ITINERARY

(subject to change)

 

Jan 24: MARRAKECH AIRPORT – HOTEL - CITY TOUR                                                                        

Runners & Cheerleaders meet and greet at Marrakech airport and head to the hotel to freshen up and relax. Later, begin unearthing the secrets of Marrakech, starting in the medina, the old walled section of town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at its architectural jewels, including the soaring Koutoubia minaret; housed in a palace, it is among the most beautiful of its kind in the world.  Continue to the Bahia Palace, an exemplary specimen of privileged life in the 19th century. Visit Djemaa el-Fna, Marrakech’s main square, which is filled with orange juice stalls and vendors, along with fire-eaters, mime artists, snake charmers and street musicians performing at every turn. You may also wish to explore the city’s fabled, labyrinthine souks. Back to your hotel and overnight. 

Jan 25: MARRAKECH - PACKET PICK UP     (B,D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Packet Pick Up. Dinner at the hotel.

Jan 26: MARRAKECH - MARATHON - CITY TOUR     (B,D)

**MARATHON DAY**

Vacation Experience Travellers meet and greet at Marrakech airport then transfer to the hotel to freshen up and relax. Later, begin unearthing the secrets of Marrakech, starting in the medina, the old walled section of town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at its architectural jewels, including the soaring Koutoubia minaret; housed in a palace, it is among the most beautiful of its kind in the world.  Continue to the Bahia Palace, an exemplary specimen of privileged life in the 19th century. Visit Djemaa el-Fna, Marrakech’s main square, which is filled with orange juice stalls and vendors, along with fire-eaters, mime artists, snake charmers and street musicians performing at every turn. You may also wish to explore the city’s fabled, labyrinthine souks. Transfer to the hotel.

Later in the evening, the full group will head to a local restaurant in the old medina and enjoy your dinner. Drive back to the hotel and overnight.
 
Jan 27: MARRAKECH – AIT BEN HADDOU - OUARZAZATE     (B,D)                

Leave Marrakech crossing the High Atlas Mountains via the magnificent Tiz In Tichka pass. This pass lies between Marrakech Plains and the gateway of the Sahara Desert. We then drive to Morocco's most well-known Kasbah at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou, the iconic landscape immortalized in films such as, Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. Continue on to Ouarzazate. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Jan 28: OUARZAZATE - DADES – TINGHIR – MERZOUGA     (B,D)         

After breakfast, enjoy the city tour of Ouarzazate, beginning with the Taourirt Kasbah. The latter is considered one of the most beautiful Kasbahs in the country and the film studios, where some of the most famous desert landscapes are being shot. Continue to Skoura and visit the Kasbah Ameridil, dating to the 14th Century. Stroll for an hour in the gardens of the north side of the town past almond and olive trees. Continue to Boumalne from where we visit the impressive Dades Canyon offering great views of the surrounding desert landscape. Enjoy walking at the famous Dades Gorges, which lies between the Atlas Mountains and the Jbel Sargho of the Anti-Atlas mountain range, then continue to Tinghir, which is a gorgeous, 40km oasis, which boasts one of the largest palm groves in the country. A beautiful walk through the valley and the Todra Gorge, a 300m wall, carved deep into the High Atlas Mountains, then head to Tinghir and visit the nearby Todra Gorge and the todgha valley. Visit the biggest jewish quarter in Morocco in the middle of Tinghir.

We will then continue to Merzouga on a landcruiser across the desert sand. Enjoy the sunset on your way to the luxury desert camp. Dinner and overnight under a Berber tent.

Jan 29: MERZOUGA - MIDELT - FES     (B)        

Enjoy an early morning sunrise camel ride along the golden sand dunes in Merzouga. Return for breakfast before departure to Midlet, stop at Midlet for an optional lunch, Continue to Ifrane through Azrou, Ifrane nicknamed “Morocco’s Switzerland”. Ifrane is a charming ski town populated by European-style chalets and surrounded by a large cider forest. Then head directly to Fes. Overnight at the Riad.

