The Moroccan Facets Tour

Once you land at the airport in Marrakech in the morning local time.
From the airport we drive directly to our hotel and check if the rooms
are ready.
After lunch, we’ll go out and experience some of the city, so we spend
the rest of the day living in this ancient royal town, founded in 1062 by
the Sahara Almoravid dynasty. Even today, the name of Marrakech is
associated with events of 1000 and One Night’s Adventures: narrow
alleys, souks (commercial districts), sales stalls and markets. This
remarkable city dates from the 11th century and never fails to satisfy
the curiosity of even the most adventurous travelers. Here is
everything from the graceful architecture of the famous Koutoubia
minaret, which dominates the cityscape, to the wonderful and vibrant
atmosphere of the medieval market in the large open space Jemaa el
Fna, in the middle of the medina.

The word medina means ‘city’ in Arabic and refers to Morocco’s
ancient cities from before 1900. Today, the term medina translates
into the oldest districts of modern Arab cities. A medina is surrounded
by a defense wall with several city ports, and in the center, there are
usually many mosques. The medina is often divided into different
districts, which are governed by social and commercial shells. Each
neighborhood, filled with narrow alleyways, has its own hammam
(public sauna), as well as its own shops. The parts of the medina called
souks have many traders and craftsmen, often with a souk for each
craft or every type of commodity.
We get a good impression of the city here on our first day in Marrakech
as we now take a horse-drawn carriage ride inside and outside the city
walls. We also visit the beautiful Majorelle Garden, which until 2008,
until his death, was maintained by the internationally renowned stylist
and fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. His urn has been buried in the
garden, and the grave can be visited.
It has been a long day and we have been up early, so now we drive
back to the hotel where we gather again in the evening for a welcome
dinner.

The whole day is used to suck the senses. We start to experience the
famous Koutoubia Mosque’s majestic silhouette, which dominates the
characteristic red painted houses. The minaret of the Koutoubia
Mosque, completed in 1147 after the city was taken over by the rival
Almohad dynasty, is considered to be a true masterpiece of Islamic
architecture and an example of which other mosques have been
inspired. For example, the great mosque in Seville (called La Giralda)
and the Hassan Tower in Rabat are almost identical.
Later we drive to the Saadi tombs, which are of relatively newer date,
and markedly different in their architecture than the Koutoubia
Mosque we visited earlier in the day. This is a sumptuous necropolis
built in the 1700s on top of the remains of the former dynasties burial
sites. Here we will be able to experience the three separate
mausoleums with gold-plated columns and marble arches, as well as
the well-appointed garden symbolizing the eternal paradise.
From here, the trip goes on to Bahia Palace, which was headquartered
in Ba Ahmed, the major yard in the late 1800s. The palace, which
consists of two parts, was originally built by Ba Ahmed’s father, the Si
Mousa giant ship. This part of the palace is built around a marble-lined
farm with star-shaped fountains as well as cypress, orange and jasmine
trees.

The palace of the son, on the other hand, was somewhat larger and
landed with wide doors, so that the obese vezir could move from one
salon to another.
After lunch, we continue with the unique Jemaa el Fna square with its
live folklore. The place is a true showcase for Moroccan traditions and
is on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. Every day there is a large
market where you can buy herbal medicine, freshly squeezed orange
juice and a sea of nuts, dates and traditional cakes.
After sunset, the gates reach its highest and the place becomes the
frame of a giant and kaleidoscopic outdoor show. The air is filled with
the smell of grilled meat and aromatic spices, and the place is filled
with musicians, dancers, storytellers, gypsies, toothpicks and sponges.
Each one collects small groups of overwhelmed spectators who
enthusiastically live in the mesmerizing entertainment.
From Jemaa el Fna we continue to the traditional markets for leather,
natural colors and spices before returning to the hotel.

Driving over the Atlas Mountains via the Tiz’n’Tichka Pass – Draa Valley

• Mountain Village Agdez – Timed Kasbah

After breakfast, we will go into authentic Morocco tomorrow as we
head towards the small town of Zagora, also called the gate of the
desert. We cross the magnificent Atlas Mountains, across Tiz’n’Tichka,
which with its 2,606 meters is the highest mountain chain. The road
over the pass was built in the 1920s by the French colonial empire and
offers a landscape that alternates between dry and mineral-rich
mountainsides over snowy peaks to lush valleys with red clay houses.
The Atlas Mountains refer in many ways to the imagination of
Himalayas dramatic nature. In fact, Martin Scorses’s film about Dalai
Lama, Kundun, was admitted to this area.
Late in the morning we reach the other side of the Atlas Mountains, to
an area also known asthe gateway to the so-called Great South, Oases,
Sahara, and mountain cliffs. This part of Morocco is the birthplace of
many of the royal dynasties, which from the Sahara Desert crossed the
mountains and conquered the rest of the country. The Almoravid
dynasty succeeded even in the 1200s to create a kingdom that
stretched from Senegal to West Africa, even today, Spain.
Trade of gold, salt and slaves between black Africa and Morocco has
created a melting pot throughout the generations, where Arabs,
Berbers and haratians, descendants of African slaves, live side by side.
In this area life is centered around the three major rivers Draa, Dadès
and Ziz. These rivers have created magnificent landscapes with gorges
and valleys that intersect in the mighty Atlas Mountains. The poppies,
shedding shadows over small barley fields, represent the prosperity of
the region, and along the valleys there are spotless oases with red clay
Kasbahs that were created to protect their farm from attacks of
nomadic tribes.
Kasbah is the designation of a fortress-like square construction made
in red soil, which can vary in size from a common house to a larger
fortress. In addition, you can experience all fortified villages, how
many Kasbahs are protected by a further defense. These are called
ksar (ksour in majority). Today, some of these Kasbahs and ksour are
still inhabited, while some of them are slowly decaying.
We drive through the Draa Valley, where we will experience fortified
villages, where the population lives as a hundred years ago, and a pearl
of beautiful oases. The road south of Ouarzazate leads us across the
desert plateau at Jbel Tifernine, which then changes to black rock
formations and steep cliffs as we climb the Tiz’n’Tinififft Pass.
After a short break at the small Berber town of Agdez, located at the
edge of an idyllic palm land, we continue south towards Zagora.
Along the way we drive past a row of oases and impressive kasbahs,
such as the elegant and well-preserved Timed Kasbah. In the afternoon
we arrive at the small town of Zagora, the gateway to the desert. This city is, like the Ouarzazate, founded by the French as a base during the
occupation.
We are now in the outskirts of civilization as we know it, and just a few
kilometers from here begins the mighty Sahara Desert. We will look
into it the next day. Upon arriving at Zagora we will stay at the lovely
hotel and we will gather for dinner.

