The following was my itinerary for my Morocco trip of October 21, 2000 to October 30, 2000. You'll notice the days are links to other pages - click on the day header to view my actual experiences on those days (the photos on this particular page are not mine - they're from various sources on the internet, but the photos on the links in the day headers are mine):
View my journal and my photos
Tour schedule:
Day 1 (Sunday October 22)
Meet the tour group at the hotel in Ouarzazate in the evening.
Day 2
We head east along the fabled "Route of a Thousand Kasbahs". Our first stop is the semi-restored Taourirt kasbah which is now a UNESCO site and also a favourite backdrop to many films, most notably Bernardo Bertolucci's adaptation of Paul Bowles' The Sheltering Sky. A short drive takes us to Skoura where we can take time to explore the palmeries and fascinating ruined Kasbah de Ben Moro, maybe even taking tea with a local family before moving on to our resting place for the next two nights - the beautiful Todra Gorge.
Day 3
There is a full day to walk in the magnificent gorge of the Todra river and relish one of Morocco's most famous beauty spots. Heading into the heart of the gorge beneath magnificent vertical cliffs rising up to 300m on either side, there are a number of different routes that we can take, depending on the group's wishes.
Day 4This morning we head south down the scenic Ziz Valley with its lush palmery and fortified kasbahs. We stop at the well-known source bleu de Meski, an area of picturesque beauty with its palm trees and springwater pool where it is sometimes possible to swim. The drive is some 250 km, the last 30 kms being on desert piste. We arrive at Rissani, a little outpost on the edge of the desert, after which the tracks become very poor and the terrain distinctly Saharan so we begin our exciting excursion to the desert from here.
We drive further down to the edge of Erg Chebbi, the largest sand sea in Morocco where we can walk through Hollywood-style dunes. The sand sea is famed for its pink dunes that take on a spectacular rose colour at sunset. The dunes are also a staging post of the Paris-Dakar Rally. We stay in a small, basic hotel or large communal tent (according to the group's wishes) on the edge of the dunes where it is an easy climb up the dunes for the sunset. For the truly adventurous, there is the opportunity of an optional star-lit camel trek through the dunes to an oasis where it is possible to spend the night in a makeshift Bedouin camp.
Day 5After the sunrise (5am!) there is time for further exploration of the dunes before we branch west for an exciting drive across the lunar desert mountain range of the Jebel Sahro, partly on tarmac and partly on desert piste. The journey of about 300km goes through remote territory and there is very little in the way of civilisation for us to stop for. Surprisingly, even here, there are some oases, and in the spring they are pretty with apricot blossom. The semi-nomadic Ait'Atta tribe come here in the winter to graze their flocks and we may see their black tented encampments.
Eventually we arrive in Nkob where we stay overnight in a kasbah, sympathetically converted into a beautiful and atmospheric hotel. There are hand wash basins in the rooms, as there would have been of old, but facilities are shared. Surrounding the hotel is a traditional moroccan village that there will be time to explore. There is also a fine swimming pool from which to enjoy the excellent sunrises and sunsets.
Day 6
We leave Nkob and drive past the edge of the Draa Valley that contains a huge palmery with over four million palm trees. Passing Ouarzazate, a short drive of 40 km takes us to the well-preserved kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, one of the most spectacular sights of the Atlas and made famous as the location of several Hollywood films. From here we make the scenic drive over the High Atlas mountains to Marrakech. The main pass (the Tizi'n 'Tichka) is spectacular and there are some wonderful views of the mountains.
The afternoon is spent in the "pink city" of Marrakech when we can soak in its atmosphere and setting, with views of the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas. The town is a maze of bustling bazaars, palaces and mosques. In the evening we can visit the Djemma el Fna, the open air central square around which Marrakech revolves. The name literally means "place of death" as it was the place where the Sultans used to display the heads of their enemies. Now, with the snake-charmers, water-sellers, travelling musicians and acrobats, the scalps are those of the tourists as they extract the Dirhams from your pocket!
Day 7In the morning, we have a sightseeing tour to get the feel of the place. We take caleches (horse-drawn carriages) round the old city walls and visit the Saadien tombs. The afternoon is free for individual sightseeing. You can choose whether to brave the hassling and haggling of the souks, visit the more peaceful Jardin Majorelle or relax in one of the hammam steam baths.
Day 8
The tour group departs after breakfast for the airport and their return flight to Heathrow. I will spend the day in Marrakech and make my way to the airport for my evening flight.
Emergency phone numbers:
These were posted on this page during my absence for those who might have wanted this information. I'm keeping the information here so that it might be of use to others in the future.
Royal Bank Insurance: 1-800-387-2487 or 905-793-9666 collect for medical assistance
In emergency situations only, Exodus can be reached after business hours by dialing 011 44 208 345 6789. Ask for "Exodus One". This is a pager number so please leave a telephone number with your message and you will be called back immediately.
G.A.P. Adventures: 416-260-0999 or toll free 1-800-465-5600 (adventure@gap.ca)Emergency local contact number: Exodus' local operator in Morocco is Erg Tours tel (8) 800210 or (mobile) 00 212 01380733. Contact Said.
Canadian Embassy: 13 bis, rue Jaafar Assadik, Agdal-Rabat, Morocco (postal address is B.P. 709, Agdal-Rabat, Morocco); tel 212 (7) 67 28 80, fax 212 (7) 67 21 87
Bike tours:
For Jack Ellis, and for other bike tour enthusiasts, there's a bike tour offered by Exodus called the High Atlas traverse. It is classic bike adventure through the wilds of the central High Atlas, with breathtaking scenery, exciting rides and wonderful wilderness campsites.
