• Authentic Morocco linked to children of the sahara
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• Guide - Marrakesh

RUGS:

• Chokrane - thank you (show-cran)
• Zaiane style or Ouarain --kilim
• Pay 50% of what they offer
• Say Eej-ma for not liking a rug (La also means no but not sure in this setting)
• Do not feel bad to walk away...rug shopping is a process...it is their everyday routine
• Do not show incredible love for a rug...play it cool
• Do not ask the price till you find one you really like

Marrakesh (stay in EL FNA SQUARE area/Riad Boussa "ALI"):

• Maison de la Photographie (wonderful - go to roof)
• Majorelle Garden - small manicured garden...can be skipped but nice for short visit (some cute shops at entrance of garden however)
• Cafe De Epices (in center of spice market in Souks)
• Explore the Souks
• Saadian Tombs (skipped)
• El Badi Palace and see the storks (see the Bab Agnua Door) (skipped)
• Koutoubia Mosque
• The Medina/Souks/Square all together
• Bab El-Khemis Market (far north end) flea market Thursdays only
• SPA/Hammam: Les Bains De L'Alhambra (near tombs) nice oriental spa
• EAT: at night market in the square: stalls #1 and #14
• EAT: Dar Marjana+Dar Moha (near Dar Charkia riad)
• EAT: Papa Nero (romantic down many alleys...beautiful place)
• EAT: Pavillion (North Medina Derb Zaouia, Bab Doukkala) – the courtyard of a splendid old house where tables cluster under the spreading boughs of a massive tree
• EAT: Narwama -the city’s first proper Thai restaurant, is housed in the central courtyard of a palatial 19th-century residence
• EAT: Bakchich Cafe & Cafe Arabe
• EAT: (outside town 30 mins): http://www.lapause-marrakech.com
• GUELIZ: 10 mins outside town. Some shops: Scenes De Lin, Rue De La Liberte (not much here but okay for non-tagine restaurants)
• Shop: L'Art Marocain: El Abdi Abdeljabbar 212-524-37-62-46 lart_marocain@yahoo.com (near palace badia: 50 place des ferblantiers: square os shops across from palace)

Skoura Palm Grove via Ouarzazate (www.lesjardinsdeskoura.com):

• Telouet Village
• Shop at Labyrinth Du Sud-An
• Atlas movie sets
• Taourirt or El Glaoui Kasbah
• Transfer through high Atlas Mountains
• Camel caravan route along the Ounila valley to Ait Benhaddou and visit the World Heritage Site, one of Morocco’s most spectacular ksours (fortified villages) that once stood on the route of the trans-Saharan caravan route through the Atlas mountains too the fondouks of Marrakech.

Sahara Desert Berber Camp, Mezourga:

• Two hour camel trek into Berber night camp...sunset and sunrise rides
• After trip, go to Berber Nomad Depot in nearby town for great buys

Middle Atlas Mountains (very beautiful vs. high)

Fes (www.riadfeskettani.com):

• Medina
• Moulay Abdellah Quarter (dyeing)
• Medressah (Quoranic School) Attarin or Bou-Inania. A school of Koranic study with carved cedar wood and alabaster, mosaics and marble
• Quaraouiyine Mosque, founded by Fatima Bint al-Fihria in C9th, whose minaret is one of the oldest in the world.
• Nejjarine fountain and museum
• Bab Boujloud, the blue and green gate
• Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II where many Moroccans come on pilgrimage
• Chouara tanneries
• The water clock dating from the 14th century
• Dar Batha museum
• Ibn Danan synagogue
• Souks
• Potteries/Mozaic School and Merenid Tombs & Fort for views over Fes

Rabat (www.darelkebira.com): (Rabat can be skipped)

• Chellah cemetery
• Medina
• Hassan Tower
• Kasbah des Oudaias (blue and white streets)
• Chellah Necropolis, a park and archaeological site on the ancient Roman town of Sala
• Kings Palace constructed on the site of an 18th century palace
• Kasbah of Oudayas, named after the tribe sent here to defend the city against the Andalusians
• Tour Hassan
• Mausoleum of Mohamed V who saved Moroccan Jews from the occupying Vichy regime during World War II

Casablanca Drive-thru (skip)

Essaouira (www.ryadwatier.com):

• Medina
• Essaouira Ramparts along beach
• Eat: Elizir! & Caravan Cafe a must!! Dinner only...
• Lunch: Fanatic on the beach about 10 min walk from medina (on the beach promenade path) or Ocean Vagabond (on other side of street)

Between Marrakesh and Essaouira have driver stop for goats in trees (tip goat farmers 10 to 20 dh)

Itinerary:

• Atlas road pass of Tizi-n-Tichka to Skoura Palm Grove via the traditional Berber village of Telouet, World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou and Ouarzazate
• Merzouga Desert with a detour to visit the Todra Gorge (6hrs). Camel ride to deep desert CAMP. Toughra Gorge(before camels) --beautiful little town in gorge
• Sunrise and return trek. Middle Atlas to Fes via Azrou and Ifrane (small Swiss like town) 7hrs.
• Fes to include a drive to visit the traditional potteries and Merenid Tombs for views over Fes.
• Fes medina and souks
• Rabat (3hrs)
• Coastal route to Essaouira via Casablanca (5hrs)
• Essaouira
• Marrakech (2.5hrs). EAT: (outside town 30 mins): http://www.lapause-marrakech.com. Marrakech riad.

TIPPING: Tipping of guides and drivers is at your discretion however Morocco does has a tipping culture, even amongst Moroccans, and a 10% tip is expected in Cafes etc. As a guidance, when asked, I suggest from 100MAD per day at the end of a tour for the driver; from 50MAD per day for a guide including a desert guide i.e. camel driver. waiter in café 2-5 dirhams each, waiter in restaurant 5-10 dirhams each or 10%, curator or guardian 5 dirhams, hotel porter 5 dirhams, petrol pump attendant 2-3 dirhams

CAMEL TREKS PACKING LIST and HINTS and TIPS:

• take essentials in a small soft bag e.g. change of clothes, toothbrush, wet wipes, loo roll and rubbish bag
• toilet paper buried in the sand will be exposed by the wind – carry out what you carry in or burn it each evening
• loose comfortable trousers are essential for riding a camel
• wear a hat if you have one, sunglasses and sunscreen
• insect spray is useful in the desert and mountains during the rainy season
• old trainers are recommended as sand gets everywhere and wear shoes when walking in the dunes
• a fleece jacket or similar and layers for nights in the desert
• a torch/flashlight is essential
• keep valuables with you e.g. money, cards and passport
• zip-lock plastic bag or similar recommended for cameras
• carry water when climbing the dunes
• dress respectfully e.g. long shorts OK as are short sleeved T-shirts
• alarm clock (mobile phone) to wake yourselves up for sunrise
• scarf (long and cotton)
• after dinner, around the camp fire on cold nights, you are invited to add to the atmosphere with jokes and songs
• 5600 for two w/air 13 nights driver hotels some meals