Marrakesh & the Atlas Mountains

Immerse yourself in the truly captivating city of ochre-coloured Marrakesh, filled with intriguing souks, eye-catching minarets, vibrant squares and superb architecture, plus experience the stunning natural wonders of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains which pierce the striking azure blue sky.

Essaouira

Your itinerary

DAY 1 – Arrival in Marrakesh

Arrive at the airport for your flight to Marrakesh from where you will be taken to your hotel. This evening join your tour manager for a reception of traditional Moroccan mint tea, then get to know your travelling companions over dinner. (D)

DAY 2 – Marrakesh & The Saadian tombs

Marrakesh is a labyrinth of tiny alleyways teeming with activity like few other places in the world. With classic, French colonial buildings and boulevards surrounded by remarkably preserved medieval walls, the city is so perfect it could be, and often is used as, a film set. This morning, we enjoy a sightseeing tour during which we will see the Saadian tombs, one of the world’s finest examples of Moorish architecture, where classic archways are covered in gold leaf and stucco work. Plus, we will experience the Bahia Palace, which when built was acclaimed as the world’s most beautiful palace, famed for its 50 marble columns. We also visit the famous souks or covered markets, where immensely skilled craftsmen create intricate leatherware, jewellery and furniture. At dusk, after dinner in the hotel, we visit the Jemaa el-Fnaa square, a showcase for traditional Moroccan life. You will experience a fantastic

As this is a single-centre tour, we stay at the same hand-picked hotel in Marrakesh for the stay, with breakfast and dinner.

Hotel Opera Plaza, Marrakesh

HHHH Superior The hotel is set in its own private grounds, this hotel is ideally located, allowing easy access to the sights of the old city. All the rooms are comfortable, air-conditioned and wellappointed in a contemporary design. There are three restaurants and dinner is included in the main restaurant which serves international cuisine; you may wish to upgrade to either the Italian or Moroccan ‘à la carte’ restaurants. After a day of wonderful sightseeing, you can relax in the chic lounge bar or the cosy café bar. There is also a large outdoor pool shaded by palm and olive trees, (open during the summer months, weather permitting) and a spa.

spectacle of musicians, dancers, fortune-tellers and snake charmers in an exhilarating kaleidoscope of colour. (B,D) + Included Experiences – Guided tour of Marrakesh and visit to the Saadian tombs and and sunset visit to the Jemaa el-Fnaa square

DAY 3 – Marrakesh

This morning, we continue our tour of marvellous Marrakesh. The city boasts a wealth of wonderful gardens, some vast with olive groves and lakes, providing a haven of peace and tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle of the city. One of the prettiest is the Jardin Majorelle: an amazing display of bamboo, bougainvillaea and cacti, formerly owned by Yves Saint-Laurent. Surrounding the city are ramparts stretching 19 miles long, still largely intact with imposing forts at various intervals with their intricate gateways. The afternoon is yours at leisure to further your exploration of Marrakesh at an unhurried pace or relax in your hotel. (B,D)

MOROCCO

MOROCCO

Marrakesh

Essaouria Essaouria Atlas Mountains MARRAKESH Atlas Mountains

KEY

Arrive Depart Route Hotel Opera Plaza

Hotel Opera Plaza

+ Included Experiences – Guided tour of Marrakesh and the Jardin Majorelle Gardens

DAY 4 – Essaouira

Our day begins with a comfortable drive to the delightful coastal town of Essaouira, which came to prominence during the 15th century when the Portuguese established the medieval citadel that still stands today. Within its walls are a maze of tranquil squares and perfectly preserved streets, lined by whitewashed houses and pavement cafes. It’s a sheer pleasure to stroll through the markets here, where the stalls groan under the weight of colourful fresh fruit and vegetables. Or simply wander along the harbour, bustling with a hive of activity and where fishermen repair their nets as they have done for centuries. Essaouira is so charmingly unspoilt it has been featured as the location for several blockbuster productions, from Orson Welles’ Othello to Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven. During your journey, the real Morocco unfolds and the landscape changes from fertile green plains to a moon-like semi-desert, occasionally studded with palm trees. Mud-brick villages blend perfectly into the background, while shepherds of all ages tend their herds of sheep and goat – the transport of choice here is very much the donkey. (B,D) + Included Experience – Visit Essaouira

DAY 5 – Atlas Mountains & Marrakesh

Forming an ever-present backdrop and adding to Marrakesh’s wondrous setting are the soaring, snow-capped Atlas Mountains. This morning, we drive into the stunning foothills with the countryside evolving from saffroncoloured fields to steeper, wooded

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Your tour includes

• Return flights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers • Five nights in four-star superior accommodation inclusive of all local taxes • The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

(B) Daily Breakfast, (D) 5 Dinners For departure dates, prices and flights, please call or visit our website.

YOUR EXPERIENCES • Guided tour of Marrakesh • 5 visits including the Jardin Majorelle

Gardens, the spectacular Atlas

Mountains, the Saadian Tombs and Essaouira

slopes, slashed by dramatic, river-filled gorges. Mammoth peaks soaring more than 3,000 metres high spear the vivid, blue sky while the desolate mountainside stretches before us. Then the forests commence, rolled out like a massive green carpet and beyond, misty plains stretch to the horizon in a patchwork of muted colours. There’s time to take in the spectacular vistas when we stop to stretch our legs in the beautiful Ourika valley and perhaps enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. After a morning of sightseeing, we return to Marrakesh in the early afternoon. The rest of the day is at leisure, giving you ample time to make the most of your final day in this wonderful city. (B,D) + Included Experience – Visit the Atlas Mountains

DAY 6 – Return flight

Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)

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