6 DAY TOUR OPTION: MARRAKECH, HIGH ATLAS AND SAHARA AT ZAGORA

EDUCATIONAL TOPICS:

Contrasting Cultures; Developing World City; World Heritage Site

Arrive into Marrakech Menara Airport and private coach transfer to hotel. If flight arrival time is in the morning/early afternoon, take lunch in the hotel.

Walk to the Old Medina. Here the city bustles and fascinates in equal measure. Take in a view of the Koutoubia Mosque, move across the Jemaa el Fna entertainment square and enter the Souks with a City Guide.

A traditional Apothecary visit is included too where much is learned about traditional medicines as well as culinary herbs and spices.

Dependent on time, perhaps some time can be given to explore the souks and/or enjoy viewing the sunset behind the Koutoubia mosque from a rooftop terrace cafe.

Overnight Marrakech

First travelling across the Marrakech Plain, it’s then up and over the High Atlas.

The highest peak of the High Atlas can often be seen, Mount Toubkal, 4,167m. The Berbers (the Mountain People) live here; to see their villages and to observe their everyday farmland and village activities is fascinating.

Water is a very precious and life sustaining resource; its traditional management to lead it to the terraced fields is impressive. The Berbers’ traditional pisé mud brick homes are seen plus the rapid, recent change to concrete construction.

On entering the High Atlas foothills, a stop is taken at a cafe from which a grand panorama reveals the nature and origins of the High Atlas.

Continuing onwards, much is seen in the ways of Berber life, in their villages and on their lands.  A market day may be encountered when the clamour and activity is at its most fascinating intensity.

Lunch is taken just before summiting the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass. Beside the restaurant is an Argan Oil Co-operative, an example of rural development to help ladies’ income. Here all is explained about how the argan nuts are processed by hand into the various culinary and cosmetic products.

The recently improved N9 road continues to snake upwards to the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass (2,260m), the watershed of the High Atlas; great panoramic views over the mountain range and the road recently travelled.

Descending the south facing slopes of the High Atlas there is much to still fascinate in the local Berber activities seen. A stop is made overlooking Zaouite Inkkal village; the many positive geographical factors influencing the site selection for this village can be discussed, and also the negative factors.

Before reaching Ouarzazate, Aït Benhaddou kasbah is visited. Dating from the 11th century, Aït Benhaddou is the most famous Kasbah in Morocco and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was an important part of the ancient trade route over the High Atlas between Marrakech, Ouarzazate, and the Sahara.

Time is taken at Aït Benhaddou to leisurely wander within the well preserved and conserved fortified settlement. Perhaps climb to the high watchtower that once guarded the converging routes of the many camel caravans that met at this important transit point. The film industry of Ouarzazate often uses Aït Benhaddou for scenes e.g. Gladiator, Game of Thrones and, most recently, Odyssey (Director "Christopher Nolan).

There are important Film Studios in Ouarzazate and this provides much varied employment whe a new film/TV series is being made. One of the Film Studios is visited on your return journey.

Onwards to Ouarzazate, the “Peaceful City”

Overnight Ouarzazate

Today it is up and over the Anti Atlas mountains.

Climbing out of Ouarzazate, the road snakes as you ascend towards the Tizi-n-Tiniffifft Pass (1,660m). At the Pass an awesome overlook allows you to view deep water cut canyons. The river here has deeply incised the valley in the past and during flash floods of today, developing a polished rock channel floor; fascinating. It is a mini Grand Canyon! Look out too for the “eye” and the “heart”, weathered rocky outcrops as you travel onwards from this area.

Passing through Agdz, a busy service centre, your route enters the valley of the Drâa River. The water from this river allows intensive farming on the fertile soils of the valley. Date palmeries abound, a rich and valuable crop. Date stalls are frequently seen too. Beneath the date palms, and shaded from the intense sun, small plots produce a wide range of vegetables and fruits.

Following the Drâa Valley southwards, the date palmeries are like a thick, wide and very long “carpet” of greenery on the valley floor; a stop at a fine vantage point is taken.

Zagora is a grand, small city. The wealth from date cultivation is obvious in the wide central avenue and the building quality. A good place to buy a traditional scarf for your camel ride.

Both reg (rocky) and erg (sandy) arid landscapes are seen; you are in the Sahara! This evening accommodation is in a Bedouin Camp, in tents. Your group takes a camel trek to the campsite, travelling amongst sand dunes and alongside the faces of high rock mountains.

