Pre- and Post-conference Tours
In addition to one day tours one pre-conferenmce tour "Imperial Cities" and one post-conference tour "Ouarzazate & the Caravan Routes Tour" will be offered. Brochure on pre- and post-conference tours.
All pre- and post-conference tours shall be booked directly from First Class Travel Agency that will also give all additional information on the tours and payments. Deadline for bookings is 30 April 2011.
First Class Travel International
Angle Bd. Mohamed V et Av.
Hassan 1.
No.7 Bloc B – Imm, SIBAM2
Marrakech
MOROCCO
Tel. + 212 524 430331/29
Fax : +212 524 430284
Email: bnora-fct@menara.ma or
hmahi-fct@menara.ma
One-Day Tours
1. Visit of Essaouira – Mogador (180 km)
Date: To be agreed with First Class Tours when
booked.
Price: Price includes tour guide fees, transfer by minibus or
coach and lunch
|
Minimum number of participants |
4 - 7 pax | 8 – 15 pax | 16 – 45 pax |
| Price per person | 75,- € | 65,- € | 60,- € |
 |
Full day guided visit of the Atlantic port town of
Essaouira (meaning the beautiful picture - in Arabic)
which stands on a peninsula permanently swept by the trade winds.
The best way to see Essaouira, the blue and white town, is on foot. Inside the 18th century fortified city walls, interesting architectural features include gates and windows with intricately carved decoration. |
 |
Our visit begins with the ancient port of Essaouira, situated at the foot of the town’s walls and at the end of a beautiful long sandy beach. With its gaily painted fishing boats and brightly colored nets piled up on the quayside, it is bustling and attractive place. In 1949, ORSON Wells chose the imposing city fortifications of Essaouira as the setting for the outside shots of Othello, the film of the Shakespearean tragedy. |
 |
Visit of the shipyards where wooden boats are hand built following the traditional style of sturdy ancient dhows. The Porte de La Marine was built in 1769 - a little bridge links this to the town and the ramparts which divide the town into several districts which we will discover: the Kasbah or skalla, the mellah (or Jewish quarter) and medina. |
 |
From the main square, in which Moroccan and
Portuguese architectural styles are combined, narrow shopping
streets run past the Clock tower and the Great Mosque and into
the square crowned with Moorish cafés. The Siaghine Street,
houses the town’s Jewish gold and silversmiths, very famous for
their skillful handicraft.
The 650 foot artillery platform of the Skalla is surrounded by crenellated walls that once served as Essaouira’s defense against maritime attacks. Today the platform offers a superb view over the town. |
| Lunch at the Il Mare Restaurant. | |
  |
Menu: (to be reconfirmed)
*drinks not included |
14h30 to 15h30 free time for discovery & shopping, tour guide at your
disposal.
19h00 Arrival to Marrakech.
2. Full day of 4x4 of the High Atlas Mountains Trails
Date: To be agreed with First Class Tours when
booked.
Price: 75, - Euro (minimum number of participants is 4 persons).
Price includes rental of 4x4 vehicles / 4 persons/4x4, services of
driver(s), lunch at the Terres D’amanar camp
|
Minimum number of participants |
4 - 7 pax | 8 – 15 pax | 16 – 45 pax |
| Price per person | 75,- € | 65,- € | 60,- € |
 |
The 4WD vehicles used will be Toyota Land Cruisers or
similar in excellent condition with the services of professional
drivers. The vehicles will be supplied with bottles of mineral water, dry fruits or biscuits, and Kleenex. Beginning of the expedition through the picturesque mountains & off-road trails... When Sir Winston Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt headed for Marrakech after the Allies' Casablanca Conference in 1943, Churchill told his travel companion, "I must be with you when you see the sunset on the snows of the Atlas Mountains”. |
 |
During our tour of the Atlas there will be various stops to discover the country-side with your guides, and take time to share a mint tea with the local inhabitants in their simple homes & to enjoy these very picturesque landscapes... |
|
Arrive at the
Terres d’Amanar camp. Located on a beautiful plateau overlooking the Atlas mounts and their beautiful valleys in the heart of the High Atlas Mountains near the town of Asni, the Terres D’amanar domain is a unique site with an exceptional environment and very authentic feel far from the stress and pollution. The Terres D’amanar site is about 70 hectares in size and lies immediately next to the 100,000 ha Toubkal national park & forest with a beautiful view of the Atlas mounts, the park, valleys and Berber villages. Welcome Mint Tea |
| Lunch is served under nomad tents... Menu (drinks not included):
|
|
| After Lunch possibility to participate in the
activities (not included)... * (Licensed by the French SNEPA organization - Syndicat National des Exploitants de Parcours d’Aventure) * Distribution of all the equipment (helmets, etc...) and security harnesses (Petzl brand - respects EU security norms) * Then the guests are split into smaller groups and begin this very fun Zip line course and/or ropes course- count +/-2 hrs. * Assistance by the instructors all along the courses. One in the beginning and one at the end of every activity. |
|
Diagram of the zip-line course: |
|
3. Ourika Valley
Date: To be agreed with First Class Tours when
booked.
