The
Moroccan King describes his country as a tree having its roots
in Africa and it’s branches in Europe. To the well
traveled, Morocco feels like a Middle Eastern country with
labyrinths of souqs selling fine handicrafts and spices, and
people wearing the long hooded jellaba. It’s a land of
contrasts in so many ways – from the snow dusted High Atlas to
the hot sands of the hauntingly beautiful Sahara; from the call
of the Imam to young women wearing western clothes.
Morocco is a cultural crossroads with a strong and ancient
tradition of caring for travelers – seldom have we felt so
safe in the world, nor drunk as much mint tea! We’ll
hike in the Atlas and bring school supplies and clothing to the
Berber village hosting us. We’ll raft in the interior
and enjoy the scenery so few experience. Nothing will
prepare you for the impact that the Sahara has on your soul and
sleeping under the stars at a Bedouin camp is unforgettable.
Best of all, we’ll connect with the women of Morocco by
learning to cook a traditional meal in a home and experiencing
hammams (spas). Travel is seldom as enchanting or as
spiritually uplifting as our ten day trip to Morocco.
Linda,
TX
"Thanks for all the exceptional opportunities to meet the
Moroccan people. A new world view opened up for me and
gives me the inspiration to reach across the seas.
Morocco is a beautiful, warm and welcoming country and I'm
grateful to be here."
Lou, Vancouver "On each trip I've shared
with you I've watched as the women you gather together become
a community and learn to love, share and become more tolerant
and accepting of the differences in the world."
Jan, MN "So many unforgettable moments - dinner
with Moroccan women in their beautiful home in Marrakech to
dinner with women in a Berber mountain hut. Morocco will
be an experience I will treasure always because you take us to
the heart of the country - the women."
Sejal, MA "This trip has left an indelible mark
on me and will leave me searching for more adventures in the
years ahead. These last 10 days were full of color and
life which will enrich my spirit even as I sit in the dark
rooms of my work."
Tuesday
Meet your tour escort and travel companions at JFK at 7:20pm at
the gate for Royal Air Maroc AT201 departing 8:20pm.
You’ll recognize each other by the Canyon Calling hats
attached to your daypacks.
Wednesday
Arrive Casablanca 7:50am. Our Guide will meet you at the
airport and transport you into Casablanca to tour the
Hassan II Mosque. Opened in 1993, this is one of
the few Islamic religious buildings open to non-Muslims. Two
thirds of the mosque is built over the sea ensuring a stunning
location. On our guided tour you'll be amazed at the
craftsmanship in every corner of this colossal architectural
masterpiece. We’ll lunch at a restaurant in Casablanca.
Return to the airport for our afternoon flight to Marrakech.
Transfer to our riad (hotel) in the old medina (city) for dinner
and an early night to catch up on jet lag.
Thursday
After breakfast at our riad, our day is devoted to
exploring Marrakesh! Our guide will lead you on
an orientation through the labyrinth of souqs (bazzars),
full of quality crafts and exotic food and spices. He’ll
teach you useful words, how to bargain with the locals, and how
to find your way around using the tall Koutoubia Minaret as a
landmark. Visit the Saadian Tombs, a
lavishly decorated and well-preserved necropolis. Visit the
Koran School with more intricate craftsmanship, then onto the infamous
tanneries. A bandana to cover your nose works
well here! We won’t linger but will have time for an
appreciation of the process and some amazing photos. After
lunch we'll walk around the famous Jemaa el-Fna Square
(UNESCO World Heritage Site) where you can buy fresh squeezed
orange juice, get a temporary henna tattoo and watch the snake
charmers and jugglers. Tradesmen in NW Africa have met in
this square for centuries and it’s one of the most fascinating
places in the world. We'll have two hours free to wander
the square and watch the storytellers, musicians, dancers,
tooth-pullers, herb sellers and show-men. You’ll have time to
explore and shop on your own. After a busy day it's a
perfect time for a hammam! We’ll soak
in the steam room and then get scrubbed to within an inch of our
lives by the female attendants – an amazing experience as
rolls of dead skin peel away leaving you feeling smooth and
relaxed. As it’s getting dark our group will head back to
Jemaa el-Fna and dine at one of the outdoor restaurants.
Friday
9am departure for our two-night rafting expedition. Today’s
highlight is our visit to the Cascades D'Ouzoud, one
of the hidden beauties of Morocco. After lunch we pass Bin
El Ouidane, a beautiful blue lake framed with majestic red
hills, and through the Middle Atlas Mountains to our base camp
on the banks of the Ahansal River. Late afternoon is leisure
time at our campsite to journal or go for a walk and explore the
spectacular views in this area. Enjoy a riverside meal and
perhaps a chardonnay, Moroccan Red or an ice-cold beer from the
cash bar with your meal.
