MOROCCOFROM SEA TO SAHARA

October 23-November 4, 2017

Hosted by Melanie Delworth, Alexander+Roberts ConciergeAn Original Event for just 16 guests

S P A I N

P O R T U G A L

W E S T E R N S A H A R A

MOROCCO

FèsMeknes

Errachidia

Midelt

Volubilis

Marrakech

Essaouira

Oualidia

OurikaValley

Casablanca 22

4

STRAIT OF GIBRALTARMEDITERRANEAN SEA

ATLAS MOUNTAINS

2 MerzougaOuarzazate1 1

MOROCCOFROM SEA TO SAHARAHosted by Melanie Delworth, Alexander+Roberts Concierge | 13 Days, Oct 23-Nov 4, 2017

Cover: Erg Chebbi Desert

Essaouira Ourika Valley

VI S I T AlexanderRoberts.com or contact your Travel Professional

An Original Event for just 16 guests

+ Journey along the Atlantic to the historic ports of Oualidia and Essaouira, renowned for their seafood and ambience.

+ Retreat to our evocative hotels, including luxury riads that immerse you in all the romance and magic of Morocco’s courtyard palaces.

+ Revel in the kaleidoscopic sensory experience of Morocco’s best-preserved medinas, where the ancient market rhythms of North Africa resonate as they have since the days of the founding dynasties.

+ Spend market day in the picturesque Ourika Valley where Berber traditions endure.

+ Venture along the Route of 1,000 Kasbahs, tracing an ancient caravan route.

+ Spend an enchanted night at our stylish encampment deep in the Sahara, arising to an unforgettable desert sunrise.

+ Experience the rich palette of Moroccan culinary traditions from the freshly-harvested oysters of Oualidia to world-famous tagine… Our à la carte dining in the finest restaurants is enhanced with a private hands-on cooking class in Marrakech!

+ Includes 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

OUR JOURNEY

OCT 23 | Welcome to Casablanca

On arrival, we’ll be escorted to the Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche for early check-in. We’ll enjoy lunch and a city tour including the Central Market, Hassan II Mosque and the unique Mauresque architecture of Mohammed V Square. Our dinner at Rick’s Cafe is sure to thrill classic film buffs! meals  b+l +d

OCT 24 | Along the Coast to Essaouira

In the charming but often overlooked port of Oualidia,

we’ll sample the village’s famed oysters, freshly harvested from the lagoon, and other specialties. An afternoon stroll along the beach

offers a chance to see local fishermen working on their boats and selling their catch. Then we continue to Essaouira for dinner and two nights at the L’Heure Bleue Palais, set in an 18th-century courtyard residence. meals b+l+d

OCT 25 | Discover Essaouira

We begin at a bakery where pastries are created with generations-old family recipes and continue along the city’s ramparts, with their brass cannons still facing out to sea. After a beach-side lunch, we’ll follow our guide into the medina, regarded as one of the finest examples of an 18th-century fortified north African town. We’ll engage with vendors at the open-air fish market before this evening’s à la carte dinner at La Table by Madada. meals  b+l +d

OCT 26 | To Marrakech

After a leisurely morning, we’ll embark on the overland journey to Marrakech, passing through Argan groves where we might espy local goats climbing into the branches! They’re after the fruit, but it’s the tiny kernel inside that’s valued by farmers as the source of Argan oil – used in cooking and prized for its skin-nourishing hydrating benefits. In Marrakech, we check in to La Maison Arabe. This evening’s cocktail party and dinner will be overlooking the ancient medina from the rooftop of our luxury riad. meals b+d

OCT 27 | Explore Imperial Marrakech

The easy pace of a horse-drawn carriage is the best way to explore this ancient city,

founded by the 11th-century Almoravid Dynasty. We’ll see it all with our expert guide, from the tranquility of the Menara Gardens and Le Jardin Majorelle to the lavish tilework of the Saadian Tombs, sealed for centuries until their discovery in 1917. In the heart of the historic center near the old Jewish Quarter, we’ll tour the Bahia Palace with its fabulous mosaic tiles and graceful colonnaded arcade. Of course we’ll also explore the twisting alleys and colorful souks of the medina, and thrill to the non-stop action that has made Djemaa el-Fna Square a favorite gathering spot for 1,000 years. This evening’s à la carte dinner features the warm ambience and fine cuisine of Al Fassia. meals b+l+d

