Day 1
Arrival to Marrakech
Your first night will be spent at our pre-expedition hotel in the centre of town.
Day 2
Marrakech - Aït Benhaddou - Gorge du Dades
Departing the colourful chaos of Marrakech, 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. Continuing, we drive through the Gorges du Dades, an awesome 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.
Day 3
Gorge du Dades
We spend the morning exploring by foot Dades Gorge and sampling some Berber tea en-route. After lunch we travel to Todra Gorge, where we can spend the afternoon either exploring or relaxing in this 1000ft high gorge. We are hemmed in on all sides by its shear vertical limestone cliffs. Todra is also known as Moroccos Grand Canyon.
Day 4
Desert Trek
We cross the Jebel Saghrou and 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.
Day 5
Quarzazate
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.
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.
Day 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 citys residents. Try a traditional hamman, a steam bath followed by an exfoliating massage - its the ideal end to the day.
Day 8-10
There will be free time after the tour on the 30 / 31.12 with B&B included and a dinner on news year eve. We will also have a rep on hand based at the hotel. The trip will finish on Day 10 after breakfast.