Imperial cities and deserts of West Africa: Morocco and Mauritania
Imperial cities and deserts of West Africa: Morocco and Mauritania
Tour dates: November 3 – November 16, 2024
Route: Marrakesh - Casablanca - Rabat - Meknes - Volubilis - Fes - Salt mines - markets and bazaars
Nouakchott - Akjoujd -
Duration: 14 days/13 nights
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included in the cost of the entire morning.
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Tour program
Day 1: MARRAKECH - Morocco
Arrival of the group in Morocco. Meeting and transfer to the hotel for relaxation.
DAY 2: MARRAKECH - Morocco
Marrakech has been one of the most important caravan terminals throughout human history. Our day will be dedicated to this beautiful ancient city.
Lunch at a restaurant and return to the hotel for a short rest before the evening tour.
Late in the evening we will be in the very center Marrakech on Djema El Fna Square. Walk this square - unforgettable: local every day the population wanders among the musicians, jugglers, storytellers, wizards, acrobats, spell casters snakes and fortune tellers. Twilight is the perfect time to start visiting the square, which thanks to its soft temperature becomes even more alive: the labyrinth sounds and colors, people in traditional clothes, spices, flavors and various artifacts created by experienced Moroccan artisans...
On the dinner We we can choose between “street food” on numerous shops offering a wide range of delicious
delicious food or restaurants overlooking the square.
DAY 3: CASABLANCA AND RABAT - Morocco
We will arrive in Casablanca around lunchtime. The architecture of the city center dates back to the French colonial era with buildings inspired by the Art Deco style. We will visit Hassan II Mosque, one of the few mosques open to non-Muslims. It is the largest religious building in Morocco, with one of the tallest minarets in the world, tens of thousands of carved wooden decorations, zelige decorations (glazed tiles), stained glass, marble, mosaics, carved ceilings and stucco. The mosque, opened in 1993, is a masterpiece of engineering and architecture.
Less populated compared to Casablanca, Rabat, the capital of the kingdom, is an elegant city where the King resides, the parliament is located and the embassies are located. Interesting historical traces going back to ancient times. Visit Kasbah of Oudaya, dating from the 11th century, still inhabited and perfectly preserved with its narrow alleys and walls always covered with colorful flowers, and its well-kept Andalusian garden. Also from this period are the remains of the Hassan Mosque, next to the mausoleum of Mohammed V, guarded by royal guards in luxurious traditional costumes. In the evening we will arrive at our cozy riad for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4: MEKNES AND VOLUBILIS – Morocco
Another busy day. Meknes owes its splendor to Sultan Mullay Ismail, who founded this Imperial City and the country's first Arab dynasty in the 17th century. We will visit the impressive gateway El Mansour, built by a renegade Christian who went over to serve the Sultan. It is said that El Mansur was eventually executed by the Sultan himself.
Ruins of Volubilis - the largest archaeological site in Morocco, Carthaginian in origin, built in the 3rd century BC. e. In the 1st century AD, Volubilis was the western capital of the Roman Empire, but a semi-autonomous territory that included most of modern Algeria and Tunisia.
Continuation of the journey to Fes, which we will reach in the evening.
DAY 5: FES - Morocco
Fez has the most beautiful and complex medina in North Africa and we will dedicate it to it all day. The old town, located in a hilly area, consists of two separate but interconnected parts: Fes al-Bali and Fes el-Jedid. In this world of narrow medieval alleys, caravanserais, bazaars, the crowd is always on the move: donkeys loaded with goods, aromas of spices, Arabic and Berber music, voices, calls of the muezzin. For lunch we will taste the exquisite gastronomic dishes of this sophisticated city, the spicy and delicate flavors that make the cuisine of Fez special. The Bab (gate) of Bujlud, the dyers' courtyard, dozens of multi-colored leather shoes hanging on the wall, in the architectural competition of cedar arabesques, as in the Bua Inaniya madrasah, the Qairauin mosque and much more, will fill this day with walks in a real medieval city.
DAY 6: ATLAS MOUNTAINS AND CEDAR FORESTS - Morocco
Today our route will wind through the valleys, villages and mountains Middle Atlas: Ifrane will amaze you with its climate and alpine architecture. This city is popular as a ski resort. We leave the main road to follow a path between valleys and peaks through great cedar forests. Arrival at a small Berber village in the mountains in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in friendly hotels run by local residents, simple but clean rooms with amenities.
DAY 7: SALT MINES AND CARPET AUCTION - Morocco
Our exclusive off-the-beaten-track tour to discover the most authentic Berber traditions. Dirt paths will lead us to the most remote villages. We will be accepted in private Berber homes. After drinking traditional tea we will witness ancient handloom weaving techniques, which are used by the women of the Atlas Mountains. Next we come to primitive mines, where men dig salt bars, then load them onto mules that will carry them to the valley, just like centuries ago back. After noon we will reach market on the day of the carpet auction, where Berber women exhibit for sale are carpets woven over a period of months and sometimes years. The woman will give the carpet to the merchant, who will praise his characteristics before a small crowd of merchants from all over the country, and will begin auction…
DAY 8: SALT MARKET - Morocco
We leave early in the morning, we will stop in a village on market day, colorful goods, crowds, with big number of sheep and goats, local crafts, and salt merchants offering the bars we saw in the mountains, bars with a special contour that has remained unchanged for centuries. After leaving the valleys between the mountain ranges and having lunch at a restaurant, we will cross the steppes, a harbinger arrival in Marrakesh, which we will reach at the end of the day. Transfer to the airport for flight to Mauritania (or return flight to Europe). Flight to Nouakchott and transfer to the hotel.
