Arrival in Casablanca. A city of Hollywood fame, hides much more than a few landmarks. The white city contrasts with the blue sky and the waves of the Atlantic. It is a centuries old city whose architecture bears the marks of history. As you settle in you luxury hotel and welcome the sunset over drinks by the coastline, you are about to have your first taste of Morocco.
The day begins with a visit to Hassan II Mosque. It is one of the largest mosques in the world, and the minaret is towering… it is, in fact, the tallest in the world. Your private guide takes you to Rabat. Here you enjoy more of the striking Moroccan architecture and get your second taste of Morocco: mint tea in a luxurious terrace, overlooking the city. The day ends in Fes, the city of the first university in history.
Fes is a city full of magical corners and contrasts. You are beginning to understand that the play of colour and light is fundamental to understand Morocco. As you walk around Fes with your English-speaking professional guide, you go from ochre, narrow streets that appear positively monochrome, to corners decorated with care and exquisite taste. These are subtle accents that give this city ― and this country ― its unique mystique. As the day wanes, you enjoy a delicious rooftop dinner, with magnificent views of the city.
Today you head towards Volubilis, an ancient 3rd Century BCE Roman city. The well preserved mosaics are touching and lasting images of the ancient world. Myths a scenes of the Roman past are presented with honest and straightforward artistry. You enjoy lunch overlooking the mausoleum of Moulay Idriss. Before returning to Fes, you stop at Meknes, where the architecture and charming Moroccan style are on delicious display.
The Atlas Mountains are majestic. As you travel higher, the landscape begins to change, the dramatic sights are the stuff of dreams. You pursue your eastwards course until you finally reach the desert. The Sahara opens before you proudly. The beautiful dunes go on as far a the sight can see. You retrace ancient caravan routes before you reach your luxury camp. Tonight you sleep under the stars.
Rising with the sun, the beautiful colours and shades in the desert at dawn are inspiring. After this, how could you think the desert is empty? It is full of light. You hop on a 4x4 and drive to Skoura Oasis, where you meet with the Berber. This hardi people tell you all about their traditions and life in the desert. It is a hard life, but one that attracts you irrevocably.
Heading inland, back towards the Atlas Mountains, you stop at different Berber villages and are transported back to a different age. Over Tizi’n’Tchika pass you enter the great Marrakech plain. The Ochre City looms large in the distance, but before you leave the mountains, you stay overnight in in Kasbah Bab Ourika, a gorgeous property at the foot of the mountains, where you can enjoy the meditative peace of the Moroccan landscape.
You court the excitement of Marrakech carefully, and spend another day in the mountains. You hike in beautiful trails, and reach small villages where you see how the Berber produce salt traditionally, and even reach a magical garden full of spices and scents to seduce the senses. You are relaxed and rested: time to head down to the city.
Finally Marrakech You lose yourself in the narrow streets, and entice your guide for a playful though thorough exploration of the city. Enchanted by the colours, the populous markets, bustling and noisy, that are followed surreptitiously by quiet alleys, where sun and shade create a dance of sunbeams that are ever changing, bringing life to a city. You explore the Old City, visit Yves St Laurent’s Jardin Majorelle, and enjoy a lunch on the rooftops. As the day grows old and the light begins a new symphony over the city, you let a joyous mood take over you. The delicious food, the belly dancing, the joy of life, that is a true Moroccan night!
You get a free morning to explore Marrakech at your leisure. The city is completely different from one day to the next. You reflect on the last days and are moved by the contrasts. The are no middle grounds in this magical country: light and dark, noise and silence, meditative calm and excitement, explosive colour or monochrome texture. Nothing is ever dull or in-between.
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