OCT 28 | Flavors of Marrakech

This morning’s hands-on cooking class is a fun and memorable way to learn about the Arabic, Andalusian, Mediterranean and Berber traditions that distinguish Moroccan cuisine. After dining on our own creations, the afternoon is free so you can experience the city’s full kaleidoscope of colors, sights, sounds and flavors at your own pace. Our host Melanie and in-the-know Moroccan guide will be on-hand to offer personal suggestions and assistance. meals b+l+d

OCT 29 | Market Day in the Ourika Valley

Our day begins as we travel into a scenic and timeless land of olive groves and citrus orchards. As we make our way into the Ourika Valley, the impressive peaks of the Atlas Mountains draw ever closer. This is market day here in the region and in the remote village of Tnine de L’Ourika, we’ll join residents who come from near and far for this weekly event, the largest souk in the valley! We’ll also delight in the setting of Setti Fatma, a

Join this special Original Event hosted by our Concierge, Melanie Delworth. Taking you from timeless fishing villages and ancient medinas across the High Atlas Range into the Sahara, our uniquely comprehensive itinerary showcases all that we love about this friendly exotic land.

70 YEARS OF ORIGINAL JOURNEYSALEXANDER+ROBERTS

stream-side village set in a canyon below rugged peaks. Our return journey takes us past red-roofed Berber villages perched on hills so steep that the homes appear to be stacked atop one another! Back in Marrakech, horse-drawn carriages take us to dinner in a lavish erstwhile palace. meals b+l+d

OCT 30 | Across the Spectacular High Atlas Range to Ouarzazate

This morning’s journey takes us through the 7,400-foot Tichka Pass along a serpentine

road built by the French as a military highway. At the highest point, we’ll have breathtaking views of the mountain landscapes. Descending into the pre-Saharan terrain, we’ll tour Aït Benhaddou, widely regarded as an exceptionally fine ksar – the fortified towns that can be found across southern Morocco. With its earthen walls, impressive towers and tight cluster of homes, Aït Benhaddou has appeared in notable films from Lawrence of Arabia to The Jewel of the Nile! We’ll also tour two of the region’s most historic kasbahs before continuing to the Sultana Royal Hotel, set on lovely landscaped grounds just outside of Ouarzazate. meals b+l+d

OCT 31 | Route of 1,000 Kasbahs to Merzouga + The Sahara

An unforgettable day unfolds as we embark on a journey along the fabled Route of 1,000 Kasbahs; tracing an ancient caravan route, this scenic drive is punctuated by deep valleys, old fortified towns and hilltop citadels. We’ll make our way through the spectacular Todra Gorge to explore the ruins of Ksar Abbar and hear the colorful tale of its erstwhile residents – disgraced members of the Alaouite family who were banished to live and be

forgotten here. In Merzouga, perched on the edge of the Sahara, we’ll transfer to comfortable 4x4 vehicles and venture with our expert drivers across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi to our luxury desert encampment. A camel ride at sunset awaits before we dine under a canopy of desert stars. Before retiring to your private tent, we’ll enjoy Berber music and congenial conversation around the campfire. meals b+l+d

NOV 1 | Onward to Fès Arising early, we’ll venture into the vast expanse

of the desert to watch as the sun casts its first golden light across the dunes. After breakfast at camp, we begin our journey to Fès. Traveling through the Ziz Valley, we’ll discover small communities, vast belts of green palm trees and dusty ancient kasbahs that provide the backdrop for the scenes of rural life playing out before our eyes. As we continue across the high plains and through the Middle Atlas Mountains, we’ll often be surrounded by fragrant Cedar forests, a favorite habitat of Barbary macaques! We’ll stop at the Azrou Ensemble Artisanal Center where skilled artisans use traditional ways to craft fine Berber rugs, wood carvings and hand-wrought metalwork. You might be surprised by the “Swiss Alps” feel of Ifrane, founded by the French in the 1930’s. Arriving in arguably the country’s best preserved medieval city, we’ll check in to the Riad Fès, a luxury retreat in the heart of the medina. meals b+l+d

