Fast Facts:

Style: Connoisseur
Maximum group size: 12
Staffing: Fully escorted by Imaginative Traveller leader.
Transport: Private bus or minibus (depending upon group size).
Accommodation: 13 nights in sumptuous palaces, carefully restored kasbahs and uniquely decorated riads, 1 night in luxury tented camp.
Activities: Extensive walking at sights, camel ride in the Sahara Desert, optional hiking in the High Atlas Mountains.
Meals: As per itinerary (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner).
Tipping: To avoid embarrassment and save money this tour operates a tipping kitty. Please allow approx. US$40 per week of the tour for this. This does not include a tip for the tour leader which is entirely at your own discretion.

Local Payment: There is a local payment of US$400 on this tour. This must be paid to the tour leader in cash in Moroccan Dirhams on day 1 of the tour. Your tour leader will advise you of the latest rate of exchange.

A note about Country dossiers & pre-departure information:
This Trip Dossier is designed to be read in conjunction with our Morocco Country Dossier and Pre-Departure Information. You can download the Country Dossier from the website (see the banner at bottom of page). Pre-Departure Information is available in sections online or as a booklet from your booking agent. (Please note those who book online will not be sent a Pre-Departure booklet and will need to download it at www.imtravdossiers.com). It is ESSENTIAL that you read this dossier and the Country Dossier and the Pre-Departure Information in full before you travel. For comparability, all prices in this dossier are quoted in one currency. We use the US Dollar since that is familiar to most. However, once on tour you will need to pay for all goods and services in the local currency. See your Country Dossier for details of exchange rates.

Special Luggage Requirements: The Pre-Departure Information includes an extensive luggage checklist. However there are some special requirements for this tour.

Towel (for desert camp)
Torch & spare batteries
Fleece/sweater
Waterproof jacket
Daypack

Fitness: None of the activities featured in this trip require special training or skills, just a reasonable level of fitness and a willingness to participate. If you are in any doubt contact your doctor for advice.

Accommodation: The accommodation on this tour has been carefully selected to represent some of the best that Morocco has to offer. You will be staying in restored palaces, riads and kasbahs, as well as other similar accommodation, tastefully decorated with some of the local crafts that Morocco is so famous for. While at Merzouga, you will stay in a luxury desert camp in the heart of the dunes. Please note that on occasion it may not be possible to use all of the accommodation mentioned in this dossier. Should this occur, we will replace this with something of a similar standard.

Transport: Private bus - We have a no smoking policy on all our tour vehicles. This usually proves no hardship as there are plenty of opportunities for breaks. The only exception to this rule is the driver. Roads in Morocco are generally quite good, but in more remote areas some may be of a poorer standard.

General Tour Information

Includes: Staffing as shown in the 'Fast Facts', accommodation, meals, transportation, and sightseeing excursions as per itinerary, entrance fees for sites listed in the itinerary.

Excludes: Visa costs, border taxes, drinks, tips, laundry and other personal items, international flights, meals other than those listed.

Please note that prices are subject to change due to any unforeseen circumstance.


ITINERARY:

Day 1 - Casablanca - Arrive and check into your hotel. Later this evening you will have the chance to meet your tour leader and the other members of your tour. Details of arrival transfer to be advised or making your own way to the tour meeting point. Arrival transfers are included for all clients arriving in Casablanca on day 1 or before day 1 if extra accommodation is booked with The Imaginative Traveller. If you have booked your flights separately from your tour please ensure that you inform your tour booking agent of your flight details at least one month before departure to avoid payment of an administration fee. Once all the members of your group have arrived, your tour leader will organise an introductory briefing (usually after 6pm on day 1). This meeting will give you an overview of all the exciting things that you will be seeing during your tour and include lots of practical information on how to get most of your time in Morocco. You will need to bring with you your passport, all tour vouchers and a copy of your insurance policy to this briefing so that your tour leader can obtain important details that are essential to the running of the tour. Important Note: it is a condition of joining our tours that you are in possession of a comprehensive travel insurance policy. If you do not have a policy you will be required to purchase one from your tour leader in order to join the tour.

