Fez and Middle Atlas
This tour combines the atmosphere and history of Morocco’s spiritual
capital with one of its most beautiful scenic regions. After a night
in Casablanca we visit the great Hassan II Mosque and then make our
way to Ifrane in the Middle Atlas. This is a lovely region of gentle
slopes and tiny, often isolated villages: Morocco at its most natural
and appealing.
The second part of the tour takes us to Fez, an extraordinary city,
founded in the 8th century and little changed since. En route, we shall
pause in the Roman city of Volubilis and visit the 17th-century centre
of Meknes. Fez is a city that repays relaxed, unhurried exploration
and we shall have time to visit all its museums and (with our charismatic
local friends) find our way around the most exciting and labyrinthine
Medina in Africa.
An irresistible component of the holiday is that we shall be sleeping
for four nights in the Hotel Palais Jamai in Fez. This
is the second most famous hotel in Morocco, created during the Golden
Age of French tourism and an oasis of good taste and luxury, perfectly
located on the edge of the Medina.
DAY 1: We fly from London to Casablanca and spend our first night in
the excellent Hotel Maamoura in the centre of the
city.
DAYS 2, 3 & 4: Before leaving Casablanca we visit the great Hassan
II Mosque, the third biggest in the world and an
astonishing example of the excellence of the traditional handcrafts
and building methods which have survived into the
modern era.
Our route then takes us inland along the excellent motorway into the
Middle Atlas. Our destination is Ifrane, an attractive, beautifully
appointed mountain resort often used by the Moroccan Royal Family. Whilst
in this glorious region (the ‘Moroccan Switzerland’) we
combine journeys through the stunning landscapes with visits to the
picturesque (often hidden) villages that characterize the Middle Atlas.
DAY 5: Our route from Ifrane takes us first to Meknes, an Imperial City,
where we spend some of the morning. We then
continue to the unforgettable Roman ruins at Volubilis for lunch, a
leisurely visit and a progress report on the great museum of Roman antiquities
which is in construction. Our final destination is Fez, one of the foremost
cities of the Ancient World and the spiritual capital of Morocco.
DAYS 6, 7, & 8: We are to spend three full days in Fez, time to
explore and get to know this incomparable city. In essence it is three
cities in one: the medieval Medina, the monumental city of the Royal
Palace and the Jewish district, and the French-inspired Ville Nouvelle.
Our visits include the Dar Batha Museum with its astonishing collection
of glazed pottery, the stunning wood-craft of the Neffarine Museum,
the fortresses that keep watch over the great city walls, the exquisite
beauty of the 14th century Koranic schools, the tombs of the Merinid
dynasty. In addition, of course, we shall wander in the Medina and gain
an intimate acquaintance of the life and work of one of the world’s
most atmospheric and bestpreserved ancient cities.
DAY 9: We return to Casablanca to take our return flight.
TRAVELLING COMPANIONS: MONER LAACHIRI
(known as Moses) has been accompanying Tours to Morocco for 10 years.
Born in Tangiers, he speaks four languages and studied for a Diploma
in Tourism. He has travelled widely and is a solicitous and charismatic
travelling companion. He is Chris’s assistant on most of the tours.
THIS 9-DAY TOUR DEPARTS: 21st January
2010
OUR HOTELS: In Casablanca, the Maamoura, the excellent family-run Perce
Neige in Ifrane and the Palais Jamai in Fez.
NUMBER IN PARTY:
12-18
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR: £1450
(single supplement £170)