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 Paul Bowles traversed these sands and set some of literature's most romantic and captivating tales in this exotic, mysterious land. Set off on an unparalleled adventure of your own with Hermes Tours. We'll explore medieval Fes, its dusty, ancient souks frozen in time … discover an ancient Roman outpost and a laid-back seaside jewel … and mingle with acrobats, storytellers, and snake charmers in Marrakesh. By journey's end, you'll be entranced by all that unfolds beneath this sheltering sky.
 • Casablanca Tour, including Hassan II Mosque
• Rabat Tour, inlcuding the Royal Palace, Mohammed V's Mausoleum, and more
• Fes Tour, including the Sahrij Mederssa, Foundouk Nejjarine, Mellah and Attarine & Sefferine Souk
• Erfoud, Camel Ride, Landrover Excursion into the Desert, (Merzouga)
• Authentic Berber Experience, enjoy 1 night in the desert in Berber Tents
• Ouarzazate Tour, including entrance to Atlas Studios
• Marrakech Tour, including Bahia and El Badi palaces and
• Essaouira Tour
• Accommodations for 9 nights 4/5 star hotels
• 11 meals – 9 breakfasts, 2 dinners
• Services of a Hermes Tours escort
• Services of an expert, local guide in all cities
• Entrance fees to all sites visited
• $100 per person savings if you reserve 5 months before departure!
 Day 1 - Saturday, October 12, 2013
We begin today with a visit to the Hassan II Mosque, dramatically perched on the Atlantic Ocean. Completed by the late King Hassan II in 1993, this astounding edifice is larger than Saint Peter's in Rome and can hold 25,000 worshippers inside, and 80,000 outside.
This evening Hermes Tours will host a welcome dinner so we can get better acquainted with each other. Overnight: Novotel Casablanca City Center Hotel, Casablanca, 4*
Meal: D
 Day 2 - Sunday, October 13, 2013
Our journey today takes us to Rabat, where we will tour the ancient necropolis of Chellah, a thriving city for nearly 1,000 years, whose ruins date from the Roman through the Islamic periods.
Today our tour takes us to the Royal Palace and Mechouar, Mohammed V's mausoleum and the Udaya Kasbah. Overnight: Sofitel Palais Jamai Hotel, Fes, 5*
Meal: B
 Day 3 - Monday, October 14, 2013
We'll witness Fes' medieval wonders firsthand today on our tour. Its narrow, cobbled streets are brimming with ancient mosques, towering green-glazed minarets and ancient fondouks, ancient hostels where spice traders once laid their heads. During our walk, we mingle among veiled women, meandering donkeys laden with wares, and proud artisans carrying on ancient traditions.
Highlights of our visit include the Sahrij Medersa, the Mellah (Jewish Quarter), Attarine Souk, the Karouiyne Mosque, and the city's countless souks and tanneries. Overnight:Sofitel Palais Jamai Hotel, Fes, 5*
Meal: B
 Day 4 - Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Following our breakfast we drive through the scenic cedar forests of the Middle Atlas Mountains. Along the way, we will find a weekly souk in Azrou.
Continue south along the Ziz River until it finally dies out in the Sahara desert as the last paved road ends at the edge of the oasis town of Erfoud, we leave the world behind you as we continue on to our desert oasis hotel. This afternoon we go back in time with our camel desert safari. Overnight: Kasbah Hotel Xaluca Arfoud, Erfoud, 4*
Meal: B, D
 Day 5 - Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Rise early this morning for a 4x4 adventure in the Sahara desert.
After the sun has risen, we return to our hotel for breakfast and then continue our drive to Ouarzazate. Upon our arrival we visit the 17th century Kasbah Taourirt which served as the home of the Pacha Glaoui. Then visit the Atlas Studios, Morocco's most important and famous movie studios. Overnight: Berbere Palace Hotel, Ouarzazate, 5*
Meal: B
 Day 6 - Thursday, October 17, 2013
After breakfast we begin our approximately 4 hour journey towards Marrakech through the High Atlas Mountains and the dramatic pass of Tizn Tichka.
Overnight: Le Meridien N'fis Hotel, Marrakech, 5*
Meal: B
 Day 7 - Friday, October 18, 2013
Start your day with a visit to the opulent Saadien Tombs. This treasure was lost within the medina until its rediscovery at the beginning of the 20th century when it was rediscovered only when aerial photographs of the medina revealed their existence.
Later, we'll compare two awe-inspiring palaces – the Bahia and El Badi. Overnight: Le Meridien N'fis Hotel, Marrakech, 5*
Meal: B
 Day 8 - Saturday, October 19, 2013
Day at leisure to independently explore Marrakech. How about exploring the colorful souks or perhaps you may wish to leave the medina for a visit to the Menara gardens.
Overnight: Le Meridien N'fis Hotel, Marrakech, 5*
Meal: B
 Day 9 - Sunday, October 20, 2013
Following breakfast enjoy a full day excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Essaouira. A former Portuguese colony on the Atlantic Ocean that has become something of an artists' colony, the enchanting streets of this fortified town were the setting for Orson Welles' 1952 Othello.
Return to Marrakech this evening. Overnight: Le Meridien N'fis Hotel, Marrakech, 5*
Meal: B
Day 10 - Monday, October 21, 2013
Our tour officially ends this morning after breakfast where you will be transferred to the nearby Marrakech airport for your return flight to home. Meal: B
We do not have plans for any group extensions. Please contact us and we will gladly assist you in extendind your vacation to any part of the region.
Casablanca:
- 4*, 1 night
Situated in Casablanca, Novotel Casablanca City Center is close to United Nations Square, Place Mohammed V, and Hassan II Mosque. Also nearby are Port of Casablanca and Marina Casablanca.
Dining options at this business-friendly hotel include a restaurant and a bar/lounge. Complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access is available in public areas and an Internet point is located on site. Additional amenities include a health club, multilingual staff, and laundry facilities. For a surcharge, guests receive transportation including a roundtrip airport shuttle (available on request) and an area shuttle. The property has designated areas for smoking.
 The 281 air-conditioned guestrooms at Novotel Casablanca City Center include minibars and safes. Rooms have high-speed Internet access. Televisions are equipped with satellite channels.
All accommodations provide desks, complimentary newspapers, and direct-dial phones. Bathrooms offer makeup/shaving mirrors and hair dryers. Additional amenities include coffee/tea makers and windows that open. In addition, amenities available on request include irons/ironing boards, extra towels/bedding, and wake-up calls. Housekeeping is offered daily.
Fez:
- 5*, 2 nights
 Situated in Fes, Sofitel Fes Palais Jamaï is in the historical district and close to Nejjarin Fondouk, Tombs of the Merenides, and University of Al-Karaouine. Also nearby are Medersa Bou-Inania and Kairaouine Mosque.
Sofitel Fes Palais Jamaï has a full-service spa, a health club, and an outdoor pool. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available in public areas. The hotel offers 3 restaurants along with a bar/lounge. The staff can provide tour/ticket assistance, event catering, and currency exchange. Additional amenities include a spa tub, a steam room, and a sauna.
 Rooms feature balconies with city, mountain, or pool views. The 142 air-conditioned guestrooms at Sofitel Fes Palais Jamaï include minibars and safes. Pillow menus are available.
Complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access is provided. Televisions are equipped with cable/satellite channels. All accommodations provide desks and direct-dial phones. Bathrooms offer shower/tub combinations with handheld showerheads, bathrobes, designer toiletries, and makeup/shaving mirrors. Additional amenities include slippers and complimentary bottled water. In addition, amenities available on request include irons/ironing boards and wake-up calls. Turndown service is offered nightly and housekeeping is available daily.
Erfoud:
- 4*, 1 night
 Kasbah Hotel Xaluca is located in Arfoud, a city known as "the Door to the Desert". The Kasbah is listed as unique in Morocco due to its distinctive characteristics. It was built with adobes, the traditional Moroccan building bricks, and it is a great place to relax and enjoy the moment.
Located at the entrance of the Sahara Desert, this 4-star hotel is just a 5-minute drive from the town centre. It offers 2 swimming pools and a spa with a hammam and 10 massage rooms.
Kasbah Hotel Xaluca Arfoud offers 134 spacious rooms decorated with regional materials, as well as 8 bungalows. It combines tradition with modern amenities, where installations are adapted to the stringiest standards.  It is a fantastic place, situated among the dunes and palms, where you will be able to enjoy unique emotions.
The rooms and suites at Xaluca Maadid Arfoud are decorated in warm tones and feature free Wi-Fi access. All accommodation has a bathroom made from fossils and the suites have a seating area.
An American-style buffet breakfast is served every morning on the terrace or in the dining room. There is also a bar and 2 restaurants, where you can enjoy the international or Moroccan buffet.
A fitness centre, a tennis court and a mini golf course are some of the other facilities at the hotel.
Ouarzazate:
- 5*, 1 night
 Situated in Ouarzazate, Le Berbere Palace is close to Kasbah Taouirt. Additional area attractions include Atlas Studios and Kasbah Tifoultoute.
Le Berbere Palace has a health club, an outdoor pool, and a sauna. Wireless Internet access is complimentary in public areas. This luxury hotel offers a restaurant, a coffee shop/cafe, and a poolside bar.
Rooms open to patios. The 241 air-conditioned guestrooms at Le Berbere Palace include minibars and safes.  Complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access is provided. Televisions are equipped with satellite channels.
All accommodations provide desks and direct-dial phones. Bathrooms offer bathrobes, bidets, hair dryers, and slippers. Additional amenities include windows that open and complimentary toiletries. In addition, amenities available on request include irons/ironing boards and wake-up calls. Housekeeping is offered daily.
Marrakech:
- 5*, 4 nights
 Conveniently near the airport, Le Meridien N'fis is in Marrakech (Hivernage), close to Place of Youth, Palais des Congres, and Grand Poste Gueliz. Also nearby are Djemaa el Fna and Menara Gardens.
Le Meridien N'fis has a full-service spa, an outdoor pool, and a steam room. Dining options at this luxury hotel include a restaurant, a coffee shop/cafe, and a poolside bar. Additional amenities include a children's pool, a fitness facility, and a sauna.
The 277 air-conditioned guestrooms at Le Meridien N'fis include minibars and safes. Rooms have wireless Internet access. Televisions are equipped with cable/satellite channels.  All accommodations provide desks and direct-dial phones with voice mail. Bathrooms offer bathrobes, bidets, hair dryers, and complimentary toiletries.
Additional amenities include windows that open and blackout drapes/curtains. In addition, amenities available on request include irons/ironing boards, hypo-allergenic bedding, and wake-up calls. Housekeeping is offered daily.
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EU, Canadian and American passport holders are not required to have visas to enter Morocco for tourism purposes. Your passport should be valid for a minimum of 6 months after the end of the tour. 
The activity level of this tour is classified as "Moderate". The best way to see the cities is to walk our way through the narrow paths and streets which in many cases will be uneven. You will be walking a few hours each day as we explore our destination. We also have a couple days with long travel on our mini bus. The longest drive is from Fez - Merzouga which is about 6 hours. The second is from Merzouga to Ouazazate which is about 5 hours. We will make frequent stops. 
It is very easy to withdraw money from ATMs located throughout the country as well as to use your Visa or MasterCard. The American Express card is less widely accepted.
Travelers checks are also accepted however can carry a heavy commission fee. We recommend to travelers to bring only a small amount of cash and/or travelers checks and to rather use their ATM and credit cards while traveling. 
Please note that the above cost includes all accommodation in 4/5 star, gay friendly hotels & with private bath or shower in all hotels. Also includes hotel taxes, porterage, tips and service charges. All activities as outlined in the itinerary; all meals as per itinerary; the services of a Hermes Tours Escort throughout the trip (with minimum participation of 10); all ground transportation as per itinerary; Entrance fees to all sites on itinerary, gratuities to drivers, restaurants, ship staff.
International airfare to/from Casablanca/Marrakesh; visas if applicable; airport transfers; personal travel and cancellation insurance; meals and activities not specifically included in the itinerary; services of a personal nature like alcohol; soft drinks; bottled water; laundry; telephone calls; faxes as well as customary tips to guides.
