Accommodation

1 nights simple camping 1 nights simple gite 2 nights premium hotel 2 nights standard hotel 1 nights standard kasbah Triple Rooms: This trip allows the option for a limited amount of triple rooms to be included within the booking on all nights except the Berber homestay on day 2 and desert camp on day 5. If you would like this option please ask our Sales team for further information. The hotel in Marrakech is located in the new city centre with a 20 minute walk from the main Jamaa El Fna Square. The hotel has a swimming pool and a restaurant and the rooms are air conditioned. We then move into the mountains where we stay in a family owned gite village house which has a number of rooms and shared facilities as well as a terrace for great views of the valley. The evening meal is home prepared and eaten together. We stay in a hotel in Ait Ben Haddou which is located close to the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Hadou. The hotel features a swimming pool and a restaurant overlooking the valley of Ounilla. The rooms are air conditioned. The hotel in Tamnougalt is a small property located close to the famous Kasbah Tamnougalte in the middle of the Draa valley. It’s surrounded by green palm groves and has easy access to the valley for walks in the fields. The Kasbah is decorated with traditional designs and furnishings throughout and features a restaurant serving Moroccan dishes and a swimming pool. All bedrooms have air conditioning. After our camping experience in the desert, we stay in a hotel in Ouarzazate which is located in the main avenue of the town and close to the main market in the city centre. The hotel has a swimming pool and the rooms have air conditioning.

Others

All accommodation, activities and meals that are shown in the itinerary are included in the total cost of your trip You will also receive a complimentary transfer to and from the airport if you arrive on day 1 of the trip and depart on the last day and have provided your international flight information.

Meals

A key facet of our responsible approach to tourism is that we encourage our groups to eat in local restaurants that prepare locally grown food. We give customers choice as to their meals and do not use rather bland and impersonal hotel restaurants or all- inclusive options 7 Breakfasts 4 Lunches 2 Dinners

Guide

Tour Leaders are quite simply the glue that holds our tours together. They are chosen for their travel experience and people skills and are thoroughly trained by Explore, widely acknowledged as some of the best training in the industry. A Tour Leader’s ultimate aim is to ensure everyone is well looked after and have a fantastic trip. They are there to ensure that the tour logistics run smoothly, that health and safety is adhered to and provide comprehensive briefings at the beginning and throughout the tour.

Transport

Bus, Minibus, On Foot Booking a land only package with Explore Customers who have chosen to book on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements of our tour, please ensure that you have checked your tour specific ‘Joining Instructions’ prior to booking your own travel arrangements. Your joining instructions can be found below in the dates and prices information. Joining Tour Abroad Customers booked on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements will receive a Free Transfer, provided you arrive and depart on the tour only itinerary start and end dates. The complimentary transfers will be arranged from the Explore designated airport or train station to your trips joining point, and then back from the ending point to the designated airport or train station. Generally the airport or station that Explore have selected will be the one that is closest to the town or city where the trip starts, or the one nearest to the joining point. It will be either an airport or train station but not both. The exception to this rule is customers who are booked on a tour where the joining and ending point is at the designated airport or train station. Free transfers are not available for Self-Guided, Polar, Tailormade or Tours for Churches customers. If you are not eligible for the Free Transfer then you will need to make your own way through to the joining and ending point. On a majority of our tours Explore will be able to provide a private transfer at an additional cost. Please ask for a quote at the time of booking.

Not included:

Flights

International flights not included in the tour cost You are able to book this tour on a ’land only’ basis or as a ‘flight inclusive’ package. Your flight inclusive package will be fully protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ATOL protection scheme. We have a good selection of flights not only from London but from many regional airports around the UK allowing us to compare fares between scheduled carriers as well as low cost and charter airlines. Our dedicated flights team will match the best flight options to your arrival and departure airport. On our website we display a UK flight inclusive package guide price which is generally based on a London departure. To avoid paying supplements or to secure your preferred flight option, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for peak travel dates.

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included It is a condition of booking with Explore that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter evacuation in the event of illness or injury and covers the entire duration of your holiday. If you are trekking at altitude please ensure that there is no upper altitude limit which may limit or exclude cover for your trip. The cost of many of our Polar Voyages will exceed the capped amount covered by standard insurance premiums and you will be required to pay an additional premium to cover the full value of your trip. Please ensure that you are covered for the full amount of your holiday cost, as insufficient cover could invalidate a claim under the policy. Medical and repatriation insurance cover is not mandatory for UK residents who are travelling on trips within the United Kingdom.