A fine sunset amongst the dunes can be enjoyed before your evening meal. After eating, often campfire entertainment is provided, music (drumming) and singing around a campfire, under the stars.

Take time too to look upwards at the starry skies and see what can be recognised, perhaps even the Milky Way.

For early risers, next day, there is the opportunity to witness the sunrise, equally as impressive as the sunset.

Overnight in the Sahara, near Zagora, in a Bedouin Camp.

Returning northwards today, there is ample opportunity to engage with new educational topics and different educational experiences along the way.

By now your pupils/students will be gaining a greater understanding and a fuller realization that they are in a sub-tropical environment and in a country that is at a very different level of development than the UK. This opens up the opportunity to discuss issues and to suggest and evaluate development options.

Stops can be made at appropriate places along the way to engage your with your pupils/students in meaningful, relevant and important topics.

Additionally, if the opportunity arises, it may be possible to stop and to engage with a farmer working his land. Your Courier will see if this is possible. By asking questions of a local farmer, so much can be learned and appreciated; geography comes alive.

In the vicinity of both your overnight camp and Tamegroute, there are many sand dunes; their need for management to reduce their impact on human activities can be understood. 

The first planned stop of the day is Tamegroute (to which you first travel southwards). This Saharan town is famous for its "sub-terranean" homes, homes built very close together so as to provide shaded passageways between the homes to guard against the strong tropical sun. 

The renowned Islamic Library of Tamegroute can be visited too. The Islamic Library, once an important centre of learning, contains many ancient texts, many on hide as well as on vellum e.g. a 15th century Egyptian book of illustrated astronomy, a book of medicine and a Quran written on gazelle-hide from the 11th century.

Tamegroute is also renowned for its unique pottery glaze, a rich green. A visit is made to the potters’ area to see the clay being prepared, turned with great talent, glazed and kiln fired.

Your journey continues to follow the Draa Valley norththwards. Acacia forests are seen, “umbrella shaped” trees, specially adapted to the harsh environments. A stop can be taken to discuss this tree’s adaptions to its natural environment and their many uses to the local people. Protected gazelle reserves too are passed (sightings are not usual, but you never know!).

Then it is onwards in the direction of Ouarzazate, up and over the Anti Atlas and the Tizi-n- Tififft Pass (1,660m) and towards your overnight accommodation.

Ouarzazate is a centre for film making, the climate and scenery being ideal. It is of huge economic benefit to the area. A guided visit is made to one of the large Studios.

Overnight Ouarzazate.

First visit the Film Studios on the western outskirts of the city this morning. Much can be learned as to why these studios are located here. Also an apreciattion of the wide range of employment opportunites that result fron this industry. 

Then it is up and over the High Atlas once again; so much fascinating activity to observe and process. The highest peak in this impressive mountain range should again be looked for - Mount Toubkal (4,167m). To continue to see the Berber villages and to observe their everyday farmland and village activities allows for much reflection, comparing their lives with your own. 

The N9 road continues to snake upwards to the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass (2,260m) and to lunch.

Descending the north facing slopes of the High Atlas there is much to still fascinate. River valleys that have been deeply cut into the landscape can be seen.

Many rock sellers are at the roadsides, all trying to boost their family’s income.

Maybe you will spot some beehives on the valley sides, another development to try to increase rural incomes.

After all the tranquillity and tradition of the mountains, soon you are back in the midst of the exhilarating hustle, bustle and clamour of vibrant Marrakech.

Overnight Marrakech

Depending on your flight times, there may be the opportunity for more time to walk into Marrakech Medina.

If, however, you have an evening departure flight then an exceelnt addition to consider is to spend 5-6 hours in the traditional village Douar Oulad Elguern, a hugely impacting practical, “hands-on” day on the Marrakech Plain - see our Day Insert Options for a full description of this Anzal Tours unique option. At a supplementary cost this can be added.

Shorter options include the Majorelle Gardens (once owned by Yves St Lauren). At a supplementary cost this can be added. The Gardens offer a most tranquil, a lush oasis by contrast to the Medina.

Another option is the new and excellent Water Museum. This is an interactive museum where much is learned about gaining and using water over many centuries, from the distant past till the present day.  At a supplementary cost this can be added.

Other supplementary options include Ben Youssef Koranic School, Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Badi Palace.

Coach transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport