Mugical-Morocco Dec 20-29, 2024
10 days of Cultural, Musical and magical explorations.
This country’s history is a diverse tapestry, as varied as the colors woven into each carpet… Since ancient times Berber Dynasties, Jewish, Islamic, French, Spanish…have brought their own ethnic influence and have together knitted a vibrantly distinct region of West Africa. Journey into Morocco’s heart through its food, culture , Music and magic to better understand this exciting nation and passionate people.
We will travel Morocco to many cities, villages and ever changing geographic nature, explorations of Cultures, “museum of Life” and variety of tribal local music and Magic…
This is a cultural, Culinary (naturally) journey for music lovers and for the ones who are interested in personal growth and gaining life enhancing tools while having a joyful experiences of a lifetime…
*Upon arrival in Casablanca airport, you’ll be picked up- watch for “Mugical-Morocco” sign at the reception area. (for pick up on other times that the tour arrival day, please request ahead of time (for a fee).
Departure from Fes airport is Suggested.
(to avoid driving in middle of the night for 4:30 hrs to arrive Casablanca airport)
Why you will love this tour:
- Under the eye of a local tour guide, feel like you’ve travelled back to the Middle Ages in the labyrinthine medina of Fes
- Drive through scenic ever changing geography, cities and traditional villages in the Atlas Mountains. understand the culture and tradition of an indigenous population who have stood the test of time
- For many people, their dream of Morocco is a camel trek or walk through the dramatic red dunes of the Sahara Desert This trip provides you with the opportunity to do just that
- Take a guided tour through Marrakech’s lively medina and join the nightly carnival of fortune-tellers, dancers and medicine men in Jama’ el-Fna square.
- We will enjoy varied and wonderful accommodations including 4* Hotels, Riad, Dar and a wonderful place with no title 🙂
- Enjoy , trance and heal with variety of Moroccan music along the way.
- Visit local home, meet great people outside and in the group. Our groups become like family.
- Life enhancing Journey.
Itinerary
*Day 01: Casablanca
We will be greet you at Casablanca airport and transfer to the hotel.
(If you wish to arrive a day early, we’ll be happy to arrange accommodations (depends on availability) and transportation from airport- for a fee.) The ones who arrive early that day (or the day before) we’ll have a full day of explorations including Orientation tour of Casablanca while we visit the only Jewish museum in a Muslim country, overall tour of the city, it may feature the downtown colonial area, walls of the medina (old city), a visit or a look at the impressive Hassan ll mosque (varies), Visit services at a Jewish synagogue.
Short orientation, Dinner Included) and Accommodations
Day 02: Casablanca-Marrakech (150 miles,240km)
Following delicious breakfast, we’ll journey southward to Marrakech. This unique city is located where the desert and mountains meet. Known is the “Pearl of the South” or the Red City it was established in the 11th century by the Almoravid Dynasty. We’ll arrive at our hotel for lunch and rest by the pool. Later in the afternoon we’ll go on an introductory tour of monumental Marrakech featuring ramparts and gates, gardens and Jamaa el Fna square where there is colorful action of acrobats, snake charmers, water servers, many people… we’ll enjoy a mint tea at the roofs of Café Argana overlooking the never ending entertainment of this square.
Usually the day will end with dinner and a musical evening at a local Family home and a group of Dekka Marrakchia or Tkitikat, Dakka Marrakchia is considered as a musical genre and is produced by polyrhythmic percussion and choral chants.
Lots of rhythms, trance, spiritual, funny and joyful…
Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 03: Marrakech
We will devote our morning to the exploration of Marrakech’s many historical sites, including the Saadian Tombs, the Bahia Palace, and the city’s focal point: the 12th century Koutoubia Minaret. After lunch, we will have an opportunity to visit the souks, a plethora of alleyways with multicolored shops, and the Jamaa El Fna Square, where snake charmers, acrobats, and fortune-tellers put on a never-ending show. We will conclude the day with dinner and optional another evening of music with local Chaabi Band, Andalousi music at an amazing looking restaurant. Breakfast and lunch included
Day 04: Marrakech – Ourika Valley (31miles, 50km)
The Ourika Valley spreads between the first foothills of the Atlas Mountains, extending along the Wadi River.We may visit a local Berber weekly market if it’s on that day-Souk atneen.
Despite it being so close to Marrakech, this beautiful green valley is one of the most pristine valleys in Morocco.
From there to the most beautiful and special place we’ll stay at has an herb garden where we’ll be served traditional mint tea by the local people. After lunch we will rest and may explore the Ourika Valley-we’ll hike to visit a Berber Village and we’ll be hosted for tea at a local family home.
We’ll meet some of the kids of the village, please bring gifts to share.
We’ll have dinner at our home base, After dinner , An Ahouach of Ourika, local band will be visiting us to share the best of its local Berber music.
Oh, what a trance, we can dance, play, sing, scream….
