Day 3 Saturday, October 3^rd

Fez

After breakfast transfer to our morning tour to visit the streets of the medina (old town).

Transfer to lunch at Riad Nejjarine. Ranked among the best of Fez gastronomic restaurants, Riad Nejjarine offers a unique setting where you can experience exquisite Moroccan cuisine. The lavish decorations and sculptured plaster will transport you centuries away to the era of 1001 nights.

Meet California native Nina Mohammad-Galbert. Her passion for art, design, and traditional crafts led her to Fes, where she has since found the Artisan Project. In addition to helping connect local makers to a broader audience through her company, Nina is multi-disciplinary creative, and a textile designer in her own right.

Visit the Jewish quarter and the Royal Palace.

Return to the hotel.

Transfer to Palais Amani at the medina for cooking demonstration followed by dinner.

Hotel: Palais Faraj ★★★★★

Room: Classic Riad Suite

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Sunday, October 4^th

Fez – IfraneAzrou – Midelt – Errachidia – Ziz Valley – Erfoud – Merzouga

Hotel check out.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You will need to pack a small bag with whatever you will need for one night. We will be leaving our suitcases in the bus and transfer to Range Rovers and Land Cruisers to navigate the sand dunes of the desert. Recommend comfortable walking shoes (we will be walking on sand), hat, sunblock, ear plugs and a light jacket in case it gets cool in the evening.

After breakfast, we depart to Midelt through mountains and cedar forests of the Middle Atlas to Ifrane, a charming ski resort, and then to Azrou, an important handicraft center specializing in the work of cedar wood.

Lunch in Midelt at Kasbah Asmaa.

After lunch, we head towards Erfoud through Errachidia and the Ziz Valley, dotted with palm trees. Erfoud is an oasis town, its name means “gate of Sahara Desert” due to its proximity to the Erg Chebbi Dunes. You may recognize the town as the site of films such as Prince of Persia and The Mummy.

Our journey today continues to the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi in 4×4 vehicles and camel ride to watch the sunset over the sand dunes.

Dinner and overnight in nomad tents mesmerized by the stars, the moon, the sunset, and why not….the sunrise!

Our accommodations will be in a deluxe camp in the middle of the sand dunes where en- suite tents have been setup on comfortable thick carpets with all the comfort of a hotel suite -- proper bed with mattress, delicate sheets and duvet, proper bathroom in the tent with hot water shower, toilet and washbasin.

Tonight, dinner of Moroccan delicacies will be served under our desert tent with local folklore as entertainment.

Hotel: Nomad Desert Tent

Room: Classic Suite

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Monday, October 5th

Merzouga – Khamlia – Rissani – Draa Valley – Ouarzazate

Transfer to Ouarzazate across Merzouga, a small town near the Algerian border.

Visit Khamlia, a small village of indigenous people of Mali. Relax with a tea while we enjoy a short concert of Gnawa music. Established around 1950, Khamlia was founded by families of Gnawa ethnicity. Originally brought to the Maghreb as slaves from Central Africa, the Gnawa have a long and intimate relationship with the desert.

Short tour through the dunes of Erg Chebbi (in 4×4s) desert, a large expanse of sand and considered the Great Dune of Morocco -- over 250 meters, connecting with part of the route followed by the former Paris-Dakar and the mountains bordering Algeria.

Stop at a viewpoint for a breathtaking panorama of the entire Erg Chebbi desert.

We head towards Rissani, first imperial city with its interesting market where nomads come from miles around to sell their cattle and to buy goods.

Transfer to lunch at Kasbah Lamrani, on our way to Ouarzazate through the Rose Valley. We continue through the mesmerizing Moroccan desert landscape, making stops to see kasbahs, Berber villages, and interesting geological formations of the Draa Valley.

Check into hotel Berere Palace. Nestled in the so-called Moroccan Hollywood, this luxurious Berber-style hotel features a large outdoor pool and other amenities.

Dinner at the hotel.

Hotel: Berbere Palace ★★★★★

Room: Superior King

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Tuesday, October 6^th

Ouarzazate – Marrakech

Transfer to visit the famous Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified village along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech, preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a great example of Moroccan architecture. You may recognize it as countless movies have been shot here, and more recently, the TV series Game of Thrones.

We will pass through the High Atlas. The road must be traveled slowly, not only to take in its beauty, but we will also cross the Atlas at nearly 8,000 ft.

Stop for lunch at Ksar Ighnda.

Continue travel via Tishka Pass. Tizin 'Tichka is a mountain pass in Morocco, linking the southeast of Marrakesh to the city of Ouarzazat, through the High Atlas Mountains. It lies above the great Marrakesh plains and is a gateway to the Sahara Desert.

Arrival in Marrakech. Check into hotel.

Meet at the lobby to transfer to dinner at Bo Zin. At the gates of Marrakesh, bô-zin invites you to spend a unique evening in an exceptional musical ambience. The terrace overlooks the exotic garden where luxurious fountains and summer lounges were designed for your well-being, an invitation to dream, a mixture of Zen spirit and elegance.

Return to hotel.

Hotel: Nobu Hotel Marrakech ★★★★★

Room: Junior Suite

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Wednesday, October 7^th

Marrakech

Meet our guide for a full day tour of Marrakech.

Visit Bahia Palace. Set up at the end of the 19th century by Si Moussa Ba Ahmed, grand vizier of the sultan, for his personal use, this palace bears the name of one of his wives. As the black slave Abu Ahmed rose to power and wealth towards the end of the 19th century, he had the Bahia palace built by bringing in craftsmen from Fez.