Tamegroute – Visit to local family in Tagounite – Sahara Desert at
M’Hamid – Possibility of buying accommodation in tent camp in the
desert
To enjoy today’s adventure in the desert to the fullest we start off after
breakfast. We must now experience one of the absolute highlights of
the trip. Just a few kilometers from Zagora begins the mighty Sahara
Desert. This is made clear when we see the sign saying “Timbuktu: 52
days with dromedar”. So far, we will not be on this trip. We are just
heading south along the road past the fortified little village of
Tamegroute, where a group of Islamic scholars founded a school back
in the 1800s. This school and its library are still in use, although its
opland is in no way comparable to the greatness of the day, where it
was the source of inspiration for much of southern Morocco.
Then we visit a local family in another small village called Tagounite.
This is a very special feature of the trip, where we are given the
opportunity to see how the Moroccans live and live in the country. We
will have a tour of their house and will be offered tea and coffee.
From here we travel to Sahara, where we will experience the amazing
sand dunes at M’Hamid, which is the absolute last village that can be
reached through the asphalt road, giving the feeling of reaching the
end of the world. After lunch our entire group runsin jeeps further into
the desert, where there is now the possibility to go for a dromedary
ride (not included and bought on site. Price about 150 Dirham per
person).
Late afternoon we reach our accommodation in the desert and spend
the night in a real bedouin tent camp where we take the dinner under
the open and star-red sky in the candle lights while we are entertained
by local desert musicians. This is the Real and Authentic Thousand and
One Night’s Adventure! The comfort of the camp is reasonably high,
with separate toilet and bath tents. The sleeping areas consist of 2-
person tents, with ample space. Sleep on comfortable foam
mattresses. Next morning after witnessing the sun rise in the early
morning we will have breakfast and continue to Ouarzazate.

Driving to Ouarzazate – Visiting Aït Benhaddou Kasbah – On your own
After breakfast a, we leave to the area’s largest city, Ouarzazate,
originally founded by the French Foreign Ministry in 1928, because of
the strategic location in the intersection of the Draa and the Dades
Valley. From here it was intended that the rebel desert tribes were
kept in check while the rest of the country was subject to French rule.
On the way, we will visit Morocco’s most impressive Kasbah complex
at Aït Benhaddou, which has formed a scene for numerous Hollywood
productions from Laurence of Arabia, to Nilens Jewel and Gladiator.
The Aït Benhaddou Kasbah, which is on UNESCO’s list of world heritage
sites, is set in a bright reddish sandstone hill overlooking the Mellah
River, which runs right in front.
The river is dried most of the year except winter and spring, and it is
from opposite width that we go over and get acquainted with this
unique collection of kasbahs. The geometric decorations of the towers
create a game of light and shadow, and the situation of the kasbah is
remarkable as major restorations have been made. Today, only 10
families live in the Ait Benhaddou kasbahs.
After a delicious lunch at a local restaurant with panoramic views of
the Aït Benhaddou Kasbah, we continue to Ouarzazate and
accommodate us at the hotel.
The rest of the day is for self-esteem or relaxation at the swimming
pool, and the tour guide also offers good advice and ideas. For
example, visit Taourirt Kasbah, which is the original kasbah in the area
before the French Foreign Legion founded the city. The Kasbah was
built in the 1800s by the Glaoui family who had the ruling of southern
Morocco and controlled access to the Atlas Mountains. It was through
an agreement with this family that the French had access to southern
Morocco and that they were able to cement their presence. The
Taourirt kasbah served as a residence for the numerous Glaoui family
and all of their servants.
The facade consists of tall earth walls and is decorated with geometric
figures in negative relief. Inside the kasbah there is a sandy maze of
stairs leading to rooms of different sizes. The rooms are light windows
and have plaster decorations with geometric patterns and floral motifs
as well as beautifully painted wooden ceilings.

Driving to Marrekech over the Atlas Mountains via the Tiz’n’Tichka
Pass – Afternoon on your own

After some experience-rich days in Morocco’s “Great South” we return
to Marrakech over the beautiful Tiz’n’Tichka Pass, which is white of
snow a part of the year.
After staying in our hotel rooms, we have the rest of the day on our
own to explore Marrakech’s many sights or to make some great
purchases in the colorful bazaar. The tour guide is at your disposal with
good advice and guidance.

On your own – Market visit – Departure dinner
The morning is on its own and in the afternoon, there is time to make
the last purchases, as we discover again in the colorful market. In the
evening we meet for farewell dinner. Here we are picked up by the bus
and drove to an old 19th-century palace which has been transformed
into a traditional Moroccan restaurant. Here we will be invited to a
sumptuous party meal and entertainment in the form of traditional
dance and music.

After breakfast at the hotel, the trip is now to the airport for departure
flight.