DAY 9: WAY TO THE NORTH – Mauritania
As an introduction to the history and culture of the country, let's start with a visit National Museum, featuring archaeology, artifacts, costumes and textiles from prehistoric times to the present day. Unique photographs taken during the excavations of Audagost, the northern trading city and best-preserved site of the legendary Ghana Empire. Ghana was the oldest empire and kingdom in Black Africa. Created in the 6th century, the empire was located in the southeast of modern Mauritania. Then the routes of caravans transporting gold to North Africa began from Audagost.
Leaving Nouakchott, we head to Akzhuzhd.
DAY 10: DUNES AND MOUNTAINS – Mauritania
A whole day is dedicated to crossing one of the most picturesque landscapes of Mauritania: valleys, high mountains, yellow sand dunes, peaks of dark brown and red rocks hiding villages of red brick.
Erg Amatlic is a vast sandy plateau locked between the Adrar Mountains. In addition to the endless dunes, the region contains a wide variety of Saharan landscapes, such as canyons, tiny oases and palm groves.
Voices, joyful cries of women and children will greet us in remote nomadic camps and hidden villages.
Tifujar Pass overlooks a vast and steep gorge, the remnants of an ancient river that flows into the Oued el Abiod or White Valley, a fault line completely filled with dunes, along which small settlements and palm groves are hidden. Arrival at Chinguetti to a cozy guest house that will become our home for two nights.
DAY 11: CHINGHUTTI, OASIS - Mauritania
Chinguetti was an ancient caravan terminal and major trading post between the north and sub-Saharan Africa.
Old village has its roots in the 13th century. The whole day in the magical atmosphere of this stone fortress, considered a gem Moorish oases, and one of the best preserved throughout the Sahara. Visiting two collections manuscripts, including the Ould Habott collection, the largest in Mauritania. White stone minaret mosques presumably the second oldest in the world among Muslim buildings that continue to be used for their intended purpose. Sunset from the high dunes overlooking the Chinguetti. After dinner we will be guests at the celebration event with local residents. By the light of the fire the atmosphere will become truly alive: drums, women's songs and rhythmic dancing...
Return to our cozy guest house.
DAY 12: OUADAN, THE MOST REMOTE OASIS - Mauritania
Departure to Ouadan on an absolutely non-tourist route, which follows the bed of the Wadi River (dry river). We'll reach a tiny oasis Tanusher: green gardens, Bedouin tents on sand dunes, palm trees... Ouadan, built on a rocky hill, is the most a remote oasis of Mauritania, an outpost before endless desert, founded in 1147. Ouadan is mainly in ruins, but some of its stone houses are still inhabited. Ancient times Ouadan was an active caravan crossroads Visit to the ancient stone city and recently restored mosque. Late in the evening we have a camel expedition to enjoy the silence of the desert and join the small to a nomadic camp, as the locals do. Best a way to be invited to a tea party and experience legendary hospitality of nomadic tribes. Return to Chinguetti.
DAY 13: GREEN OASIS – Mauritania
The landscape will never cease to amaze. Leaving the main route, we reach a region with stunning mountains, gorges and canyons. An endless space where the ocher colors of the earth and blue sky predominate. Ruins on the horizon Fort Saganna, built for the filming of the film of the same name: “Fort Saganna”.
Agrur, located at the top of the Amojar Pass, hides prehistoric cave paintings depicting bulls, hunters and shepherds.
After a short visit to the market in Atar, we head to Azugi, the ruins of what was once the capital of the Almoravid kingdom in the 11th century. The Almoravids, called Al-Murabitoun in the Arab world, were a puritanical and radical Muslim army descended from nomadic tribes from the north of modern Mauritania. Between the 11th and 12th centuries, the Almoravids sacked the Ghana Empire, founded Marrakesh, and conquered Morocco, parts of Algeria, and southern Spain.
Terjit is one of the most special and fertile oases in Mauritania. After passing through a dense palm grove protected by a gorge and following a small river, we will discover a vast rock shelter from which spring water flows. An unexpected atmosphere, divorced from time and the harshness of the desert.
Arrival at Akzhuzhd In the evening.
Day 14: DEPARTURE FROM NOUAKCHOTT - Mauritania
Transfer to Nouakchott, transfer to the airport, flight home.
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Cost of the full tour "Imperial Cities and Deserts of West Africa: Morocco and Mauritania" based on double occupancy: 4650 EUR/person in a double room.
Surcharge for single accommodation — 800 EUR/person
Separately parts of Morocco and Mauritania:
Cost of part of Morocco based on double occupancy: 2450 EUR/person in a double room.
Cost of part of Mauritania based on double occupancy: 2550 EUR/person in a double room.
In cost tour “Imperial cities and deserts of West Africa: Morocco and Mauritania” come int:
- accommodation in hotels according to the program of the whole tour with breakfast;
- lunches and dinners according to the entire tour program
- transfers from / to airports;
- excursion service according to the program of the whole tour with entrance tickets;
- English speakers guides along the entire route
The price does not include:
- international air travel;
- domestic flights Morocco - Mauritania;
- visas and visa fees;
- tips;
- personal expenses.
Visas:
- Morocco - opens online, valid US and/or Canada, UK, Australia visas are highly desirable
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