Walk The World - Morocco Walking And Culture Tour - ** Only 2 Spots Left **

Day 1

Depart Adelaide with Air France flying via Singapore and Paris, arriving into Casablanca on the 24th April.

Day 2

Casablanca. On arrival at Casablanca Airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. This is simply an arrival day. The remainder of the day is free to explore your surroundings.

Day 3

Casablanca - Fes. In Casablanca we see the impressive Mosque of Hassan II, opened in 1993, and second only in size to the great mosque at Mecca. It can accommodate 25,000 worshippers and is one of the only religious sites open to non-Muslims. Later we drive to Fes. Meals included: 1 breakfast.

Day 4

Fes. Spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco, Fes is vibrant, noisy, fascinating and overwhelming - a visual and pungent assault on the senses. It is made up of three distinct 'cities', or quarters, and we are based in the elegant 'Nouveau Ville', or New City, which has a distinctly French/European character. Today we head into the old city, known locally as Fes el Bali, arguably the world's most fascinating and confounding old city. Medieval Fes was one of the world's great centres of education and culture: both Islamic and Jewish. Its religious institutions and its libraries are legendary. Its mosques are of great renown. And it was to Fes that many of the Muslims (and Jews) expelled from Spain by Ferdinand and Isabella, came in 1492. As we walk through the streets and alleyways, passing historic khans, medresses and dye-pits, it is not hard to imagine ourselves back in the Middle Ages. We spend the day exploring the old city, visiting the Belghazi Museum, Medresse el Attarine, the tanneries and the splendid Funduk Nejjarine, a beautifully restored 18th century inn. We return to our hotel late in the afternoon. Meals included: 1 breakfast.

Day 5

Midelt. Leaving Fes we drive south, passing through a variety of spectacular scenery as we make our way towards Midelt. Midelt is a smallish market town, nestled between the Atlas and Anti-Atlas mountains, at an elevation of just over 1500m. It's a perfect spot to break the journey to the Sahara, being a great base for some easy walks. Many of the locals are Berber, and the surrounding countryside is beautiful. After lunch, we can stretch our legs for few hours on an easy hike in the nearby hills. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner.

Day 6

Merzouga. There is time to haggle for carpets (mainly Kilims), take another refreshing walk, or visit the nearby Franciscan convent where the sisters teach local girls and women weaving, tapestry and embroidery. In due course we reach Merzouga, where we drop off our gear at a simple Auberge and then ride camels into the edge of the Sahara Desert, enjoying a spectacular sunset along the way. The dunes are stunning, especially at this time of day, and tonight we camp out, enjoying lively music and dancing under the stars. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner.

Day 7

Todra Gorge. We enjoy a further sunrise ride today before we return to our Auberge and make our way towards Todra Gorge, a massive trench that rises over 250m and one of the most dramatic natural sights in Morocco. We take ashort walk in the area before continuing to the beautiful Dades Valley, where we stop for a break, take some photos of the remarkable scenery and continue our journey. We arrive in the M'Goun Valley and stay overnight in a Berber house. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner.

Days 8-9

We have two full days to explore this beautiful area, and a good trek is the best way to do it! There are a couple of circuits to choose from, but the most popular choice, and the one we recommend, is a 10km circuit that will take about 4 hours. On the walk, you'll pass Berber villages, meeting Berber along the way. The mountain scenery and the famous Rose Valley make this a truly sensational setting. The follwoing day we will select another route in the region. Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners.

Day 11

We drive for several hours through the winding roads of the Atlas, bound for Marrakech. We can take our time as the scenery is magnificent and keen photographers may call for a few photo stops! On arrival in Marrakech you check in to your beautiful Riad hotel, just a few minutes from Jemaa el Fna, the great square. This evening, why not head over to the square, one of the largest public spaces in the world and unique to Marrakech. Every night it comes alive with snake-charmers, musicians, story-tellers, fire-eaters and hundreds of small outdoor restaurants. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 12

After breakfast we meet our Marrakech local guide and set off on a morning tour of the old medina. We visit the beautiful Bahia Palace, splendid mansion built in 1866 for a former slave who had risen to a position of importance in the government of Moulay Hassan. We explore the tranquil inner courtyards, fragrant with orange blossom, and the many salons and chambers that make up this elegant home. We continue to the Marrakech Museum, itself a former palace, which houses a fine collection of Moroccan art and sculpture and we then walk through the streets of the old medina as we make our way back to the Jemaa el Fna. The rest of the day is free to explore further, or shop in the bazaar. Late afternoon wer are transferred to Essaouria.

Day 13

Essaouira. The narrow streets of Assaouira are ideal for casual exploration. Their size discourages cars, and as we walk through the town it feels as though little has changed since the days of sea pirates. It is one of North Africa's most attractive venues and soon we find ourselves slipping into its easy going rhythm. The fishing port is a serious commercial operation and itis fun to observe the daily catch and its subsequent auction. Elsewhere there are numerous shops and several fine art galleries to distrat the visitor, along with a wide variety of restaurants. Our tour leader will ehlp guide us through the maze of options. Meals included: 1 breakfast.

Day 14

In the morning we drive along the coast back to Casablanca airport.