Price: Price includes tour guide fees, lunch, mint tea in a
Berber village, transfer by minibus or coach depending on the number of
participants.
|
Minimum number of participants |
4 - 7 pax | 8 – 15 pax | 16 – 45 pax |
| Price per person | 60,- € | 55,- € | 50,- € |
 |
Early departure for the Ourika Valley an attractive string of villages along the river valley carrying the same name. The landscape is fresh and green, and in summer a popular destination when Marrakech is boiling with the heat. |
 |
The Ourika Valley starts about 30 km south of Marrakech, and the tarmac road will slowly bring you 37 km into the valley until you reach Setti Fatma, famous for its seven waterfalls. The main attraction of Ourika is the brick mosque of Aghbalou, a rare change from the standard mosques in Morocco. It has an appearance which resembles more a church. |
 |
But since Aghbalou is the largest village along the Oued Ourika, it is also a popular place to stop en route. A popular place to pass an hour or two is the nice café along the river and discovers a Berber village. Extremely basic, with an uneven ground, but the food is surprisingly good. |
| Lunch at the Ramuncho Inn. Menu: Salad, Berber Tagine, Season’s fruits & mint tea. Drinks are not included Return to Marrakech. |
|
Pre-Conference Tour: Imperial Cities Tour
Duration: 4 days and 3 nights
Dates: 14-17 May 2011
Price: see below
| A great introduction to the great Imperial
Cities of Morocco, that have all, at some point in Morocco's
history, been the capital of one of the dynasties of the kingdom.
The imperial cities of Fez, Marrakech, Meknes and Rabat have
played important roles throughout the history of Morocco and,
today, you can still marvel at the glory of their religious
architecture and the unique charms of their historic heritage
while savoring their exotic culture. This program allows you to experience the different flavors and wonders of the Kingdom in an adventure celebrating its history, culture, gastronomy and architecture. |
|
 |
Day 1 : CASABLANCA– RABAT Orientation tour of Casablanca. Discovery of Hassan II mosque & Mohammed V square. Dinner & night in your hotel in Rabat. |
  |
Day 2: RABAT– MEKNES–VOLUBILIS–
FEZ Guided visit of Rabat; the Hassan tower the Oudayas Kasbah, the Mohamed V Mausoleum & Royal Palace. Meknes city tour & visit of the Roman ruins in Volubilis. Lunch in Meknes. Dinner & Night in your hotel in Fez. |
 |
Day 3 : FEZ Full day guided visit of the of Fez... Discover the 12-century old medina, the Nejjarine museum, the Bou Inania medersa & mosque, and much more. A first hand look at life inside the old city; the craftsmen, the souks, ... Dinner & Night in your hotel in Fez. |
|
Day 4 : FEZ– MARRAKECH Transfer to Marrakech via the middle & high Atlas mountains. Lunch in Beni Mellal. Continuation to Marrakech. |
Prices and details:
Imperial Cities Tour : (minimum number of participants 10)
Option 1: Accommodation in 5* Luxury Tour Hassan hotel in Rabat &
5* Luxury Palais Jamaii hotel in Fes 770€/person in double or twin room
Single room supplement 392 €
Option 2: Accommodation in 4* Golden Tulip hotel in Rabat & 4*
Riad Guesthouse in Fes 560 €/person in double or twin room
Single room supplement 171 €
Includes : Transportation in luxury air-conditioned vehicles (minivans
or coach) as per program itinerary. Accommodation for 3 nights. Services
of local tour guides during the visits. Entrance fees to the monuments
as per program. Full board from diner of day 1 to the lunch of day 4;
Lunches in quality restau-rants (Moroccan cuisine & varied 3-course
menus) - drinks not included.
Dinners in your hotel or guesthouse. Mint tea break every day.
*Please note that the above-mentioned tours require a minimum number of
participants.
Availability on request.
Post Conference Tour: Ouarzazate & the Caravan Routes Tour
Duration: 3 days and 2 nights
Dates: 22-24 May 2011
Price: see below.
| Discover this fascinating region which begins
at the southern edge of the High Atlas, where desert and
mountains meet. The stony desert is broken by green oases where shade-giving date palms grow in profusion. Cut in by steep canyons and studded with arid hills it is criss-crossed by small streams or wadis right up to the edge of the great Sahara desert. Here the light is intensely bright and the colors sumptuously rich. |
|
|
Day 1 : MARRAKECH - ZAGORA Cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi-N-Tichka pass (2260m) from Marrakech to Ouarzazate… gateway to the Sahara. Discovery of one of the most picturesque regions of the country & first contact with the Berber peoples. Lunch in Ouarzazate on a terrace overlooking the Kasbah of Taourirt... guided visit of the kasbah. Continue along the ancient caravan trails routes to the Drâa valley and its palm grove, which is said to be the largest in the world. At sunset, enjoy a fun camel trek to the Tinfou dunes. Night in your hotel in Zagora. |
 |
Day 2 : ZAGORA– M’GOUNA– OUARZAZATE Discovery of the Dades valley, the 1001 kasbah road & the town of Kellaat M’gouna, famous for the production of roses since the 10th century. Lunch on the route. Dinner & Night in your hotel in Ouarzazate. |
 |
Day 3 : OUARZAZATE– MARRAKECH Return to Marrakech via the off-road trails of the High Atlas. Lunch in Telouet, visit of the kasbah. Return to Marrakech. |
Prices and details:
Ouarzazate & the Caravan Routes Tour : (minimum number of participants
10)
Accommodation in 5* Palais Asmaa hotel in Zagora & 4* Mercure Hotel
Ouarzazate:
In 4x4 = 385 €/pax in double or twin room
In minibus = 286 €/pax in double or twin room
Single room supplement 70 €/person
Includes : Transportation in air-conditioned 4x4 vehicles with services
professional driv-ers as per program. Accommodation for 2 nights.
Services of local tour guides during the visits. Entrance fees to the
monuments as per program. Full board from lunch of D-1 to the lunch of
D-4; Lunches in quality restaurants (Moroccan cuisine, Varied 3 course
menus) drinks not included.
Diners in your hotel or guesthouse. Mint tea break every day.
*Please note that the above-mentioned tours require a minimum number of
participants.
Availability on request