MAGICAL MOROCCO - Cancelled due to government travel guidelines

FOR DETAILED INFORMATION WITH PICTURES OF THE TRIP CLICK HERE 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hike across stunning mountains, valleys and gorges
• Gaze upon riverside Oases, Kasbahs and Berber villages
• Desert safari, camel ride & sleeping under the stars in the Sahara

ITINERARY:

Day 1: April 25th, Saturday

Fly into Marrakesh. Overnight in Marrakesh.

Day 2: April 26th, Sunday

HIKING

Marrakesh – Imi Oughlad – Tinzert

We’ll begin our magical week-long hiking & desert safari by driving to Imi Oughlad (1,450m) where we’ll meet our Berber muleteer and guide. Our first day will be an easy acclimatisation trek in the Ouirgane National Park. The terrain here is gentle with copper green soil and juniper trees.

Overnight in a Gite (a type of homestay in the Atlas Mountains, a traditional Berber-style brick building) in Tinzer – small Berber Village.

Approx: 4 hrs hiking time

Day 3: April 27th, Monday

HIKING

Tinzert – Azzaden Valley (Ait Aissa)

After breakfast, we’ll head up and out of the valley and hike to the stunning Azzaden Valley. The views open up with a rushing mountain stream surrounded by lush walnut groves leading up towards Toubkal and her sister peaks at the head of the Valley.

Overnight in a village Gite in Ait Aissa.

Approx: 5-6 hours of hiking

Day 4: April 28th, Tuesday

HIKING

Ait Aissa – Tizi n Mzik – Imlil

Today involves a fantastic hike out of the Azzaden Valley. We’ll head up the valley towards Tizi Oussem from where we’ll hike to the pass at Tizi n Mzik (2489m) before descending down into Imlil then a short stroll to explore the town followed by a relaxing evening.

Overnight in Dar Adrar or similar.

Approx: 5 hours of hiking.

Day 5: April 29th, Wednesday

DESERT SAFARI

Imlil – Dades Valley

We’ll head out over the Atlas Mountains, driving over the stunning Tizin-Tichka mountain pass, passing through Berber villages, and once we’re in the desert, we’ll see riverside oases and barren hillsides dotted with kasbahs (fortified dwellings that house families and their livestock).

We’ll visit the Ouarzazate /Atlas Film Studios (The world’s largest film studios, where visitors tour the sets that litter the harsh desert environment) or stop for a hike. Once we reach Dades Gorge, a short hike and/or relax at the hotel. Overnight in Dades.

Day 6: April 30th, Thursday

DESERT SAFARI

Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Merzouga

Transfer from the Dades Valley to Todra Gorge – a massive fault dividing the High Atlas mountains, rising up 300 metres in a narrow valley with palmeries and Berber villages.

Hike to the palmery, a green oasis full of large date palms, head further into the desert to the town of Merzouga to pick up supplies for our desert trip, then drive on to a kasbah to pick up our camel.

At sunset, we’ll trek for 90 minutes by camel to a Berber camp where we’ll enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner and a cup of local hot minty tea, we’ll spend the evening under the stars, on the dunes and beside the warmth of the fireside with a drum party & story swapping. Star gazing in the desert will be amazing as there’ll be no artificial lights around.

Total driving time – 5-6 hours

Hike: Approx 1 hour

Day 7: May 1st, Friday

DESERT SAFARI

Merzouga – Marrakech

We’ll need to wake up early, just prior to sunrise, we’ll have a 90-minute camel ride to explore the area further and then head back to Merzouga on our Camels.

When we reach Merzouga, we’ll have breakfast & the opportunity to shower and begin our drive through the stony desert and over the Atlas mountains, with plenty of stops for photos, exploring and lunch as we return to Marrakech.

The usual arrival time in Marrakech is around 18.00. Trip ends in Marrakech at 18.00

Day 8: May 2nd, Saturday

Free time in Marrakech & Flight back

Or if you wish to extend your stay a separate day could be allocated to visiting Casablanca on Day 8 or an extra day in Marrakech and returning back on Sunday, May 3rd (Day 9).

FLIGHTS Easyjet, BA & Ryan Air have direct flights ranging from £92 to £140 return. But we should confirm the trip soon and book flights to get these deals.

DRESS CODE Morocco is a conservative country, which means you always need to be mindful of your clothing choices. This is especially true in the country’s more rural areas, which include the Sahara Desert and its surrounding villages. As a general rule of thumb, you should always attempt to cover body parts considered “private”. For women, this means covering the arms (or at least the shoulders) and the knees up. For men, it requires covering up the shoulders and above the knee.

ACCOMMODATION We’ll be staying in simple gites with either 2 or 4 people to a room. Hotel in Dades and camping in the desert.

FOOD Meals on the trek are cooked by the Berber muleteers. The food is fresh and healthy.

Example of meals: Breakfast: Jam, bread, cookies, fruit, juice, butter, coffee, milk Lunch: salad, tomatoes, carrots, lentils, beans, rice or pasta, fish (sardines, tuna), seasonal fruit Dinner: Soup, classic Moroccan tajine, couscous, olives, nuts, fruit

BAGGAGE Personal baggage, cooking equipment and food are carried by the mules, leaving you to carry only a rucksack with whatever you need close at hand for the day. NB: Left luggage or unnecessary luggage can be left safely in our storage in Imlil till you come back from the trek.

KIT LIST

• Good walking boots and socks
• Personnel First-aid Kit
• Light sleeping bag (Can be rented for a couple of days at Euro 4 or 5 per day)
• Lightweight waterproof trousers
• Water bottle or camelback (recommended)
• Soft-sided / duffle bag (50-80 litres)
• Lightweight daypack
• Sunglasses & Sunscreen
• Torch and batteries
• Towel & all personal toiletries

What’s included:

• Expert, Berber, English-speaking mountain guides
• Mules and muleteers to carry your luggage
• Berber Cook
• Breakfast, Dinner & Lunch on all hiking days.
• Breakfast & Dinner on a desert trip
• Accommodation in a Gite in a Berber village, Camping, Hotel
• Round-trip Transportation between the trek and our accommodation in Marrakech.
• Camping Materials (Tents & Mattress)

What’s excluded:

• Day 1 hotel in Marrakech Approx Euro 40 & Day 7 Hotel in Marrakech 
• Soft/alcoholic drinks
• Tips and personal expenses
• Entry into Film Studios 6 Euro
• Lunch during desert trip Approx 8-10 Euro per day
• Taxi from Airport to Marrakech city Approx 7 Euro
•  2 days sleeping bag hire (Euro 8-10) 

COST

£595 (For payment before Feb 10th)

£695 (For payment after Feb 10th)

PAYMENT

Bank Account: 41764527

Sort code: 40 09 25 

Reference: Your name / Morocco