Morocco Explorer - R 12,265 per person

Discover the beauty and history of Morocco with this 9-day tour, exclusive to Wicount South Africa members. You’ll explore the souqs and winding streets of Marrakech, see spectacular scenery in the Atlas Mountains and around Ouarzazate and enjoy a 4WD safari through the desert dunes.
Accommodation is in 4-star hotels and a comfortable Berber desert camp. Optional extras include a desert camel ride, spectacular hot air balloon flight and day tours for the final free day in Marrakech, and an extension after the tour to the coastal Mediterranean town of Essaouira.

All bookings for the main tour should be made through Wicount.

After you have purchased your Wicount voucher, please contact us as soon as possible and at least 10 weeks before departure at the latest to redeem your voucher and select your date. Changes of date made within 8 weeks of departure may be subject to an extra fee.
You can book extra options to go with the tour any time up until 1 week before departure (single room supplements and room upgrades should be booked at least 1 month before departure). Payments for extra options should be made directly to Encounters Travel and not to Wicount.

Meals - 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 7 dinners

Accommodation
The accommodation used on this tour is a mix of 4 star hotels (local ratings), and a comfortable desert camp. Our normal hotels are listed below but alternatives may be used subject to availability on different dates. 

DAY:	ITINERARY:
Day 1: Sat	Arrive into Marrakech.
	Upon arrival our staff will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in Marrakech for the start of your trip. They'll help you settle in and introduce you to the local area. Overnight: Marrakech hotel Extras: Transfers from Casablanca; Suite upgrade in hotel Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Sun	Marrakech. City tour.
	Today's tour of Marrakech begins with a trip to the iconic Koutoubia Mosque, home to the minaret which has become a symbol of the city. We then visit the Mausoleum and Bahia Palace which both host intricate and beautiful Arabic craftsmanship. In the afternoon we head to the lively souks around Jemaa El Fna square. Home to many different types of traders these bustling and aromatic streets are uniquely Moroccan. Today's tour ends at the lively Djemaa El Fna Square. Overnight: Marrakech hotel Extras: Suite upgrade in hotel Meals: Breakfast & lunch
Day 3: Mon	Drive to Ouarzazate via Ait Benhaddou.
	After breakfast this morning we have a spectacular drive across the Tizi N'tichka col which at 2260m is the highest pass in Northern Africa. We then drive to Morocco's most well known Kasbah at the UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Benhaddou. After lunch we head on to Ouarzazate or 'place of no noise'. An incredibly dramatic landscape, this area has played host to countless well known films. Overnight: Ouarzazate hotel Extras: Suite upgrade in hotel Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 4: Tue	Drive to Tingir via Boulmane.
	Departing this morning along the road of a thousand Kasbahs we visit the beautiful Kasbah found at Amerhidel and then arrive into Boulmane from where we visit the impressive Dades Canyon offering great views of the surrounding desert landscape. Overnight: Tingir hotel Extras: Suite upgrade in hotel Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 5: Wed	Todra Gorge, then 4WD to and camping at Merzouga.
	We start this morning with a visit to the nearby Todra Gorge, before continuing our drive through the Atlas Mountains and transferring into 4WD vehicles to travel through the dunes to Merzouga. Here we will watch the sunset over the desert before sleeping under the stars in a traditional Berber camp. Overnight: Berber camp Extras: Camel ride Meals: Breakfast & dinner
Day 6: Thu	Merzouga. Drive to Zagora.
	After breakfast with our Berber hosts we then continue our drive through the dunes to Rissani and the birthplace of the Alaouita Dynasty. We leave our 4WD vehicles here and drive to Erfoud. Lodged in an idyllic setting between the Atlas mountains to the north and the Sahara desert to the south, Erfoud is the administrative capital of the region. Our final stop is at the town of Zagora. Overnight: Zagora hotel Extras: Suite upgrade in hotel Meals: Breakfast & dinner
Day 7: Fri	Drive to Marrakech via Ouarzazate.
	After breakfast this morning we depart for Ouarzazate by crossing the imposing Draa Valley. Bordered by palm groves this sparsely populated town is close to the village of Tamegroute - an important site for Sufi Muslims which we will visit. We then travel back over the Tizi N'tichka col and on through local Berber villages back to Marrakech. Overnight: Marrakech hotel Extras: Suite upgrade in hotel Meals: Breakfast & dinner
Day 8: Sat	Marrakech. Free Day (various day trip options)
	Your day is free today to explore Marrakech further, and perhaps do some final souvenir shopping and sightseeing. Alternatively, we offer a range of day  trips and excursions, including a spectacular hot air balloon flight. Overnight: Marrakech hotel Extras: Suite upgrade in hotel; Hot air balloon flight; Half day quad-biking; Imlil day trip Meals: Breakfast & dinner
Day 9: Sun	Marrakech. Departure transfer to the airport.
	We check out of the hotel early this morning and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. Overnight: N/A Extras: Transfers to Casablanca, Extra nights in Marrakech, Essaouira extension Meals: Breakfast