Day 2 - Casablanca - Fes - Take the train to Fes. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the city. (B)

Day 3 - Fes - Today we go on a guided tour around the city, said by many to be the best example of old Islamic architecture to be found anywhere in the world. (B)

Day 4 - Fes - Using Fes as our base, we visit the nearby Imperial City of Meknes, once home to one of Morocco's greatest rulers. In the afternoon we visit the Roman site of Volubilis. (B)

Day 5 - Fes - Erfoud - We leave Morocco's northern cities behind and embark on a long but very scenic drive through mountains, forests and gorges until we end up in the town of Erfoud, on the edge of the mighty Sahara Desert. Our accommodation tonight is in the style of a traditional kasbah fortress, built from the sands of the surrounding desert. (BD) Atlas Mountain Drive - The Atlas is Morocco's greatest mountain range and today's drive through stunning scenery will give you a real glimpse into typical life in Morocco. We drive through the picturesque Middle Atlas Mountains, where cedar trees tower in the forests and you may catch a glimpse of the famous Barbary Apes. You'll see the local Berber people herding sheep and working in the fields, and nomadic farmers living in traditional goat-hair tents. We continue on over the High Atlas Mountains where we encounter fortified kasbahs, ochre-coloured towns, black-shawled women, and of course the Sahara. The day is just filled with snapshots of traditional Moroccan life.

Day 6 - Merzouga - Today we visit the dunes of Erg Chebbi, situated near the small village of Merzouga. We drive to our hotel, which is in the style of a traditional kasbah. (BD)

Day 7 - Merzouga - Todra Gorge - Today we head to one of Morocco's greatest natural wonders, the imposing Todra Gorge, where we have time to explore, before moving on to Tinerhir, where we stay in a hotel built in the classic style of the desert kasbahs, exquisitely decorated with crafts made by the local Berber tribes. (BD)

Day 8 - Ouarzazate & Ait Ben Haddou -We travel to the oasis town of Ouarzazate and the nearby village of Ait Ben Haddou, a World Heritage site that contains the best preserved kasbahs in Morocco, where we have time to explore this fascinating place. (BD)

Day 9 - Ouled Berhil - Moving into the Anti-Atlas Mountains, we travel to the small village of Ouled Berhil where we have the opportunity to see a side of Morocco largely ignored. We spend two nights in a restored palace. (BD) Riad Hida - A lush garden designed as a beautiful oasis surrounded by traditionally furnished bungalows, Riad Hida echoes to the call of peacocks early in the morning. Modern bedrooms are all different with pretty rugs and Moroccan woollen blankets and there is plenty of light from the garden.

Day 10 - Ouled Berhil - Taroudannt - We visit the charming walled town of Taroudannt today, known to many as 'little Marrakech', where we explore and maybe visit the markets. (BD)

Day 11 - High Atlas Mountains - Exploring another side to Morocco, we head into the dramatic High Atlas Mountains, the highest range in North Africa. Our accommodation tonight is situated in the heart of the mountains and affords us great views. (BD)

Day 12 - High Atlas Mountains - A full day to explore and walk amongst this fantastic scenery, gaining a great insight into rural Morocco and perhaps meeting some of the friendly local people. (BD)

Day 13 - High Atlas Mountains - Marrakech - Descending from the mountains, we head to the fabled market city of Marrakech, once the great meeting place for Morocco's remote tribes. This afternoon we have a guided tour around some of the city's fantastic monuments. We stay tonight in a sumptuous converted 18th century residence, with views of the famous Koutoubia Mosque. (B)

Day 14 - Marrakech - A free day to explore the souqs of Marrakech, visit some of the sites or simply relax and watch life go by on the famous Djemaa el Fna square. (B)

Day 15 - Marrakech - Your tour ends with a transfer back to the airport for your onward flight. (B)