Thank you Google for tracking our trip!

 I took a note book with on our trip, but with the pace of the tour I did not get to write anything down, thinking I'll go onto Google maps and track our trip when I get home.  I tried to take photos of all the places we stopped at and stayed over.

Well I shouldn't have bothered I obviously have some thing switched on, on my phone and it tracked everything and everywhere we went.    I got an email from Google at the end of September "here's your new Timeline update" and it gave me a map and details of what we did everyday. 

So thank you Google, now I can blog about our trip. 

This was the itinerary received before we left from our lovely driver Hamid.

Day 01 : Marrakesh ariport to your hotel or Riad

 

 When you’ll be arrived at the airport, our driver will pick you up and take you to the hotel in Marrakesh where you will spend the night. After relaxing and showering.

Day 02 : Exploring Marrakech  

After breakfast in the riad, you will get to know the historical and artistic side of the red city “Marrakech”, with its unique monuments such as: the Koutoubia mosque and the Minara gardens, also the Bahia palace that offers you a blend of arts and crafts; diving into the old alleys of the medina with its old market; without missing the relaxing Majorelle gardens and, the historical Saadian tombs. Finally conclude the day in front of the charming Plaza of Jamaa Lefna, where fortune tellers, comedians and musicians seeks for your attention.

Day 03 : imlil - Tizi-n-Tichka - Ait Been Haddou - Ouarzazate  - skoura - Dades Valley:

After the breakfast we will ; crossing the highest mountain pass in north Africa the Tizi n’Tichka road, through the Dades valley, offering you a panoramic scenery over the high Atlas mountains; till we reach the famous Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou; a world heritage site and, Morocco’s pride of architecture in the south, that attracted people and, producers from all over the world to give it a part in their films(more than 20 universal movies) such as “Son of God”, “Prince of Persia”, “Jesus of Nazareth” etc.

Thereupon, we will continue to the city of Ouarzazate, also known as the “Ouallywood”, because it is a home for one of the biggest film studios around the world “Atlas studios”, where you will have a guided tour, to explore the sets and, know more about the film’s that had been shot there. After a quiet stay in the area, we will continue our journey to the Dades valley, then we will proceed our way. Once arrived to Dades Valley .Diner and night at the hotel.

Day 04 : Dades Valley - Gorges Toudra - Tinejdad - Erfoud - Merzouga:

In the morning, you will enjoy breakfast in front of the beautifull area of Dades and, have a short round after to discover the famous Monkey toes mountains; before heading over to one of the most spectacular canyons around the world, beautifuly sits between hills the “Todgha gorges”, where you will have the oppurtunity to hike and shere the road with locals and their packing animals, in a friendly  mood, enjoying the view from above. Right after that, we are going to continue our trip to the palms city “Erfoud”, where you will  enjoy a traditional lunch in the old market.

At late afternoon, we will arrive at the town of Merzouga, where you will check in a hotel near the dunes to restore and prepare your bivouac gear; thereupon, our guide will take you in a memorable experience through the loose sandy dunes of Erg Echebbi on top of camels, taking you to our traditional camp under the beautiful sunset. We will spend the night in the tents of nomads in the Sahara desert to enjoy the silence with a sky full of stars. Dinner and overnight in the camp.

Day 05 : Merzouga - Erfoud - Errachidia -Azrou - Ifran - Fes:

Early this morning, we will resume our Trip, driving to Fez passing by Ifrane with its unique architecture that gives you the impression that you are in another country, and Crossing by the largest cedar forests in the country and, the second major mountain pass Tizi nTalghamt that offers you a panoramic view over the middle Atlas mountain and the Berber villages. But right before reaching Fez or passing by Ifrane and Azrou, we are going to cross Erfoud by passing by the Darra valley, where you will have a worth stop, to admire the beauty of this place, beautifully perched by the infinite palm groves lined by the Daraa river and, the small town of Rissani, and starting the trip from Merzouga.

