Arrive at Marrakech Menara Airport; private transport and driver to take you to your accommodation (a riad in the Medina, the old city center). Rest of day at independent leisure (depending on your flight arrival time). Overnight: Medina,

A sightseeing day in Marrakech offers a rich mix of sights and experiences. Options include Jemaa el Fna Square (a lively entertainment square), the Medina and its Souks, an Apothecary visit, the Koutoubia Mosque (outside only), Medersa Ben Youssef (Koranic School), Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, Dar Si Said Museum of Moroccan Arts and Crafts, Marrakesh Museum, Almoravid Koubba. All are easily reached on foot. The Majorelle Gardens (once owned by Yves St Lauren) is about 30 minutes walking from the Medina (a Petit Taxi could always be taken) and offer a most tranquil, lush oasis after time in the Medina. The recently renovated Secret Garden is well worth a visit An enjoyable experience is to take a Caliche trip, a horse-drawn carriage tour around the main areas of central Marrakech. Overnight: Medina,

Private transport and driver from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and on to Chegagga in the Sahara. Taddert is en route, an ideal stop for refreshment, perhaps some mint tea. An Argan Oil Co-operative can be visited here (an example of rural development to help ladies gain income). You may wish to visit a small Berber village, Imozar. Here you can really begin to appreciate how life is wrested from a harsh environment. The N9 road continues to snake upwards to the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass (2,260m), the watershed of the High Atlas. From near to here great panoramic views can be seen, over the mountain range and the road recently traveled. But now your Morocco Meanderings really begin. You now travel off the main N9 road and into the Anti Atlas mountains. Crossing the Tizi-n-Bachkoum Pass (1,700m), more fabulous scenery is encountered, valleys and peaks. Travelling onwards to Tazenakht more mountain passes are topped and as you travel through the Anti Atlas and later the Jbel Bani, the Sahara is soon all around. After the date palmeries of Foum-Zguid, today’s destination is Erg Chegagga, a vast area of sand sea, dunes, and extensive rocky plains, a classic “mind’s eye” scene of a tropical desert. Your accommodation this evening is in a Bedouin Camp (deluxe tent). On arrival at your camp, an optional camel ride can be taken before your evening meal into the sand dunes for a sunset experience amidst stunning Saharan scenery. After eating, often campfire entertainment provided, music (drumming) and singing around a campfire, under the stars. For early risers, there is the opportunity to witness the sunrise, equally as impressive as a new day that starts tomorrow morning.

After your night in your Bedouin tent, it’s time to see much more of the Sahara. This truly is an exceptional area of the Sahara with much to engage and captivate the mind. Now you really are Morocco meandering! Traveling further east on piste (unsurfaced) roads, you visit Tamangroute. This Saharan town is famous for its "sub-terranean" homes, homes built very close together so as to provide shaded passageways between the homes to guard against the strong tropical sun. The renowned Islamic Library can be visited too. The Islamic Library, once an important centre of learning, contains many ancient texts, many on hiding as well as on vellum e.g. a 15th-century Egyptian book of illustrated astronomy, a book of medicine and a Quran written on gazelle-hide from the 11th century. Tamangroute is also renowned for its unique pottery glaze, a rich green. A visit is made to the potters’ area to see the clay being prepared, turned with great talent (and you can “have a go” if you wish), glazed and finally, kiln fired. Your journey continues to follow the Draa Valley northwards. Zagora is a grand, small city, and the wealth gained from date cultivation in this area is obvious in the wide central avenue and the quality of many of the buildings. The date palmeries of the Draa Valley are like a thick, wide, and very long “carpet” of greenery on the valley floor. An especially fine viewpoint allows an extensive view over the palmeries; they seem to go on forever. There are many places where you can stop to try the many varieties of dates grown here; delicious and healthy. Nekob, your home for tonight, sits in a great oasis amongst all the scenic splendour just travelled through. It is famous for its great number of kasbahs, evidence of the once rich families that lived here. Being of pisé mud construction, however, many are now only well-weathered relics.