Jan 30: FES – City tour     (B)  

Today you take a step back in time to the Middle Ages when you visit one of the most imperial, timeless and untouched cities in the world - Fez El Bali (Old Fez) - the cultural heart of Morocco. You explore some of the 9000 narrow lanes, alleys and souks (open air markets) that make-up the labyrinth of the city's old quarter, originally founded in the 8th century AD. The Imperial capital was a renowned center of medieval learning and at its heart still remains the Karaouine, one of the oldest, still functioning universities in the world. In the neighboring building is the Attarine Medersa (Koranic college), a jewel of Hispano-Moorish architecture, built in the 14th century. Your day of sightseeing also includes visits to the Nejjarine Square, with its beautiful fountain with elaborate tile-work mosaics. The nearby Fondouq (Caravanserai) has been converted to a museum of carpentry artifacts.

You also visit Fez El Jedid (New Fez), built by the Merinide Dynasty in the 13th century. Here you see the Royal Palace, mosques, madrasas (Koranic schools), souks and the city wall. Most notably, Fez El Jedid is home to the mellah (Jewish quarter), which provides an interesting insight into Jewish architecture. The wrought iron decorated windows and splendid carved wood balconies of the old mansions are particularly outstanding. The medieval Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to tour hotel for dinner and overnight.

Jan 31: FES – MEKNES & VOLUBILIS – RABAT     (B,D)              

Today, as we journey inland to discover the walled city of Meknes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that rose to glory under the rule of the Sultan Moulay Ismail, we'll see the monumental horseshoe-shape Bab Mansour gate. This beautifully patterned gate with its priceless mosaics, lavish tiles and inscriptions is considered one of the most beautiful gates in North Africa. After an introduction to the historic medina of Meknes, enjoy your lunch on your expenses. Continue to the dramatic well-preserved Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It offers a unique glimpse into ancient Morocco. View a series of mansions, monuments and olive mills surrounded by remnants of the city`s defense walls. The most notable highlights include the beautifully preserved Triumphal Arch of Caracalla, a series of exquisite mosaics and colorful tiles depicting Roman mythology. Our drive then takes us to Rabat. Dinner and overnight at our hotel
 
Feb 01: RABAT - CASABLANCA  (B)                                     

After breakfast, our exploration of this city begins at the exterior of the impressive Dar al-Makhzen Palace, the residence of Morocco's King, and view where independence was declared in 1956. Continue to the ancient necropolis of Chellah, now abandoned and overgrown by fruit trees and wild flowers. From the viewing platform, see the expansive ruins of this once-great Roman City. On to the magnificent marble Mohammed V Mausoleum, built in traditional Moroccan style, dedicated to the founder of modern Morocco. Observe the minaret of the Great Mosque and the towering 12th-century red sandstone Hassan Tower, Rabat's most famous landmark. Afterward, we visit Kasbah des Oudaias in the old part of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its commanding views of the river and ocean from its cliff top perch. Drive south to Casablanca and begin the city tour with an outside visit of Hassan II mosque, Ain Diab Corniche for a walk along the coast, Mohammed V Square in the city center. Continue to the hotel for freshen up.

In the evening, head to Rick’s Café restaurant and enjoy our farewell dinner. Back to the hotel and overnight. 

Feb 02: CASABLANCA AIRPORT     (B)                       

Today, we head to Casablanca airport for your return flight..
 
Included Services:

• 9 nights double/Single rooms accommodation for participants in Marathon
• 7 nights double/Single rooms accommodation for Non-participants in Marathon
• Round trip transfers to the airports
• Bed & Breakfast daily
• Dinners as per the program
• Modern A/C transportation during the tour
• 4x4 round trip transfers to the desert camp
• Camel ride at the dunes
• English speaking national escorting guide during the tour
• Local guide in the main cities
• On-site Travel Concierge for the duration of the Travel Experience
• Entrance fees to monuments as per the program
• Guided city tours as per the program
• Portage at the airports
• Tips at hotels only
• All taxes