Day 06 : Exploring Fes Old medina 

In the morning, we offer you a back in time tour around the historical city of Fes, starting with the old medina and, its medieval alleys that leads you to the main monuments of Fes that attracted people from all over the world such as: the unique “Madrasa Bou Inania”, a religious college and, the only one with a minara; Then you are goin to enjoy strolling around “Jnan Sbill”, away from the hustle of the medina, a nice noisless oasis gardens of nature; thereupon you will visit the most iconic portal gate to  Fes El Bali, the majestic gate of “Boujloud”. Night in Fes

Day 07: Fes - Meknés - chefchouen

 in the morning after breakfast at your Riad Departure from Fes to visit Meknés (there will be a stop at the Roman Ruins of Volubilis and the sacred city of Moulay Idriss I, the burial city of the founder of Islam in Morocco, arrival in Meknes founded at the end of the 17th century by Moulay Ismail, where we will visit the historical monuments of Morocco like the Bab Mansour gate, Hari Souani, and the old medina). on the afternoonwe drive to chefchouen ( the blue city). Night in chefchouen 

Day 08: Chefchouen - Rahat - Casablanca 

Breakfast at the hotel and drive for a visit of Rabat, the economic capital of Morocco,  Mohamed V Square, The kasbah Oudaya in the afternoon we drive to  Casablanca, night in Casablanca 

Day 09: Casablanca - Marrakesh 

Next day after Breakfast at your hotel we drive around Casablanca to visit the "Hassan Mosque" and we continue our way back to Marrakesh, night in Marrakesh 

Day 10: Marrakesh - Airport 

Unfortunately our final day will start as usual by having a lovely tradition breakfast while the sun rising wave to us through the widows. Right after we will drive you to Marrakech ariport.

WHAT IS INCLUDED :

• Private Tours.
• English/speaking guide and Driver.
• Pick up you from the airport and (return).
• comfortable vehicle transport with air conditioning.
• Specific sights in the tour itinerary.
• Local guides in Marrakesh & Fes 

Day 1: Dublin - Marrakech

 I had organized the trip at the beginning of 2022 and done my normal travel prep, googled trips to Morocco.   Decided that as it was unfamiliar territory I would book a tour, but a small group tour and see quite a bit of Morocco.   

I can't remember now how many tours I contacted but the one guide just sounded so accommodating and only wanted €100 deposit for a trip that we cost us €2,100 in total for 10 days.  We emailed each other several times and eventually he contacted me on WhatsApp.  He was so polite with all my stupid questions and really did entertain all my thousands of questions. 

The plan was that he would pick us up on Sunday evening when I flight arrived and take us to our Riad.  Our flight on Ryan air was only getting in at 8:00 p.m. and as it turned out it was delayed (as Ryan air always is) and we only landed and got our baggage by 10:00 p.m. but I let "Hamid" know on whatsApp as I did not want him to wait for hours at the airport. 

The flight as always was not the greatest, but was less than 4 hours and we had Emergency exit seats, so it was good, besides of course the crying babies. 

It was amazing to arrive and walk outside the airport and there was someone standing with a BIG sign with my name on it.  As it happened my daughter was staying home, so I gave her his number just in case.  Wouldn't you know it by the time we arrived she had already called him with some drama that happened at home, but I am not going to go into it.   It stressed out D a bit as it was our first day away from home. 

We got into the luxurious Toyota 4x4 and there was a bottle of water each and a box of biscuits with a beautiful red ribbon around it.   He transported us to the Square in Marrakesh in the old Medina, it is impossible to drive in the Medina as it is so busy with people and the roads are not conducive for cars. 

But fear not, he had organised a man to take our baggage from the car to our Riad and he would see us the next day.   He told me he had organised a local tour guide "Mustafa" to take us and show us around Marrakesh.    

What an eye opener walking to the Riad, there was so much happening in the square, and apparently it is the same 7 days a week.  The locals come out to eat in the square and be entertained. 

After about 15 minutes we reached the Riad down this little alley way of buildings and shops and all I could think was it is so noisy how are we going to sleep tonight.   We stepped inside the Riad and it was so quite, like most Riad's it had a swimming pool in the middle of the reception / dining area and none of the rooms had windows to the outside, but all had air conditioning. 

I don't think we were there long before we both fell into bed and asleep.