Others

Any visa costs, spending money and tips are not included in the trip price. You can also book extra nights’ accommodation at the beginning and end of the trip and the cost of this accommodation along with any transfers would be quoted separately. Visa and Passport Information Morocco: Visas are not required by UK, Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens. Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office. UK passport holders are requested to have at least 3 months validity from the date of entry into Morocco. All other nationalities please check with your nearest embassy for requirements of passport validity. If you do require assistance in obtaining a visa then you may be able to apply through Explore’s recommended visa service in the UK, Travcour. See www.travcour.com to download the relevant visa application for your trip, if applicable (UK citizens only), along with details of how to apply for your visa through Travcour. The Team at Travcour will be happy to answer specific questions relating to visa applications, please call them directly on 0208 5431846. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, with the correct validity for your chosen destination. Vaccinations Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against tetanus, typhoid, infectious hepatitis and polio. Consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against malaria. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at Explore Travel Health and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.

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Day 1 Day 1: Trip Starts In Marrakech
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Trip Starts In Marrakech

Our tour of Morocco starts in the Red City. With its dusty rooftops, maze-like streets and bustling souks, Marrakech encompasses the essence of Morocco. Head to the medina and people watch while you sip a mint tea in Jemaa el-Fna (the main square) or visit the Jardin Majorelle, just a short walk from our hotel. There are no activities planned for today, so you’re free to arrive at any time and explore the city or relax by the hotel pool. If you’d like an airport transfer, you’ll need to arrive at Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK), which is around a 20-minute drive from our hotel. Our Explore Leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting and then an optional dinner. If you arrive later, they’ll catch you up as soon as possible.
Day 2 Day 2: Drive To Tighza In The High Atlas Mountains, Gentle Circular Walk Around The Village
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Drive To Tighza In The High Atlas Mountains, Gentle Circular Walk Around The Village

We’ll depart Marrakech after breakfast and head south, crossing the Tizi n’Tichka Pass and winding our way up the peaks of the Atlas Mountains. The High Atlas is North Africa’s greatest mountain range and has been a barrier between the northern plains and the pre-Sahara for centuries. Up here in their mountain stronghold, the fiercely independent Berbers - the Lords of the Atlas - live by their own traditions. The Berber way of life is unique and lost to most of North Africa - here, music, dance, language, and religion are far removed from the rest of the Arab world. We’ll pass by the ruined kasbah of Telouet and the fortified village of Anmiter, continuing to our night stop of Tighza. On arrival, after settling in, we will take a gentle circular walk around the village covering a distance of 2.8 km (1.7 miles), with a total ascent and descent of 90 meters (295 feet). We will take a relaxed pace, following the winding tracks high above the valley. Our base for tonight is a family-owned village house on the outskirts of Tighza. Feel free to unwind on the terrace, with panoramic views of the High Atlas, or enjoy Berber cuisine in the small tearoom - dishes are made using fruit and vegetables grown in the family garden.
Day 3 Day 3: Valley Hike And Drive To Ait Ben Haddou To Tour The Kasbah
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Valley Hike And Drive To Ait Ben Haddou To Tour The Kasbah

After breakfast, we’ll head out on a hike through the valley. Walking along cultivated fields, we’ll learn about the channels built to divert the waters from the melting snow into the terraces and mud-built villages. Heading down the southern slopes of the High Atlas, we’ll reach the trailhead in Anmiter where our bus will be waiting. The hike is expected to take two to three hours in total, covering a distance of 4.5 km (2.8 miles) with an ascent of 23 meters (75 feet) and a descent of 170 meters (560 feet). At the end of the walk we’ll enjoy a leisurely picnic - prepared by our chef - in the shade of the almond trees. Our journey continues driving along the Ounila Valley where the barren slopes contrast the green valley floor, before we reach our hotel opposite the famous kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. This afternoon is free to spend as you wish. You can relax by the swimming pool or take a guided tour of Ait Ben Haddou. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Morocco’s most famous locations and was once an important stop in the trading routes between Marrakech and the Sahara.
Day 4 Day 4: Bike Ride To Ouarzazate And Drive To Tamnougalt
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Bike Ride To Ouarzazate And Drive To Tamnougalt

