BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.2.3.1//EN TZID:America/Detroit X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Detroit BEGIN:VEVENT UID:30011@arabamerica.com DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit;VALUE=DATE:20230421 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit;VALUE=DATE:20230501 DTSTAMP:20221207T131035Z URL:https://www.arabamerica.com/events/10-day-classic-morocco-tour/ SUMMARY:10-Day Classic Morocco Tour DESCRIPTION:Uncover the exotic and magical country of Morocco on this 10-da y authentic small group active tour.\n\n \;\n\n\n\n\nDate and time\n\n Fri\, Apr 21\, 2023\, 5:00 PM – Sun\, Apr 30\, 2023\, 1:00 PM PDT\n\n\n \n\n\n\nLocation\n\nCasablanca Casablanca Street Casablanca\, Casablanca- Settat 00000 Morocco\n\n\n\n\n\n \;\n\nWe’ll visit cities of history and architectural heritage such as Casablanca\, Rabat\, Fez\, Meknes\, Vo lubilis\, Marrakech\, and Kasbah of Aït Benhaddou. We’ll discover the n atural sites and diverse landscapes of Morocco’s breathtaking lakes\, ma jestic cedar forests\, tranquil Atlas-Mountain Springs\, spectacular Sahar a Desert Sand Dunes\, dramatic Gorges of Dadès\, and beautiful Valley of Roses.\n\nLet the charm of Morocco captivate you as each day unfolds and t itillates your senses.\n\nContact: jack@activeworldjourneys.com / 323-739- 4510 for more info or to register by paying.\n\n \;\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDay 1 - April 21\n\nCasablanca. A warm welcome as we meet our driver at the air port and take private ground transportation to our hotel. We’ll have an afternoon walking tour of the city: Mohamed-V Square\, which separates the modern city from the old medina of Casablanca\, the Habbous district\, th e Marhalma du Pacha (external visit)\, a regional court designed like the old palaces\, and a view of the Hassan-II mosque\, the largest after that of only Mecca. Airport to Hotel Transfer: 45 min Walking: 90 min Overnight at Moroccan House or similar. (D)\n\nDay 2 - April 22\n\nCasablanca – R abat – Meknes. We take the road to Rabat\, a former stopover for Phoenic ian and Carthaginian sailors\, now the city of modern Morocco. The Udaya k asbah is a reminder of the time when the city was the capital of the pirat e republic\, which Arabs and Andalusian refugees forever marked with their seal. We will then head towards the Hassan tower\, Almohad minaret and em blem of the city\, visit the Mohammed-V mausoleum. Then on to Meknes\, the third Moroccan imperial city. We discover the great gate of Bab Mansour\, Lahdim Square\, the mausoleum of Moulay Ismaïl\, the Agoudal basin next to the royal palace. Ground Transfer: 4 h Walking: 2-3 h Overnight at Hote l Swani or similar. (B) (D)\n\nDay 3 - April 23\n\nMeknes - Volubilis – Fes. Today we visit Volubilis\, a wonderful open-air museum in a Roman cit y\, the largest archaeological site in Morocco\, and classified as a UNESC O World Heritage Site. Afterwards\, we move on and discover Fes\, the olde st of the imperial cities\, steeped in history\, a true cultural and intel lectual center of Morocco\, with its astonishing Hispano-Moorish architect ure: ancient residences of incomparable charm\, monuments of the Merinids dynasty\, districts reserved for traditional crafts (tanners\, weavers etc .)\, and mazes of the medina. Ground Transfer: 2 h 30 m Walking: 2-3 h Ove rnight at Fes Inn or similar. (B) (D)\n\nDay 4 - April 24\n\nFes - Moyen A tlas – Midelt. The Middle Atlas\, the green heart of the country\, is to tally different from the Morocco we know. On the northern slope of the mas sif\, the Atlas cedar is the king of the great forests\, maritime pines an d holm oaks are not to be outdone\; green is the dominant color. We’ll w alk along the shores of Lake Dayet\, in the heart of the desolate high pla teaus\, then under the tall cedars to access the Gouraud cedar. Our only c ompanions are the monkeys from North Africa that bring an exotic touch. We pass to Ifrane\, a climatic resort built in a clearing in the middle of t he great cedar forests\, which evokes a kind of Swiss mountain village mor e than a Moroccan village. There are sloping roofs where storks nest\, hot els called Le Chamonix\, Le Perce-Neige\, lakes and waterfalls and its sur rounded by cedars. It’s considered one of the cleanest places in the wor ld. The place was called Ourtanes ("gardens" in Berber)\; the city was cre ated from scratch in 1929\, on a forest clearing\, and changed its name to Ifrane ("caves" in Berber). Our route then continues through green landsc apes and century-old cedar forests to Midelt\, the eastern part of the Hig h Atlas dominated by the impressive pyramid-like of the Gebel Ayachi (12\, 260 ft.). The villages are very isolated\, the way of life has remained tr aditional. The Beni m'Guild nomads roam these high-altitude lands with the ir large herds of sheep and their black khaimas (tents). Ground Transfer: 4 h Walking/Light Hiking: 3 hours. Overnight at Hotel Taddart or similar. (B) (D)\n\nDay 5 - April 25\n\nMidelt - gorges du Ziz - Erfoud – Merzoug a. Crossing the eastern part of the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Talghoumte (6 \,250 ft.)