Today’s meanderings take you through ever more awesome landscapes. Only recently surfaced, your route is now well off the beaten track, travelling through the Jbel Saghro mountains. The route offers much to captivate the eye and mind. Being on the northern edge of the Sahara, the scenery is that of a hot semi-desert. Areas are seen where, with government help, the land is being “opened up” for agriculture e.g. olive plantations. Will it be successful? Where is the water coming from? Is it a sustainable form of development? A high pass, the Tizi-n-Tazazirt, offers a great vantage point across today’s route. Today’s travelling distance is less than in previous days and thus the opportunity to both “stop and stare” as well as to encounter “happenstance” occurrences is all part of the plan. Once through the Jbel Saghro mountains, it is on to Boumalne Dades, a major town, bridging the Dades River. The market town, it is back to a lively, exciting bustle once again.

Departing Boumalne Dades, your journey continues east towards the Todra Gorge. The desert landscape reveals impressive buttes, mesa, and plateaux. The Todra Gorge is 984 feet (300m) high and was formed by the Todra river, cutting down through red-stained limestones. A walk through the gorge is a most enjoyable (and easy) experience. Imagining the mighty flash floods that can sometimes pass through it is very thought-provoking; the wonder and power of nature. Not far from Todra, the twisting surfaced road leads to the small Berber village of Tamtattouchte. Continuing on this road, your meanderings pass through spectacular mountain scenery. This is an area where the Berbers see very few visitors; their hospitality is renowned. A big highlight of today is the Ziz Gorges. More spectacular scenery awaits, the result of the action of the River Ziz. It is quite a journey into the valley. The route begins at the Legionnaire’s Tunnel, built by the French in their colonial times (the 1930s). Then prepare for sheer drops and many hairpin bends! But the route offers superb views and is well worth it. The Ziz gorges end at Hassan Addakil dam and reservoir. Amongst the thin strip of date palmeries lining the Ziz valley floor, the kasbah of Ifri is a highlight. Midelt, your home for tonight, is located on the high plains between the Middle Atlas and High Atlas. It is a large city but has only been significant since the French colonial days. Midelt today serves as the commercial center for both the region’s agriculture (e.g. the nearby River Moulouya allows for much orchard fruit cultivation) as well as for mining (especially gypsum and lead).

This journey takes you deep into the Moyen Atlas mountains. The journey takes you and up and over the Col du Zad (2,178m). The highlight today is the Azhro forest and its macaque monkeys. Some of the trees of the Azrou Forest are more than 400 years old. Moroccan cedars can grow to heights of close to 200 feet (60m). These trees grow at altitudes of between 3,940 feet (1,200m) and 9,200 feet (2,800m). Oak trees form part of the forest. Living among the enormous cedars, south of Azrou, are troops of Barbary macaques. They are numerous but some patience is needed to spot them (but well worth it, to see wildlife in their natural habitat). Birds too are present such as woodpeckers, owls, and eagles. Azrou town has a pleasant central square with its green-roofed buildings. Ifrane, by contrast, is a surprising settlement, looking a little European. As the distance to be covered today is not so far, time can be taken as wished, perhaps with little side trips to see some of the lakes of this area e.g. Lake Daiet Aoua. Then it is on to Fez where you have two nights.

Private transport and driver for your day in and around Fes with a half-day Fes City Guide today. Fes is an Imperial City and has a very attractive maze of narrow streets in the fascinating and absorbing Old Medina, the market, and the souks. Fes has an Islamic University and is regarded as the scientific capital of Morocco. The Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University can be visited. The famous Fes Tanneries can be visited and of course, there are many leather purchases on offer. Fez pottery is very good too. You can also enjoy the Old Madrasas, the Mellah (Jewish quarter), Mount Zalagh (a gentle hike there gives a panorama over Fes and area), and the Merenid tombs, giant tombs of royalty/officials.

Volubilis, just outside Meknes (about 30kms away), is a very good inclusion on today’s itinerary. Volubilis is an excellent example of an important outpost city on the edge of the Roman Empire and now holds World Heritage Site status. (guided tour at extra cost) Volubilis contains Morocco’s best-preserved Roman ruins, some of which are now undergoing conservation. There is a Forum and Basilica as well as many Roman mosaics. Transferring over to nearby Meknes, there is much to appreciate in this ancient Imperial City. Moulay Idriss is an architecturally stunning shrine. Bab al-Mansour is an impressive huge gate of the Imperial City, very photogenic. The Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, king in the 17th Century, is well worth a visit as are his impressive ancient Royal Stables. The old core of the city has an interesting Old Medina too. (guided tour at extra cost.) Travel to Casablanca.

Arrangements will be made to suit your departure flight’s schedule (NOTE: or drive to Marrakech for departure if this is your preferred airport, at a supplement).