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Date
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Itinerary
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Day 1 -
Friday, November 14, 2008
Depart Home
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Depart from home for your international
flight to Casablanca.
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Day 2-
Saturday, November 15, 2008 (B, D)
Arrive Casablanca - Rabat
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You will arrive early morning in Casablanca
where you will be met at the airport by your guide. After
passing through customs we will begin a city tour of Casablanca
visiting the Mosque Hassan II, dramatically sited at the edge of
the Atlantic Ocean. Built by the late King Hassan II at the end of
his 40-year reign, this astounding edifice is larger than Saint
Peter’s in Rome and capable of holding 80,000 worshippers.
Highlights of your brief tour of Casablanca
include the monumental colonial architecture of Place Mohamed V,
the French-built Quartier Habous, the Gates of the Royal Palace
and the Marabout of Sidi Abderrahman.
We continue our one hour drive to Rabat, the
current political capital of Morocco, and neighboring Salé were
once notorious as haven to the feared Barbary pirates, who
terrorized Atlantic and Mediterranean trade, capturing prisoners
to hold them for ransom.
After checking into our hotel we will begin
our tour of Rabat at the ancient necropolis of Chellah, a thriving
city for nearly 1,000 years, whose ruins date from the Roman
through the Islamic periods and is a special favorite of
bird-watchers. Visit the picturesque, labyrinthine Kasbah des
Oudaias overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the lovely gardens
outside the Kasbah.
This evening Hermes Tours will host a
welcome dinner so that we may get all better acquainted.
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Day 3 –
Sunday, November 16, 2008 (B, D)
Rabat – Volubulis - Fes
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After breakfast at our hotel, we head east
to the extensive Roman ruins at Volubulis and tour the capital of
the ancient Roman province of Mauritania.
After completing our tour of the ruins,
drive to nearby Moulay Idriss: the holiest Muslim site in Morocco.
At its center lies the tomb (zaouia) of the man who brought Islam
to Morocco twelve centuries ago. For those Moroccans without the
means to make the pilgrimage to Mecca (the hajj), five trips to
Moulay Idriss is of equal merit. We visit Imperial Meknes:
its spectacular City Gates are among the finest in the Arab world.
Also visit the Tomb of the once-feared Moulay Ismaïl, who modeled
his capital of Meknes in the image of Versailles! Visit the
underground granaries and vast Imperial Stables, which once
held 12,000 horses.
We then continue our one hour journey to
nearby Fes.
Scholars, architects, historians and artists travel from all over
the world to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fes – an
entire city which functions largely as it did in the middle ages.
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Day 4 –
Monday, November 17, 2008 (B, D)
Fes
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Step back six centuries into the medieval
world of Fes, whose narrow and cobbled streets are filled with
ancient mosques, towering green-glazed minarets and crumbling
fondouks (hostels for travelers and their animals). Narrow
openings into private worlds beyond reveal an architecture of
peaceful courtyards filled with carved cedar, brilliantly colored
mosaic tiles and delicately carved stucco ornament. In Fes, veiled
women hurry through the winding streets, donkeys − laden
with their wares − take their time, and proud artisans craft
objects much as their forefathers did centuries ago.
Highlights of our visit include the Medersa,
Bou Inania, Foundouk Nejjarine, the shrine of Moulay Idriss II,
countless souks and the famous tanneries.
Visit the Dar Batha Museum, with a
particularly impressive pottery collection, dating to the 16th
century.
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Day 5 –
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 (B, D)
Fes – Marrakech
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Journey south through the pine forests of
the Middle Atlas Mountains and into one of the largest
agricultural regions of the country, Beni Mellal. From the
distance, you'll be able to see the snow-capped High Atlas
Mountains before arriving in Marrakesh, a city of enduring
fantasy.
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Day 6 –
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 (B, D)
Marrakesh
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Start your day with a visit the medieval
Medersa (koranic university) ben Youssef – one of the finest
Islamic monuments in North Africa. Near the medersa are two of the
more interesting cultural showplaces in Marrakech: The Musee
de Marrakech is housed in the sumptuous, 19th Century Mnebhi
Palace. And the Dar Bellarj cultural foundation, established
to showcase Moroccan culture, is housed in a former hospital for
storks.
Visit the opulent Saadien Tombs. This
treasure was lost within the medina until its rediscovery at the
beginning of the 20th century when it was rediscovered only when
aerial photographs of the medina revealed their existence.
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Day 7 –
Thursday, November 20, 2008 B, D)
Marrakesh - Imlil - Taroudannt
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For now, we will say 'goodbye' to Marrakesh
and travel into the High Atlas Mountains to enjoy lunch
at the Kasbah du Toubkal ecolodge in the small mountain village of
Imlil. Afterwards, we will follow the Tizi n'Test road
to Tin Mal, site of the 12th century Almohad mosque, before
finally arriving at our 19th century palace accommodation in
Taroudannt.
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Day 8 –
Friday, November 21, 2008 (B, D)
Taroudannt - Essaouira
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Best traversed by foot or bicycle,
Taroudannt is a traditional Berber market town, surrounded by a
circuit of red-ochre walls. After a morning tour of the
city's souk and kasbah, we will follow the Atlantic coastline to
the white-washed town of Essaouira.
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Day 9 –
Saturday, November 22, 2008 (B, D)
Essaouira -
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Formerly a Portuguese colony, Essaouira has
become something of an artists' colony in recent years.
After a guided walk of Essaouira's highlights, the day is yours to
explore this magnificent beachside town. Check out the works
of local artists at the Espace Othello Gallery, enjoy homemade,
french-inspired pastries at Chez Driss, wander the souk where
locally-made products are created right before your eyes, and feast
on fresh seafood.
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Day 10 –
Sunday, November 23, 2008 (B, D)
Essaouira - Marrakech
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As we drive to Marrakesh, don't be surprised
if you see goats in the trees! This is the Souss Region, the
only area of the world where Argan trees grow. Their
nuts are a tasty treat for the local livestock, but are also processed
in Women's Cooperatives for the production of high-quality
oils, creams, and food products. This afternoon is
yours to independently explore Marrakesh. How about
exploring the colorful souks, a visit to the ruins of the vast
Badi'a Palace, or perhaps you may wish to leave the medina for a
visit the Menara Gardens.
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Day 11 –
Monday, November 24, 2008 (B)
Depart for Home
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Our tour officially ends this morning after
breakfast where you will be transfered to the nearby Marrakech
airport for your return flight to home.
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