Drunk on Colour
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Overview
How to survive a camel ride in Morocco:
- approach with caution, they can smell fear a mile away
- lean back as it stands up
- wear long pants and socks (but not with sandals, that’s just embarrassing)
- camels are open to PDA so don’t be alarmed if your camel gets caught up in a make-out session
- bring some painkillers (your butt will ache in places you never knew existed)
(Was Kasbahs & Coast)
Itinerary
Day 1 - Casablanca
Free day to explore. Head straight to Blvd de la Corniche, pick a cafe along the waterfront and order a plate of couscous (the food so nice they named it twice).
- Arrive at any time and explore Casablanca under your own steam
Day 2 - Casablanca-Meknes
The Grand Mosquée Hassan II is a beauty. It’s the largest mosque in Morocco with the world’s tallest minaret (60 stories high). You’ll struggle to fit it all in one photo, so put down the camera and just try to take it all in.
- Visit the Mosque of Hassan II
- Jump aboard a local train bound for Meknes
BreakfastDay 3-4 - Fes
Confession: The Fes tanneries stink. But you’ll get a little bunch of mint to sniff on which helps block the pong. It’s also handy if you forgot to brush your teeth.
Day 3
- Take a guided tour of the old city
- Why not visit the nearby Medersa el Attarine, built in 1323
- Stop by the Funduk Nejjarine, a beautifully-restored lodging house
Day 4
- Spend an entire free day exploring this busy city
- Perhaps check out the nearby spa town of Moulay Yacoub
BreakfastDay 5-6 - Midelt - Merzouga - Erg Chebbi
Ask anyone to describe riding a camel, and the answers range from “Camels are bastards” to “Most uncomfortable ride of your life”. Good thing there’s a Saharan sunset and a night in the desert to look forward to.
- Travel south through a variety of terrain
- Enjoy an easy but spectacular walk in Midelt
- Pass the 500-year old ruins of the Ksar of Meski
- Head into the village in Merzouga
- Set off on a sunset desert camel ride
- Spend the night at a desert camp
Breakfast | DinnerDay 7-8 - Todra Gorge - Dades Valley - Ait Benhaddou
Hit the ‘road of 1000 kasbahs’ on your way to meet a bona fide Moroccan celebrity. Ait Benhaddou was the setting for classic films like The Mummy, Gladiator, Prince of Persia and Alexander (actually, ‘classic’ might be pushing it).
Day 7
- Set off on another early morning camel ride through the dunes
- Experience sunrise in the Sahara desert
- Take a short hike to Todra Gorge
Day 8
- Travel along the ‘road of 1000 kasbahs’ and the Dades Valley
- Stop to visit the family-owned mud-brick home at Skoura
- Explore the many old streets of Ait Benhaddou and perhaps climb up to the fortress for a view over the old town
Breakfast | DinnerDay 9 - High Atlas - Marrakech
See the Berber village of Telouet, a crumbling terracotta coloured kasbah in the High Atlas Mountains. Fortify yourself with mint tea for the hairy descent to Marrakech.
- Pass numerous Berber villages and take in views of the countryside
- Visit their crumbling mud-brick citadel in Telouet
- Arrive in Marrakech and perhaps visit the Djemaa el Fna, a hub of exciting local entertainment and cuisine
BreakfastDay 10 - Marrakech
The good: fresh orange juice, haggling in the bazaar, the smell of barbecues at night. The weird: fire eaters, fortune tellers, magicians and snake charmers. The ugly: monkeys wearing nappies.
- Take an orientation walk of the old medina
- Enjoy free time to explore the souks and alleyways of Marrakech
- Perhaps visit the El Badi Palace, the Majorelle Garden or the Museum of Islamic Art
BreakfastDay 11-12 - Essaouira
How do you pronounce Essaouira? "Whitewashed houses, bright blue shutters, covered alleyways, beaches, swimming, seafood and medina", is a good start.
** Please note the visit to Essaouira is unescorted. You are provided with a transfer to the bus station in Marrakech and are put on the bus to Essaouira, and directions to the hotel in Essaouira. It's a small town, compact, friendly and easy to explore on your own.
Day 11
- Catch the local bus to Essaouira
- Settle in this World Heritage listed town and explore the new surroundings during free time
Day 12
- Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and perhaps wander over to the harbour
- Why not visit the Museum of Sidi Mohammed Ibn Abdallah
- Snap up some bargains in the medina
- Take a dip at the Plage de Safi - as long as it isn’t too windy.
BreakfastDay 13-14 - Marrakech
Back to Marrakech for a bit more haggling (did you see those overnight bags?) a hammam (how ticklish are you?) and one last tagine (remember that little cafe we passed in Rue des Banque Kanariya?).
Day 13
- Spend a morning at your leisure before catching a bus bound for Marrakech
Day 14
- The trip ends today after breakfast
Breakfast -
What to Know
What's Included
• Gecko's expert English-speaking local tour guide throughout the tour, and local site guides at some sites.
• Sightseeing (including entrance fees where relevant): Casablanca's Mosque of Hassan II; Meknes' old medina; Fes-El-Bali's souk; Ifrane; Midelt; Gorges du Ziz; Ksar of Meski; Todra Gorge; ‘road of 1000 kasbahs’; Dades Gorge; mud-brick home at Skoura; Ait Benhaddou; Telouet; and Marrakech.
• Camel ride and overnight desert camping.
• Local train to Meknes and local bus to Essaouira.
Not Included
- International flights, arrival & departure transfers, entrance fees, visas, airport taxes, additional meals, drinks, optional sightseeing tours, insurance, tips and items of a personal nature.
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Map
Map Itinerary
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Dates
Trip Dates and Prices
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