• All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
• All transport and transfers including 4WD desert jeep safari
• 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
• Services of a local tour leader throughout
• Local English speaking guide during the sightseeing
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Entrances fees to monuments as stated

• International flight and taxes
• Visa fees (required for South African citizens)
• Travel Insurance (compulsory)
• Meals not indicated in the itinerary
• Drinks, snacks, tips and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
• Tips
• Any other items not mentioned above

• Return airport transfers included
• Private transportation throughout
• All entrance fees included
• All tours feature 4WD desert safari
• Guaranteed low group numbers (max 20 per guide)
• Travel with experienced local guides
• 4-star hotels 
• Souvenirs guaranteed!

The following options may be added onto your tour. Some options may be arranged while you are in Morocco - payments for these should be made in US Dollars or the current equivalent in Moroccan Dirham. 

Casablanca airport transfers - ZAR 400-600 p/p each way
Flying into Casablanca can often be cheaper than Marrakech, and it is only a 2 1/2 hour drive away. We will be arranging one or two transfers between Casablanca airport and the hotel in Marrakech each day. Prices will depend on the number of people requiring the transfer, but will range from ZAR 400 to ZAR 600 per person each way. 

Single room supplement - ZAR 1710 
If you would like to guarantee yourself a single room throughout the tour, then we will add this single room supplement fee to your booking.
If you are a single traveller and are happy to share a room, then we will aim to join you with other travellers of the same sex in a twin room. We will arrange room shares in the order that vouchers are redeemed. If we are not able to pair you up then you will need to pay the single room supplement. Triple rooms are not available. 

Extra days - Price: ZAR 345 / 600 p/p/night (shared / single)
These are available on request in Marrakech before and after the main tour. We will aim to use the same hotel as the rest of the tour, but this will be subject to availability in the hotel. If you wish, you may book a hotel at a higher or lower level than that used on the tour. In this case, we can offer a transfer to/from the group hotel for a small charge (paid locally). Prices include a night in the hotel, breakfast, all taxes. Single room supplements apply. Arrival and departure airport transfers are available for an extra ZAR 130 p/p.
NOTE: A supplement to the total price may need to be added as group flights will not be available.

Sunset desert camel ride - ZAR 385 (advance) / US$45 (locally) p/p
This fun 2-hour camel ride takes you out into the desert around your camp to enjoy the sunrise and get some spectacular photos amongst the dunes.

Marrakech Hot air balloon flight - ZAR 2065 (advance) / US$240 (locally) p/p
The hot air balloon tour lasts about half a day, with the flight itself lasting about 1 hour. You start very early in the morning (around 05.30-06.30) with a pick up from your hotel and a drive in a comfortable 4WD vehicle to the take-off site just outside the city. Once the balloon is prepared and ready, you take off and float across the beautiful Moroccan scenery. Depending on the weather and the day's selected take off and landing sites, you'll see different Berber villages, the outskirts of the city, small oases, and terraced irrigated fields as well as the distant High Atlas mountains. A chase vehicle follows you on the ground, in constant contact by radio with the balloon. After landing you rejoin the vehicle and drive back to Marrakesh, stopping for tea and a snack at some of the Berber villages you've passed over. You get back to your hotel in Marrakesh around midday.

Marrakech Quad-biking - Driver - ZAR 860 (advance) / US$100 (locally); Passenger - ZAR 560 (advance) / US$65 (locally)
This is an exciting half day tour in the desert and countryside outside of Marrakech. You drive for around 50km, with a tea break included, and take in some sand dunes and villages en-route. Prices are available for one or two people sharing a quad-bike. This tour fits in very well after the hot air balloon option.

Accommodation upgrades
We use standard en-suite rooms in all the 4-star hotels visited during the tour. If you wish, you may upgrade your room to a junior suite (subject to availability at the time of booking).

• Golden Tulip Farah Marrakech: ZAR 1720 per person per visit (covers 2 nights in a shared room)
• Kasba Asma Zagora : ZAR 475 per person per visit (covers 1 night in a shared junior suite)
• Sargho Tinghir : ZAR 430 per person per visit (covers 1 night in a shared junior suite)
• Kenzi Azeghor Ouarzazate: ZAR 475 per person per visit (covers 1 night in a shared junior suite)

Imlil day trip - ZAR 1200 (advance) / US$140 (locally)
The busy trekking center of Imlil is tucked under Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa. You can visit the Asni Saturday Berber market, walk up to the Toubkal kasbah and explore surrounding trails under mountain shadows. Imlil is a nice roadless destination to cool off from heat in Marrakech, immerse yourself into a Berber village for a day, and is especially pleasant in October when the whole valley smells of ripe apples. Clear blue skies and sunshine make for great trekking weather. Return to Marrakech 1.5 hours one way. There are numerous small cafes and restaurants to have lunch or buy walnuts and apples for your day trek. Not recommended in winter due to snow and cold December to February.

