The Kasbah Trail

This morning please meet your tour leader in the hotel receptions at 08.00. Today you visit the Hassan II Mosque. Building started in 1986 and in 1993 the 2nd largest mosque in the world was completed. The location was decided by King Hassan II from a passage in the Qur'an, which states that God's throne was built over the water and inside, worshippers kneel and pray on a glass floor over the sea. This is one of only 2 mosques in Morocco which allows non-Muslim visitors to enter and look around and you will have the option of going inside if you wish to (entrance fee payable locally). Afterwards you head to Meknes (130km/1hr 45mins), a place full of history and intrigue. The focal point of the old medina is the Bab Monsour; the gate that leads to Moulay Ismail's old imperial city and the mosques, souks and palaces beyond. You will have the afternoon free to explore the town. Hotel - 1 night (B)

Fez, the cultural capital, is one of the most complete medieval Islamic cities in the world. Passing through the gates and walls into the alleyways beyond transports you back in time. The streets are just as they were when they were built in the 8th century, with high walls that protect the courtyards inside from the heat of the midday sun. Enormous theosophical colleges, beautiful mosques and fascinating souks spilling their goods onto the pavement are all part of the scene. You'll take a walking tour to some of the major points of interest as well as having free time to wander at leisure. You’ll visit the Place an-Nejjarine, where an ancient caravanserai overlooks a fountain; wander outside the great Qayrawan mosque passing 14th century merchant's shops; or head to the tanneries, where leather is stained in vats of strikingly coloured dyes. In the souk al-Attarine, the scent of exotic spices fills the air and close by a hammam (traditional bathhouse) steams away the stresses of life. (B)

The great ‘sand sea’ of Merzouga, a beautiful area of fine, apricot-coloured sand, stretches as far as the eye can see. The best time to experience its beauty is at dawn when sunrise over this incredible landscape is breathtaking. After sunrise, you can investigate the dunes further or take time to relax with a refreshing glass of mint tea in the small auberge. As the sun descends in the afternoon you commence your two-hour trek by camel to this evening’s camp in the desert (those who prefer may walk). You dine on traditional Moroccan fare under clear starry skies and sleep in large Bedouin-style tents. With luck your camel drivers and camp staff may sing and play drums to round off the magical atmosphere of the evening. Camp – 1 night (BD)

The day begins with a short drive from Todra via Boumalne to Dades Gorge. You continue driving along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, and later along the Rose Valley to your gite in Boutaghrar. This will be your base for the next two nights to let you explore the Mgoun Valley and the Valley of the Roses on foot. The Berber house/gite where you stay is a simple mud and brick affair which blends almost imperceptibly into the landscape. There are a couple of large rooms for eating and sleeping, normally furnished with carpets. The flat roof serves as a terrace where you can sleep if it is warm and there is a toilet, washbasin and shower. You’ll eat and sleep communally in the rooms, so there is little place for false modesty. This afternoon you’ll head out into the surrounding countryside for a walk. There are several alternate routes but you’ll be out for about two and a half hours (total driving time approx. 2 hours). Gite (multi-share) - 2 nights (BLD)

You drive along the Route des Kasbahs as you head for Ouarzazate and beyond to Ait Benhaddou (approx. 3 hours). This is probably the best-preserved fortified ksour (a collection of kasbahs) in the country. With its dramatic walls of red earth, slit windows and crumbling towers, it is a magnificent example of a traditional stronghold. Chosen as a location for Hollywood films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jewel in the Nile and more recently Gladiator, Ait Benhaddou sits upon a lofty pinnacle of rock overlooking a river. Dating from around the 15th century, its importance as a trading post gradually waned and today's inhabitants eke a living from farming - and as film extras! Hotel - 1 night (B)