Visit Badi Palace. El Badi Palace, meaning Palace of the Creator of Wonder or Palace of Wonder, was commissioned by the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur of the Saadian dynasty sometime shortly after his accession in 1578. The palace’s construction was funded by a substantial ransom paid by the Portuguese after the Battle of the Three Kings. It took fifteen years to build, with construction finally completed around 1593 and was a lavish display of the best craftsmanship of the Saadian period. Constructed using some of the most expensive materials of the time, including gold and onyx, the colonnades are said to be constructed from marble exchanged with Italian merchants for their equivalent weight in sugar.

Transfer to lunch at the exclusive Beldi Country Club.  Designed in the traditional style that is the heart and soul of Morocco, Beldi Country Club was built of earth, plaster, wood and iron, and furnished entirely from local markets.

Visit to Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL).

Return to the hotel.

Time permitting, we will visit some of the most significant contemporary art galleries in the city. Our first stop will be Gallery 127, specializing in contemporary photography. Next, we will visit Gallery Comptoir de Mines. Comptoir des Mines Galerie is a new contemporary art center that aspires to work alongside the best artists on the continent, helping them carry out their projects and giving them the greatest possible visibility.

Tonight dinner will be on your own. Recommendations will be provided.

Hotel: Nobu Hotel Marrakech ★★★★★

Room: Junior Suite

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 Thursday, October 8^th

Marrakech

Depart for Majorelle Gardens, an enchanting botanical garden created by French Orientalist artist, Jacques Majorelle. It features a Cubist villa designed by French architect, Paul Sinoir. The property served as the residence of the artist and his wife.

Visit the Yves Saint Laurent Museum. The renowned fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent first visited Marrakech in 1966. He was deeply inspired by the Red City’s colors and styles.

Lunch at Café Le Studio.

Visit to Le Jardin Secret. The origins of the complex date back to the Saadian Dynasty, more than four hundred years ago. Rebuilt in the mid-nineteenth century at the behest of an influential kaid of the Atlas Mountains, Le Jardin Secret has been the home of some of Morocco and Marrakech’s most important political figures. It is part of the great tradition of stately Arab-Andalusian and Moroccan palaces.

Tour the Medina and Souks, visit to Maison de la Photographie, and visit  Jamaa El Fenaa Square. During the day it is predominantly occupied by orange juice stalls, water sellers with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, youths with chained Barbary apes and snake charmers despite the protected status of these species under Moroccan law. As the day progresses, the entertainment on offer changes: the snake charmers depart, and late in the day the square becomes more crowded, with Chleuh dancing-boys (it would be against custom for girls to provide such entertainment), story-tellers (telling their tales in Berber or Arabic, to an audience of locals), magicians, and peddlers of traditional medicines. As darkness falls, the square fills with dozens of food-stalls as the number of people on the square peaks.

Return to the hotel. Depart for our farewell dinner extravaganza (allow us to surprise you!)

Hotel: Nobu Hotel Marrakech ★★★★★

Room: Junior Suite

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Friday, October 9th

Check out of hotel.

Individual airport transfers.

Trip Includes:

• Accommodation in 5-★ hotels as described in the itinerary. Room categories as specified. Breakfast daily in the hotels.
• Breakfast daily, lunches and dinners as described in the itinerary.
• Inter-city overland transportation in air conditioned vehicle
• All sightseeing and visits to places of interest and sites as given in the itinerary, conducted by English speaking Guides.
• Tour Manager on minimum of 6 participants
• Entrance fees to the places of visit as per the itinerary.
• Camel ride on the desert excursion.
• Bottle drinking water in the coach throughout.
• All applicable taxes.
• Complete pre-departure assistance and information
• Final document portfolio

Not included and optional:

• International airfare 
• Intra-Tour airfare (If applicable)
• Trip Cancellation & Interruption insurance (highly recommended)
• Visa and Passport fees (If applicable)
• Personal meals, drinks, telephone, gifts, and expenses not outlined in the itinerary
• Any optional sightseeing excursions or additional visits not outlined in itinerary
• Gratuity for local guides, drivers and Tour Manager 

TRAVEL PREP/INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE

Multiple American based Airlines and  several European carriers are among the airlines that can be used for this trip. We recommend booking at least 7 months in advance if you want to try to use Frequent Flyer Miles for free tickets or upgrades or the American Express Platinum card program.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

If VISA is required for this destination please contact us for assistance.

If you prefer to use a visa service, we recommend using www.g3visas.com . To speak directly to G3visas, call 888.883.8472 (toll-free in the U.S.). 

Please note that visas cannot be processed more than 90 days prior to departure and processing may take several weeks to complete. You may also apply directly at the Consulate in your area.

You must have a valid passport that remains valid six months past your return to the U.S. You should also have a minimum of two empty passport pages.

HEALTH

It is recommended you have your regular vaccinations up-to-date before traveling. For further information, visit the Center For Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/

MINIMUMS

All departures are guaranteed on a minimum number of participants. A Tour Manager will accompany a tour also based on a minimum number of participants. This tour can be operated as a Private Tour, can be customized and repriced based on a final itinerary. Rates are based on a minimum participation of 6. For fewer than 6 participants, rates may be revised.

PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION

A pre-departure e-mail will be sent to you approximately three weeks prior to departure day