NOV 2 | Immerse in the Imperial City of Fès

Founded in the 8th century, this ancient city emerged as the capital of Marinid

Dynasty in the 14th century and blossomed into a major Islamic center of commerce, learning and the arts. Even today, many Moroccans regard Fès as the cultural heart of their nation! With so much history and glory, our full-day tour promises to be especially rewarding – taking us from 14th-century centers of learning like the

Djemaa El Fna Square, Marrakech

MoroccoFrom the Sea to Sahara

Oct 23-Nov 4, 2017

13 days for $5,399 for

$5,099

+ Save $600 per couple | $300 solo when you pay in full at time of booking

+ Hosted by Melanie Delworth, Alexander+Roberts Concierge

+ Comprehensive sightseeing with our experienced professional Moroccan Trip Leader including all entry fees

+ All 36 meals: 13 buffet breakfasts, 11 lunches, and 12 à la carte dinners with wine

+ 11 nights in our 5-star hotels and intimate luxury riads

+ Overnight at Morocco’s finest tented encampment in the Sahara Desert

+ All on-tour transportation and airport transfers

+ Luggage handling and all hotel taxes and fees

+ Family+Friends – Travel with 3 or more and save $50-$200 more per person

Act now. Space is limited.

OUR SMALL GROUP

JOURNEY Value

DOUBLE SOLO

Land Only $5,399 $7,099

SOFITEL CASABLANCA TOUR BLANCHE In Casablanca we enjoy the 5-star Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche, ideally located opposite the imposing Hassan II Mosque and close to the city’s historic Medina.

OUARZAZATE – SULTANA ROYAL HOTELBlending traditional motifs and modern style, this inviting retreat is surrounded by palm and olive groves, fragrant mimosa and laurel bushes that descend to the shores of Ouarzazate Lake.

MERZOUGA – ERG CHEBBI LUXURY CAMPAmidst the golden dunes of the Sahara, our luxury desert camp features just 15 stylish tents – each with authentic Moroccan furnishings, quality Berber rugs, a comfy bed with fine linens, and your own private en suite bath with shower.

FÈS – THE RIAD FÈS In the style of a courtyard palace, the Riad Fès is a luxury retreat in the heart of the city. Delight in your inviting guestroom and relax alfresco in the calm of a garden patio, beautifully styled with mosaics, lamps and fine Moorish carvings.

ESSAOUIRA – L’HEURE BLEUEThis intimate Relais & Châteaux property is set in a splendidly restored 18th-century courtyard residence in the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage city.

MARRAKECH – LA MAISON ARABEThe delightful Maison Arabe is an intimate 5-star riad that has welcomed guests to the heart of the Medina for more than half a century. Sumptuous guestrooms, an inviting pool and flower-filled patios reflect the finest Moroccan craftsmanship.

C A P T U R I N G T H E R O M A N C E O F M O R O C C O . . .

exquisitely decorated Al-Attarine Madrasa to the Nejjarine Fountain with its ceramic mosaics. We’ll gaze upon the towering 1,000-year-old minaret of the Kairaouine Mosque, the holiest in Morocco, and follow our guide along the labyrinthine streets and narrow lanes of the sprawling medina, the largest in the world! Of course no visit would be complete without visiting the tanneries that have existed virtually unchanged since medieval times! This evening we dine at MB, renowned for its contemporary style and French-influenced Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine. meals b+l+d

NOV 3 | Meknes, Moulay Idriss + Volubilis

Traveling to Meknes, founded as a military settlement in the 11th century, we’ll discover

a harmonious blend of Spanish and Moroccan

architectural styles from the 1600’s. Meknes is also distinguished by its fortress walls and Bab Mansour, a magnificent 18th-century gate of Zellij tile, Corinthian marble columns and an imposing door of wood and iron. Here we’ll also tour the ancient walled Jewish quarter and visit the Royal Stables that once housed more than 12,000 horses. We’ll continue to Moulay Idriss, the final resting place of the nation’s founder and revered as Morocco’s most sacred town. At the archaeological site of Volubilis we’ll delve into the fascinating history of Roman Africa. Returning to Casablanca, we check in once again to the Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche where you’ll have time to refresh before our farewell dinner. meals b+l+d

NOV 4 | Depart Casablanca

We’ll be escorted to the airport today for our homeward journey. meals b