Saturday
You have a choice of cereal and fresh fruit or a cooked
breakfast before pulling on rafting equipment. Our international
Guide will then give a safety and paddle talk and we’re off!
The rapids are grades 2 and 3 with Grade 5 scenery.
You will stare in awe up at the canyon walls, the silence only
interrupted by the next rapid or the calls of a monkey. We
pass the village of Tiloguite through a narrow gorge, with
plenty of waving children amazed at our multi-colored equipment.
Then we enter a large gorge with so many rapids it’s a thrill
a minute rollercoaster ride. We camp comfortably at the site of
a working watermill deep in the heart of the Middle Atlas. Dine
on the traditional Tajine.
Sunday
As the sun hits camp, awaken to smell of freshly brewed coffee.
Breakfast is served and we launch above a great rapid called
"Morning Surprise". We paddle into the lower reaches
of the river, surrounded by huge mountains. You will be amazed
and astounded by it's beauty. We paddle onto the
crystal clear waters of Bin El Ouidane and are met by
our motorboat. As we’re towed across the lake, sample a
"floating lunch" taking in the views and reflect on
our adventure. Our van returns us to Marrakech and our
same cozy riad. Tonight we are treated to dinner
with English-speaking Moroccan women in one of their homes.
What a treat to be able to learn about their lives and to share
our cultures.
Monday
We say farewell to Marrakech and drive towards the mountains
that have been beckoning us all week. We breakfast
outside, enjoying the peaceful countryside of olive farms viewed
from our café’s deck. Our English-speaking mountain guide
loads donkeys with some of our bags full of children’s
clothing and school supplies. Our trek in the High
Atlas is a leisurely four-mile journey up 2000’ to a beautiful
red-earth village. Our Guide prepares lunch for
us along the way and children along the trail abandon their
wooly charges to run and get candy from us. We sleep
comfortably in rooms of a poor Berber family who welcome us and
cook a traditional dinner. There is even a simple steam
hammam waiting for us so that we can freshen up after our hike.
It’s wonderful to sip mint tea while looking across at peaks
still dusted with spring snow.
Tuesday
Our host family prepares breakfast for us and afterwards we distribute
the gifts to the children of the village.
“Stilo” (French for pen) is a cry you’ll hear the children
shout and it’s good to have plenty handy to give away.
Our trekking poles ensure an easy trip back down to our starting
point where our van waits. Drive over the scenic 7400’ Tizi
N’Tichka Pass. Our destination is Ait Ben Haddou,
another cultural treasure given World Heritage status
by UNESCO. Check into an adjacent hotel then walk through
this ancient mud kasbah (village) up to the hill behind it and
marvel at the view. Relax in the hotel swimming pool
before dinner.
Wednesday
Sleep in and enjoy a lazy breakfast and maybe even another swim
before departure. Today we travel through the Valley
of a Thousand Kasbah’s to Todra Gorge. This
scenery is a mixture of desert, oases, palm trees, orchards and
gardens. Travel through Ouarzazate and Skoura to the city of El
Kelaa des Mgouna where Yves Saint Laurent sources their roses.
We’ll stop to sample rose body milk and perfume.
It’s a wonderful drive through the lush oasis up to Todra
Gorge where we are reminded of Zion National Park as we stroll
beneath the 1000’ cliffs. Lodging in town adjacent to a
lush valley of palms.
Thursday
Today we’ll see the Sahara for the first time – an
enchanting and unforgettable experience. Our
morning drive delivers us to Rissani where we’ll have Moroccan
pizza and mint tea for lunch. A local rug trader will host
us and explain the origins of the different carpets. This
would be the perfect place to buy a carpet if you choose.
He’ll also outfit us in the traditional desert dress of
djaballah and turban. Another short drive and we’ll
arrive at our hotel base on the edge of the Sahara in the late
afternoon. Riding camels across the sweeping sands as
the sun sets is one of the most magical memories in travel.
A comfortable 90-minute ride will bring us to our Bedouin camp
for the evening where delicious chicken couscous is served.
Sleeping under the stars here is heavenly.
Friday
You may choose to climb a dune to enjoy the sunrise.
There’s time in the morning to buy toy camels from the local
children and to leave school supplies with them. Then ride
our camels back to the hotel for breakfast and showers.
Relax for a few hours and enjoy the Sahara. It’s a short
drive to see a drumming and dance performance by local
group “Pigeons of the Desert.” You have the
afternoon to relax back at the hotel. Staff will entertain
with drumming and singing. Early dinner. Transfer to
Errachidia for our flight at 9.20pm to Casablanca.
Transfer to our hotel for the evening.
Saturday
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Casablanca Airport for
Royal Air Maroc AT200 10:45am to JFK, NY