Music, drumming, dance, trance and healing…
Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 05: Ourika Valley – Ouarzazat (155miles, 250km)
After breakfast, departure to Ouarzazate Through the Tizi-N-Tichka pass , the beautiful Atlas mountains(2260m).We will discover a remarkable region characterized by the magnificence, beauty of its landscapes dominated by Berber villages and their farms.Before arrive Ouarzazate we may (I said may since many times we prefer to just swim in the pool…) Look over Ait Ben Haddou- unesco site -Ksar (Kasbah that is a village) town has a long list of film and TV credits, including Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones and Gladiator.
Ouarzazate is know as “Mollywood”= “Moroccan Hollywood” where many known movies has been filmed, benefiting from the very special blue sky and light of Ouarzazate.
we arrive in Ouarzazate for dinner and night in a beautiful Dar.
Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 06: Ouarzazat–Erfoud–Merzouga dunes (217miles, 350km)
After breakfast we will continue driving the beautiful road of 1,000 Casbahs. We will visit the beautiful preserved Kasbah Amridil and set off towards Kala’a Mguna to the magnificent Todra Gorges. Lunch with local “Touareg” in Tinghir, they host us and tell stories and info about carpets and rugs- amazing experience of “museum of Life”. We will have opportunity to buy carpets if we choose to. Then Carry on the road to Merzouga in the Sahara desert across palm Trees and the town of Erfoud (where we may visit the workshop production of marble fossils) and then depart by 4×4 to ride the camels to spend the night in the heart of the Sahara. Dinner and overnight under a nomad tent under millions of stars…
** Note: You may have an option to stay in the beautiful hotel on the edge of the desert if you’d rather not ride camels to the Sahara.(Must request when registering)
The Sahara dunes are magnificent, the loudest silence I’ve ever heard… usually so many stars… last year it was a beautiful full moon…
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
Day 07: Sahara, Merzouga dunes
We will rise up early so we can climb up the huge dune and watch the magnificent, colorful sun rise over the Sahara.
After tea and early camel trek out of the dunes, We will arrive our beautiful hotel (for luck of a better word) have a breakfast huge buffet and the free day to relax and enjoy the beautiful desert space, pool, massage….
After Dinner we’ll have one of the best Gnaoua music band, play , sing, dance, enjoy…
Breakfast and Dinner Included
Day 08: Sahara – Fez (190miles, 300km)
The journey today takes us through the small towns of Errachidia en route to Fez.Via the ziz valley, climb up the high Atlas into the Middle Atlas mountains, Stop at Midelt for lunch. This area is classic Berber country, the people being semi-nomadic, owning homes but, spending a great deal of time following their flocks. This drive takes most of the day.(We’ll enjoy tea/coffee, bathrooms and lunch stops) we’ll arrive for dinner at our Royal Riad in Fes.
Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 09: Fez
Undeniably fascinating, Fez stimulates the senses with its haunting yet beautiful sounds, visual splendor, and evocative smells. The most ancient of imperial capitals and the most complete medieval city of the Islamic world, Fez is reminiscent of a city suspended in time, unfazed by the constantly evolving world outsides its walls, owing nothing to the Western world save electricity. Time spent in Fez will reveal much about the sophistication of the Moroccan artisan, providing an unparalleled learning experience to those who cross its path. The morning will be spent visiting a local clay factory, beautiful products made the same way for hundreds of years, from earth to magnificent finished pieces… visit the worldly known Tanneries of Fes…break for lunch at a Moroccan restaurant and will continue to explore the Medina and shop…
In the evening, after dinner, a Musical band of Aissaoua, rhythmic, trance and healing experience.
Final ceremony
Breakfast and dinner included
Day 10: Fez – airport
End for an amazing, exhilarating, cultural, spiritual and joyful experience…
We will transport you to the airport in Fes for a flight back home.
Note: Fes-Casablanca (229miles,370km).
This is about 4:30 hrs drive.
Therefore we chose departure from Fes and avoid hrs of driving and missing night sleep
*****
*Included and not
- 9 nights’/10 days accommodation Half Board in Hotels (mostly 4*) and Riads and beautiful places with no title 🙂 as indicated in the itinerary two meals daily.
- Land Transportation in a deluxe bus throughout the journey.
- 4X4 and Camels in the Sahara Bivouac over the dunes
- Services of guides and escort.
- Music bands as indicated in Itinerary.
- Tickets to monuments and museums are not included.
- Tips are not included
- Itinerary may change without early notice.
- The pace, culture, values and timing in Morocco are very different than ours, please expect delays and changes already! We still can have great and deep exploration and much fun.
- I put together the itinerary according to my passion, what I liked & enjoyed the most. When joining my adventures you agree to release me (Dror Sinai) from any liability that may occur.
- Please make sure to purchase a travel insurance when you purchase your air ticket. (Must)
- Make sure you have your passport ready and valid.(min 6 months)
- I’ll be happy to introduce you to my travel agent if need help with airplane tickets.
Can’t wait for another mugical journey.