is best seen in the evening when overflowing with food stalls, dancers, acrobats, fortune tellers, musicians and henna artists. A good place to practice your bargaining skills. And towering over all this is the Koutoubia mosque, the tallest building in the city, and a reminder of the importance of Islam to the lives of the city's residents. Try a traditional hamman, a steam bath followed by an exfoliating massage - its the ideal end to the day. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight - Marrakech)

Day 8: Marrakech
The tour ends after breakfast in Marrakech.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Cycling - Gorge du Dades -     £    7          DH   100  =  2 hours

Rock climbing - Todra gorge -     £   10         DH   150  =  2 hours

Quad biking – Ouazazate -      £   15         DH    200 =  1 hour

Hamman – Marrakech -     £5 DH 75

PLACES OF INTEREST

AIT BENHADOU

Ait Benhadou is famous for it's kasbah's which are being restored by UNESCO. The setting is stunning and has been used in the making of many films, including Lawrence of Arabia, Sodom and Gomorrah and Jesus of Nazareth to name a few. Some of the Kasbahs date back to the 16 th century.

TODRA GORGE

T his incredible abyss separates the High Atlas range of mountains from the Jbel Sahro and is the same kind of geographical accident, but on a smaller scale, as the Grand Canyon . With walls soaring over 300 metres skyward, the red cliffs and the brilliant blue sky form an awe- inspiring scene. The charm of Todra lies in it's changing moods and colours as the sun slowly treks from east to west. The local hoteliers have constructed huge Berber tents and provide authentic Moroccan dishes for those of us wishing to experience some of the local lifestyle.

SAHARA CAMEL TREK

W e will arrange an overnight camel trek into the Sahara for the group. This will be organised in Merzouga and involves a traditional Berber camp and meal for the night in the desert. The camel ride lasts several hours making arrival at our camp all the more welcome!

MARRAKECH

I n ancient times Marrakech was called ' Morocco City ' and sometimes referred to as the ' Pearl of the South'. The colour of Marrakech is most remarkable, a reddish-brown describes it best. The city walls, the houses and the soil are all of the same shade and even the new French-style quarter contains houses tinted to the some colour. Marrakech has approximately 2Okms of walls enclosing gardens and lakes. 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 cruel sultan had the eyes of his architect put out, lest he should build another more beautiful tower elsewhere. One of the most striking features of Marrakech is the huge open souk, which for the past eight centuries has been the scene of parades, executions and entertainment, as well as the centre for buying and selling for hundreds of miles around. It is now the liveliest place imaginable, where all sorts of exotic entertainment can be seen, from poetry reading to snake charming to acrobatics. The enthusiastic may wish to hire a bicycle to further explore Marrakech and its environs. Particularly of interest are the many beautiful public and private gardens.

IMPORTANT

The above notes are intended as a guide only , indicating a typical itinerary

and series of activities and highlights. While our intention is to adhere to the day to day route published, on any particular departure the distances travelled, driving time and available activities can vary for a variety of reasons, weather, road conditions, local restrictions, etc. Overnight stops may vary on occasions from those suggested.

PEOPLE OF THE AREA

THE ARABS

M orocco has a significant Arab population. The Arabs spread across North -

Africa in two great waves, in the 7 th and 11 th centuries. They stamped their religion, culture and lanquaqe on the countries in the west. They also destroyed the irrigation-based civilisation of North Africa and it was not until the French arrived that any attempt was made to restore this type of agricultural economy.

THE BERBERS

B erbers have long been the inhabitants of North Africa, though their exact origins have never been traced, they were converted to Islam by the Arabs who arrived in the area around the 7 th century AD, Mostly animal breeders, they are often nomads who travel with their flocks. Berbers do not just belong to a loose linguistic group, but are a distinct branch of the Caucasoid race. They have also a remarkable uniformity of culture considering their scattered distribution. Techniques of agriculture, weaving and pottery show strong similarities throughout the Berber areas, whether on the fringe of the Sahara or in the snow-capped Atlas mountains .

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

P lease consult your health professional before departure. Advice on who to contact and what vaccinations we advise will be provided with your pre-departure information dossier.

Morocco is not a high risk malaria area, but seek professional advice before travelling.

(Note: Most travellers do not take any malaria prophylaxis in Morocco , unless they go on to travel independently south of Agadir).

THE ENVIRONMENT

E co- tourism has sadly become a trendy term. No matter which way we turn, tourism of all types has both negative and positive influences. Our philosophy is to try to have as little impact on our local and global environment as possible.

One of many ways to be proactive is by being a member of C.E.R.T. (Campaign for Environmentally Responsible Tourism) which updates and advises us on the most positive and least damaging methods of tourism. *

There are always contradictions and dilemmas about travelling, but we at Nomadic try our best to have a clear conscience and trust and expect our clients to do the same!

Listed below are some of the main points:

¨ Always try to leave everywhere as you find it, i.e. camps, parks, hotels etc.

¨ Absolutely no rubbish to be thrown out of the truck.

¨ We have provided different methods of cooking (gas, petrol) so as not to be

dependent on scarce wood and charcoal.

¨ Please get into the habit of not wasting water. Under some circumstances

we may ration water for washing, but drink as much as you want.

¨ Any other drinks should ideally be in returnable bottles.

¨ At local wells or pumps, make sure to ask permission first before you take

any water.

¨ Be careful with washing up in rivers or lakes. You may pollute the local

population's water source.

¨ Please dispose of your cigarette ends carefully, as this maybe the start of a

bush fire.

¨ Use truck-shopping bags, not plastic ones.

¨ We bury any bio-degradable rubbish.

¨ We only drive on the recognised pistes in Game parks.

¨ Please don't encourage the exploitation of wildlife, by buying any

endangered animal products.

(PS Some of these points do not apply on the hotel trips).

CONCLUSION

W e try to provide as much information as possible. We very much hope that you will decide to travel with Nomadic Expeditions and at 8 weeks before departure your tour price balance will be due, we will then send out all your pre-departure information in the form of another dossier. This will assist you in all you need to prepare for your Moroccan adventure.

However if you have any questions in the meantime then please do not hesitate to contact the office, via tel, fax, letter or e-mail.

Good travels.

From the Nomadic team.