\, one of three passes crossing the mountain range. The road lea ds quickly into the Ziz gorges and the palm grove of Tafilalet. From Erfou d\, the first dunes of the eastern desert appear. We arrive in Merzouga in the early afternoon and can climb on the large dunes of erg Chebbi\, the most majestic in southern Morocco\, from where we can watch the sunset: a guaranteed life-long memory! This evening we sleep in a traditional Berber Camp (comfortable and full-service) deep in the desert dunes\, which we ’ll arrive by camel ride. We’ll eat our dinner by starlight\, sitting in rugs around a low table while traditional music is played for us by the Berbers. Ground Transfer: 4 h Walking/Light Hiking: 3 hours Overnight at Mohayut Desert Camp or similar. (B) (D)\n\nDay 6 - April 26\n\nMerzouga - Vallée du Dades - Vallée des Roses. Maybe (well surely!) we can enjoy th e sunrise at the top of a large dune today. Then we’ll head back to the kasbah for breakfast. Afterwards\, we’ll visit the palm grove of Tinerhi r and its perched villages and its rocky ridges. Now it’s a complete cha nge of scenery: here we are among the villagers of Aït Atta. The Dades Va lley and the Roses Valley offer a rather magical contrast between arid mou ntains and lush gardens carpeted in the bottom of the wadi. This region of the Atlas bears witness to the richness of Berber culture\, which has rem ained intact for centuries. Ground Transfer: 4 h Walking/Light Hiking: 3 h ours. Overnight at Kasbah Tizzarouine or similar. (B) (D)\n\nDay 7 - April 27\n\nVallée des Roses - Skoura – Ouarzazate. Before reaching the palm grove of Skoura\, we enjoy the Valley of Roses during a very beautiful wa lk between red granite cliffs\, villages and roses. Rosa damaskina is dist illed and used for essential oil\, rose water and other extracts\, and is sought after by all the world's leading perfumeries. Then it’s on to Oua rzazate\, the film capital of Morocco\, which houses major studios and enj oys significant potential in this field. Ground Transfer: 4 h Walking/Ligh t Hiking: 3 to 4 hours Overnight at Club Hanane or similar. (B) (D)\n\nDay 8 - April 28\n\nOuarzazate - Aït Bennhadou - Telouet – Marrakech. Toda y we discovery the ksar of Aït Benhaddou\, one of the most famous in sout hern Morocco. It is now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its ex ceptional setting has inspired many filmmakers\, including David Lean for the film Lawrence of Arabia. We’ll continue on by the very beautiful val ley of Ounila featuring kasbahs and greenery\, taking a beautiful walk in the valley by crossing villages in red adobe\, on the tracks of Jacques Ma jorelle. Then we visit the fortress (Kasbah) of Telouet (5\,800 ft\,)\, ci tadel of Glaoui and its tribe until the end of the 1950s. From these mount ains\, the power of Glaoui\, who was once the most powerful man in Morocco \, spread throughout the country and even shook Europe - greatness and dec adence. By the Tizi n'Tichka (pass at 7\,400 ft.) and its tortured mountai n landscapes\, we drive North\, to Marrakech. Gradually\, we feel the appr oach of the red city. Ground Transfer: 5 – 6 h Walking/Light Hiking: 2 h ours. Overnight at Hotel Racine or similar. (B) (D)\n\nDay 9 - April 29\n\ nMarrakech. Marrakech is a city that fizzes with life and today we’ll ex plore it on a half-day morning tour by visiting the medina (old part of th e city) and all the important landmarks that symbolize its rich history an d culture including the Saadian Tombs\, Medersa Ben Youssef\, and Bahia Pa lace. Lunch is on our own today while we explore the alleyways and shops o f the colorful and bustling souk (traditional marketplace). This evening o ur farewell dinner is on the terrace of a ryad near Djemaa el-Fna Square\, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking: 2-3 hours Overn ight at Hotel Racine or similar. (B) (D)\n\nDay 10 - April 30\n\nMarrakech - Casablanca. Breakfast at hotel &\; check-out. Perhaps some free time in Marrakech according to flight schedules. Private transfer to Casablanc a airport (2 hours 30 min.) for return international flight home. (B)\n\nC ontact: jack@activeworldjourneys.com / 323-739-4510 for more info or to re gister by paying.\n\n\n\n ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.arabamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2 022/03/Casablanca-Morocco.webp CATEGORIES:Community,culture END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Detroit X-LIC-LOCATION:America/Detroit BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20230312T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR