DAY 1: Depart from USA
- Board your international flight from the USA to reach Morocco in the next day. 2 Meals will be served on board of the flight.
- Keep in mind there are non-stop direct flight from JFK and IAD airports
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DAY 2: Marrakech Airport - Hotel
- Meet and greet at Marrakech airport by a chauffeur who will wait for you.
- Brief review of the tour during your transfer to the hotel. Check-in and relax. Rest of the day at leisure.
- Overnight at the hotel.
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DAY 3: Marrakech - City tour
- After breakfast, enjoy the city tour of Marrakesh, the Red City, a majestic place filled with palaces, gardens, markets, and mosques.
- Upon arrival, you will first stand by the Koutoubia Mosque with its 282 ft minaret, an architectural landmark dating back to the late 12th century.
- You will continue to the 19th century stunning Bahia palace and discover the intricate work done by the local artisans to decorate this splendid home built by a powerful Vizir for his Harem. The building includes one hundred and fifty rooms, countless courtyards and interior gardens, a veritable labyrinth of corridors, a Koranic school, hammams, a harem, stables. From there we will start exploring artisan quarters and the colorful Souks to interact with the real life of Marrakech people.
- Continue to Dar El Bacha Museum, built in 1910 and was the residence of Thami El Glaoui, named Pasha of Marrakech by Sultan Moulay Youssef in 1912. It is one of the medinas finest examples of Riad architecture, dripping with Moroccan Zellige (colorful geometric tilework), intricate white plasterwork and heavy carved cedar-wood lintels.
- Before sunset we will be strolling in the square of which the city is so famed, Jemaa El Fna, where hundreds of locals and tourists come to spend the end of the day watching jugglers, dancers, fortune tellers, story tellers and traditional musicians.
- After the tour, head to your hotel to freshen up and overnight.
- Meal: Breakfast
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DAY 4: Marrakech - Agafay excursion
- Breakfast at your leisure in the hotel. At 10AM, transfer by 4x4 to Agafay Desert , a rough, dry, moon-like expanse, 40km outside of Marrakech. The landscape slowly changes from urban to rural farmland until you reach the rocky desert. A barren, deserted plateau, stretching for miles, this semi-lunar terrain is unforgiving in the summer months, but in the cooler seasons it provides a breath-taking environment, one that is often over-looked by those wanting to shuttle between the Atlas Mountains and Marrakech.
- Upon arrival, you will have about 1-hour to enjoy the ATV activity that is included in your package, and let each one drive its own single-seat ATV. Then, enjoy this secluded desert hideaway overlooking the vast Moroccan wilderness, framed by olive trees and organic gardens. This magical place offering you the opportunity to commune with nature. Lunch and relax near the swimming pool or under a tent.
- You later enjoy your 45-min. scenic camel ride. After a safety briefing, wear your Nomad dress with the shish (turban) and climb into the saddle on the back of a camel and relax as you enjoy a ride through the hills, take your camera out to snap some photos of the beautiful sunset as the sky changes colors through the stunning views.
- When your ride is complete, toast the sunset before dinner under the starry skies in a Berber tent.
- Drive back to Marrakech for overnight.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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DAY 5: Marrakech - Sunrise Hot Air Balloon
- Day at leisure or join to Sunrise Hot Air Balloon (near Marrakech), Float above Morocco countryside and enjoy aerial views of the Atlas Mountains on a sunrise hot air balloon flight. Your activity starts with a 4x4 pick up from your hotel ~1-hour before sunrise. After a ~40-min. drive from Marrakech, you arrive at the airfield where Moroccan tea will be served. You will see the preparation of the balloons flying that morning for about 20 minutes.
- All balloons are green and red, the colors of Morocco flag. You willboard and take off after receiving a short security briefing. First part of the flight is in high altitude to admire the region in its entirety: Jbilet Mountains, Marrakech, and the Atlas Mountains. Second part of the flight is at low altitude over typical villages where you will see valleys, farms, kids going to school, etc. After a 1-hour flight, you will be driven through the Moroccan bush in a kaidal tent where a typical Berber breakfast will be served.
- Expect to return to your hotel/Riad at ~10-10:30AM.
- Note: The activity will be confirmed the previous day depending on weather forecast. Pickup time from hotel is confirmed the day before the flight as well.
- Pickup is usually set up 1:15-hour before sunrise. All flight times are approximate and subject to change due to weather conditions and weight restrictions.
- Meal: Breakfast
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DAY 6: Marrakech - Essaouira - Marrakech
- This morning you will be met at your hotel and transferred to Essaouira where you will enjoy most of the day at leisure. This relatively small, easily navigable beach city is ideal for a free day.
- Essaouira has got a distinct multicultural feel, resulting from the large Portuguese, French, and Jewish populations that once called it home. Its mild climate and extensive stretches of ocean sand also place it among Moroccos top beach towns. Essaouiras walled medina was added to UNESCOs World Heritage list in 2001. Its well-preserved, late-18th-century fortified layout is a prime example of European military architecture in North Africa.
- For the visitor, the mellow atmosphere, narrow winding streets lined with colorful shops, whitewashed houses and heavy old -wooden doors make it a wonderful place to stroll.
- Later in the afternoon you will be transferred back to Marrakech for overnight.
- Meal: Breakfast
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DAY 7: Ourica Valley - Day Retreat at Bennouna’s Farm with cooking class
- This retreat experience will start by a pickup from your Hotel/Riad at 10AM for a 20-min. drive to the Valley of Ourika. Upon arrival at the entrance to the trail you will switch to a camel/donkey -depending on availability- for transfer to the Bennounas farm. A welcome drink is served by the Farm host, followed with a tour of the property that is surrounded by a spectacular decor with the Atlas Mountains in the background.
- Enjoy a 20-min. meditation on the roof or tent of the farmhouse. Light lunch will be served. Swimming pool is available for use (if season permits) and fresh drinks are at your disposal (extra charge for alcohol drinks and wine) or you can start off a breathtaking walk in the surroundings. We will begin to prepare for the cooking class at 4PM. First, we will rsquoll pick up vegetables from the garden if season permits, then bring them to the kitchen to begin an immersed experience with the New York Times 3-stars Executive Chef. You will dine on the food you cooked.
- After dinner, witness the sunset on the terrace of the villa. Moroccan tea or coffee will be served.
- Return to your hotel/riad.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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DAY 8: Marrakech Airport - Departure
- You end your Marrakech journey today bidding farewell to your travel companions. Our driver will transfer you to Marrakech airport for your flight back home.
- Meal: Breakfast
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