MARRAKECH & THE SAHARA

Day 1
Fly to Ouarzazate.

Day 2
We head south along the Draa Valley, a huge palmery containing over four million palm trees, edged by many ksours (fortified villages). We skirt the shattered orange and brown-coloured rocks of the Jebel Sahro to arrive at the oasis town of Zagora. Situated right on the edge of the Sahara, this town was formerly a starting point from which traders set off on their arduous journey across the desert to Timbuktu. In the late afternoon we experience a genuine Saharan experience - a two-hour camel trek out of Zagora to the edge of the desert. Here we spend the night at a simple Bedouin camp and we may get the opportunity to see how desert bread is made.

Day 3
Morning camel trek; venture further into the Sahara desert to walk amongst impressive sand dunes.

Day 4
After sunrise, we leave our camp and return by camel to Zagora. We then head back up the Draa Valley past Ouarzazate to the well-preserved kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, one of the most spectacular sights of the Atlas and made famous as the location of several Hollywood films, including 'Gladiator'.

Day 5
In the morning there’s time to explore the kasbah of Ait Benhaddou before we continue our journey towards the High Atlas Mountains. We branch east along a mountain valley, and this brings us to the amazing fortress/palace of Telouet. Once the mountains were controlled by feudal clans and the most powerful of these were the Glaoui. Telouet was their residence. The Glaoui power stretched across Morocco and into Europe - they even toppled a French Premier in the early 20th Century. Now Telouet stands abandoned and crumbling, and we are only able to visit the exterior of this labyrinthine, fairy-tale structure. A short drive later we leave our bus and take an hour’s picturesque walk on a gentle uphill gradient to our well-equipped gîte, where we spend the night. (Our overnight bags will be transported to the gîte for us).

Day 6
In the morning we take an optional 3-4 hour walk. Our hike takes us through the villages of the Tijhza Valley, passing fields cultivated by the Berber women with the peaks of the High Atlas as a fitting backdrop. After lunch, we leave the gîte, walking back to our bus and making the scenic drive over the High Atlas mountains to Marrakech. The main pass is called the Tizi’n’Tichka, and at 2260m it’s the highest road pass in Morocco. The scenery is spectacular and there are some wonderful views of the mountains. In the evening we can visit the Djemma el Fna, the open-air central square around which Marrakech revolves. The name literally means ‘place of death’ as it was the place where the Sultans used to display the heads of their enemies. Now, with the food stalls, snake charmers, water-sellers and acrobats, it is a place of nighttime entertainment for both local people and tourists.

Day 7
In the morning, we set off on a guided tour (on foot) of some of the sights of Marrakech. Our city guide will walk us from the exterior of the Koutoubia Mosque through the souks and old streets of the medina to the Koranic School and the Museum of Marrakech, finishing up in the Djemma el Fna. Alternatively, you may prefer to head off on your own and there is certainly no shortage of things to do. Potter around the souks, visit the peaceful Jardin Majorelle, enjoy a caleche ride or take a hammam (steam bath).

Day 8
Fly to London.