We use good quality hotels rated at the Moroccan 4-star level on this tour. Local star ratings vary slightly from international standards and can generally be considered one star rating lower than that given. We ensure we use some of the very best hotels available at the level stated. Accommodation is based on double or twin bedded en-suite rooms with air conditioning. All couples will have a private double room. Single travellers may choose to pay a single room supplement to guarantee themselves a single room throughout the tour. Alternatively, they may choose to share a twin room with another traveller of the same sex. If there are no other single travellers available to pair up with at the time of your booking, then we will need to add the single supplement to the tour price, but will refund this or deduct it from your balance payment if we are able to pair you up later on.
At the Berber desert camp tents with mattresses and traditional local blankets are provided. You do not need to bring a sleeping bag, but may wish to bring a sleep-sheet or sleeping bag liner for extra comfort. Shared toilet and shower facilities are available.

Our trips feature a mix of different transport options. We want you to feel like you're really experiencing the country you're travelling through, but at the same time we want you to finish journeys refreshed enough to enjoy the next stage of the tour. The terrain and relatively small distances involved in Morocco mean that we use private vehicles throughout this tour, including a 4x4 for your desert safari.

The tour includes a 24-hour airport meet & assist service in Marrakech airport, your arrival and departure airport-hotel transfers and all other transfers.

We are committed to being a small group operator as we feel this gives everyone in the group the best chance to get to know their fellow travellers and to hear and make the most of their guide. There's no point in us providing great guides if you've got to peer over 30-40 shoulders to see them! So, we won't ever put you in a 50-seater coach with 49 other people and just one guide. Instead, we set  these tour departures to have a maximum of 20 travellers per guide. 
In Morocco we provide fully trained, local English-speaking guides for all of the sightseeing tours. Our local reps in all the towns and cities en-route are also at your service, and will be handling all the practical arrangements for the tour.
At Encounters Travel we only use local Moroccan guides and reps. We feel this gives you the best experience of the country and the sites you are seeing.

The tour price includes entrance fees to all the tourist sites mentioned in the itinerary. You will need to cover the cost of entrance to any other extra sites that you may wish to visit.

Tipping is common practice in Morocco as a sign of appreciation for services provided. You may therefore wish to tip your guide and driver at the end of the tour. You should not feel obliged to tip any particular amount, and should consider your personal budget. We are often asked to provide a guide however, and will provide you with more information and suggested amounts in our pre-departure pack.

For up to date health information & vaccination requirements for Morocco we recommend that you contact your medical practitioner or a travel clinic.
General vaccination recommendations for Morocco include Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Polio, Tetanus & Typhoid.

South African citizens must obtain a visa for Morocco before they travel. Many other nationalities (including USA, Canada, UK, European, Australian, New Zealand) do not need to obtain a visa to enter Morocco as long as their stay is for less than 3 months. Other nationalities should check with their local consulate.   It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate visa to enter Morocco if one is required.

Travel insurance covering medical costs and repatriation for medical reasons is mandatory; policy details must be provided to the Encounters Travel at least 1 month before departure (policy number, name of the issuing company, and the policy emergency contact details). Travel insurance covering cancellation and baggage is recommended but not mandatory.

Here's just some of what our previous clients have said about their trip to Morocco with Encounters Travel.

Steven Soehlig, March 2012
A-MA-ZING!
This was a phenomenal package put together by Encounters. Just the right amount of time in most of the cities/places to get a good taste of what it there and make you want to come back. The hotels and camp were great; definitely high quality places. I was impressed with the guides and drivers, as well. They were extremely engaging and went out of their way to make every detail perfect. The food was good; it's pretty limited on what they have to offer in the country, but we had the chance to taste a variety of dishes and it was all prepared nicely and of great quality.
If you get the chance to take this Encounters trip, do it! I cannot wait to try another one with them.

Aruna, March 2012
A Great Introduction to Morocco
Encounters did a wonderful job organizing the tour from the moment I stepped off the plane. The hotel accommodations and bus were great and better than I expected. Each night and city was a different experience so there was no chance to be bored. I left Morocco with a better appreciation for the country and the people. Their hospitality was wonderful.

J. Carlos Jiacinto, March 2012
Exciting Opportunity to learn about Moroccan Culture and History 
The trip, especially the night at the Berber camp, was breathtaking. I enjoyed the camel ride to the top of the dune in the Sahara. I definitely recommend this tour.

Devanshi Patel, March 2012
Saw a lot of great things and met a lot of great people. Loved going into the market in Marrakech on the last day because of everything being sold. We saw the actual production of it in the tiny towns we visited.

Debbie Padilla, March 2012
I had a really great time in Morocco. The country is beautiful and the food is delicious. I would definitely come back.

Timothy McCormack, March 2012
Good Itinerary, pleasant tour guide and driver.