This morning, we’ll take to the saddle and cycle from Ait Ben Haddou down towards the Draa Valley and the town of Ouarzazate. The total duration of our ride is 21km and a support vehicle will drive alongside us for non-cyclists. Note that helmets are supplied in two sizes, or you can bring your own for a better fit. During the summer months, we’ll set off early to avoid the midday heat. Known as the ’Doorway to the Desert’, Ouarzazate is in the south of the High Atlas, sandwiched between the high mountains and the expanses of the Sahara. It’s home to the Atlas Film Studios, one of the largest studios in the world, where scenes from films including The Mummy, Gladiator, Babel, Kingdom of Heaven and Lawrence of Arabia were shot. We’ll pay a visit to the studios and tour the famous film sets before departing and continuing on through the Draa Valley. Our drive will take us across a landscape lined with palm groves, kasbahs and traditional ksours (villages), as we make our way to Tamnougalt, once the capital of this remote desert region. The village’s name translates to ’meeting point’ and even today it hosts an annual festival in October, when people from the surrounding villages gather to celebrate the traditions of the region’s old ruling quaids (masters). Tonight, we’ll stay in a kasbah-style hotel in the middle of the Draa Valley, which has a swimming pool and access to valley walks.
Day 5 Day 5: Drive Via Zagora To Tiraf Dunes To Camp In The Desert
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Drive Via Zagora To Tiraf Dunes To Camp In The Desert

Turning south today, we’ll follow the course of the Draa River, spending the morning driving through the changing scenery towards the oasis of Zagora, ’The Gate of the Desert’. Once a major outpost along the caravan route, it apparently takes 52 days by camel from here to Timbuktu. We’ll continue on to Tagounite, on the fringes of the sand dunes, giving us a taste of the grand expanse of the Sahara. From here, we’ll hop off our bus and onto camels, creating our own caravan as we head into the oasis of the Tiraf dunes. We’ll stop to enjoy the quiet desolation of desert life before we reach our overnight camp in time for a late afternoon bread-making session. Finally, we’ll tuck into a hearty Berber dinner under the star-strewn sky of the Sahara. Our desert camp has a combination of two-person and three-to-four-person family tents with a central communal tent for meals. Rather than bunking down in your tent, you might decide to camp out in the open and spot shooting stars as you drift off to sleep.
Day 6 Day 6: Visit Tamegroute And Drive To Ouarzazate
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Visit Tamegroute And Drive To Ouarzazate

Retracing our steps, this morning we’ll head back north on camelback. Meeting our bus on the road, we’ll journey on to Tamegroute, where we’ll stop to visit the 17th-century zaouia (a multi-functional space of worship and learning). This was once the base of the Naciri Brotherhood, the holy leaders of Tamegroute and arbitrators of desert disputes. We’ll also pay a visit to the local potters’ cooperative before continuing back to Ouarzazate later in the afternoon.
Day 7 Day 7: Drive To Marrakech For City Tour
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Drive To Marrakech For City Tour

Today we drive back to the Red City and dive straight into the heady delights of Marrakech with a guided tour. We’ll pass by the rose-coloured Koutoubia (booksellers) Mosque on the way to Bahia Palace, an open-air museum that’s famous for its decorated stucco walls and marble floors. We’ll fuel up on fresh pastries from a traditional bakery before continuing to the medina on foot. There, we’ll be guided through the labyrinth of spice-scented souks, passing by craftsmen selling rugs, leather goods and crockery before dropping by a spice shop to sample ripe dates and almonds. Finally, we’ll navigate our way out into the energetic Jemaa el-Fna Square.
Day 8 Day 8: Trip Ends In Marrakech
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Trip Ends In Marrakech

Our tour of Morocco ends at our hotel in Marrakech. There are no activities planned today, so you’re free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you’d like an airport transfer, you’ll need to depart from Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK).

8 days tour

Family Atlas Mountain And Sahara Adventure

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Family Atlas Mountain And Sahara Adventure

Day 1: Trip Starts In Marrakech

Day 2: Drive To Tighza In The High Atlas Mountains, Gentle Circular Walk Around The Village

Day 3: Valley Hike And Drive To Ait Ben Haddou To Tour The Kasbah

Day 4: Bike Ride To Ouarzazate And Drive To Tamnougalt

Day 5: Drive Via Zagora To Tiraf Dunes To Camp In The Desert

Day 6: Visit Tamegroute And Drive To Ouarzazate

Day 7: Drive To Marrakech For City Tour

Day 8: Trip Ends In Marrakech

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