\n\u201c<\/span>Before Marrakech, everything was black. This city taught me colour, and I embraced its light, its insolent mixes, and ardent inventions.\u201d<\/span>“<\/span><\/p>\n
Yves Saint Laurent<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>From Marrakech to Merzouga Desert<\/b> <\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Yves Saint Laurent perfectly described Marrakech, one of the four imperial cities of Morocco. It\u2019s impossible not to be fascinated by the blue of its sky, the pink of its city wall, the thousands of colors of its souks brimming with beautiful and unique handicrafts. Visiting its palaces, enjoying its museums, letting ourselves be overwhelmed by the daily evolution of Jemaa El Fna square (inserted in the UNESCO Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage), getting lost in the medina\u2019s narrow streets (UNESCO World Heritage Site)\u2026it\u2019s all something to do at least once in a lifetime.<\/span><\/p>\n
Once the explosions of sounds and colors of this wonderful city are left behind, you can enjoy, even just for one night, the peace and tranquility of the desert: Merzouga awaits you.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Before reaching the desert, we\u2019ll spend 3 days exploring the nature and the history of this wild and fascinating part of Morocco. From Marrakech, we\u2019ll get to the High Atlas mountain range and after crossing the Tizi n’Tichka pass, we\u2019ll go down towards Ouarzazate, we\u2019ll stop to visit the Kasbah of Telouet, perched in the Atlas mountains range and the Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. The stop in Ouarzazate \u2013 built by the French in the 1920s as a French Foreign Legion\u2019s outpost toward the Sahara desert on the crossroads of the Draa and Dad\u00e8s valleys\u2013 will allow us to visit the kasbah of Taourirt and the Atlas Studios; Ouarzazate and its surroundings are often used as film locations for movies set not only in Morocco but in other places as well. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>While on our way to the Dad\u00e8s gorges, we\u2019ll visit the Kasbah of Amridil a Skoura and we\u2019ll cross the Roses Valley. Those who decide to do this trip in springtime will be lucky enough to see the blossom of the beautiful roses that grow in the surroundings of Kelaat M\u2019Gouna which, between the end of May and the beginning of June, hosts an entire festival dedicated to this flower.<\/span><\/p>\n
Another stop to admire the scenic Todgha Gorges and we\u2019ll reach Merzouga, a small town on the edge of Erg Chebbi, a stretch of high dunes where you\u2019ll finally meet the sand of the Sahara desert.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>On the edge of which, we\u2019ll leave the car to reach by dromedary riding the campsite where you\u2019ll spend the night, after relishing the sunset on the desert. <\/span><\/p>\n
The following day will be dedicated to the exploration of the desert, its world and its inhabitants. You\u2019ll be welcomed by a nomadic family and you\u2019ll savor the Berber cuisine and enjoy life in the desert. <\/span><\/p>\n
Leaving the desert behind, the way back will start with the visit of the Ksar M\u2019Aadid near Erfoud to continue through the Ziz gorges until Midelt, where we\u2019ll spend the night.<\/span><\/p>\n
We will continue North toward Volubilis, one of the most famous archeological sites of Roman Africa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an extraordinary example of the Roman presence beyond the Mediterranean sea’s shores. The triumphal arch, the basilica remnants with two opposing apses, the aqueduct, the Roman bath and a series of beautiful polychrome mosaics are all well-preserved.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>A few kilometers from Volubilis, there\u2019s the holy city of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun: every August, it\u2019s a place of pilgrimage of thousands of Muslims because 5 pilgrimages to this city correspond to a trip to Mecca. The Mausoleum of Idriss I, a descendant of Muhammad, is the main monument of the town, but unfortunately, the non-Muslims will only be able to see it through the entrance door of the first courtyard or from, if they are willing to \u201cclimb\u201d to, the panoramic terraces on top of the town. Worth mentioning is the Minaret, green-decorated and the only one in Morocco with a circular base.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll spend the night in Meknes, the smallest of the Imperial cities, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. After visiting the town which boasts monuments of unique grandeur and the longest and tallest city wall of Morocco with richly decorated majestic gates of access, we\u2019ll reach Fez, the final stop of our tour.<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\u201cOur Medina streets were narrow, dark, and serpentine-filled with so many twists and turns that cars could not enter, and foreigners could not find their way out if they ever dared to come in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fatema Mern<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>With these words, the Moroccan writer describes Fez\u2019s Medina in her book \u201cDreams of Trespass,\u201d a true labyrinth of narrow streets that haven\u2019t lost their original charm with their wooden balconies,<\/span> old buildings, mosques, madrasas (religious schools) and the famous tanneries. The Medina of Fez \u2013 the biggest one in the world with 9000 narrow streets \u2013 was the first site of Morocco to be recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>The tour, with a few itinerary changes, can also start from Fez to and in Marrakech<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
The Tour Includes<\/h4><\/h1><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
- <\/i><\/span>
\nPrivate transportation by 4WD or minivan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>
\nPick up at the hotel, riad, airport, or as agreed upon<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>
\nMultilingual driver<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>
\nA night at the campsite<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>
\n6 nights in hotel or riad<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>
\nPossible dinners to agree upon before<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
The Tour Does Not Include<\/h4><\/h1><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
- <\/i><\/span>
\nArrival and Departure flights<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>
\nLunches<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>
\nMonuments\u2019 Entry Tickets<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>
\nTips and personal expenses<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Write and tell us what you have in mind, we will suggest the perfect itinerary for you based on the dates of your trip!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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