Cities & Empires
Day 1: Tangier—fly at c. 7.45 p.m. from London Heathrow to Tangier (time in the air: c. 2 hours 45 minutes)—snack in your hotel room on arrival—first of two nights in Tangier.
Day 2: Tangier—a morning walk investigates both the traditional walled Muslim city and the relics of the famous turn-of-the-century international city—visit the Anglican Church, the Kasbah quarter, including the museum, the Petit Socco square and the Mendoubia garden—some free time—overnight Tangier.
Day 3: Tetouan—the heirs of Granada—drive east over the Anjera hills to the city of Tetouan, settled by refugees from Andalucia whose Moorish culture is clearly identifiable in the streets of the old city, the products of the artisan school and the archaeological museum—drive south to Chefchaouen and then on to Fès for the first of three nights.
Day 4: Volubilis, Meknes—in impressive isolation on the edge of the olive-covered Zerhoun hills lie the ruins of Volubilis, the capital of Roman Morocco, with triumphal arch, basilica and mosaics—though it boasts an old walled trading city, a Merenid madrassa and an intimate palace museum to rival Fès, Meknes is yet overwhelmed by the vast ruins of the 17th-century imperial city established by the powerful Sultan Moulay Ismail to house his Negro slave army—overnight Fès.
Day 5: Fès—a full day to explore the extraordinary walled mediaeval city of Fès that stands at the heart of Moroccan culture —highlights include the Bou Inania Madrassa and the Karaouyine Mosque, as well as the pungent Tanneries—afternoon tour of the city walls and some free time—overnight Fès.
Day 6: the Middle Atlas—pick up the old caravan trail south, stopping at Midelt before crossing the nomad-grazed high plateau of the Middle Atlas and descending along the Ziz palmery to the Tafilalt oasis on the edge of the Sahara—first of two nights in Erfoud.
Day 7: The Tafilalt Oasis, Merzouga—visit Tafilalt, including the sad, empty mound that was once the glittering mediaeval city of Sigilmassa—evening excursion to see the sunset over the sand dunes of the desert of Merzouga—overnight Erfoud.
Day 8: Erfoud to Ouarzazate—follow a chain of oasis palmeries west through the old market town of Tinerhir and the extraordinary tapering towers of the kasbahs along the Dades oasis valley—leave the main road for the Todra Gorge with its vividly contrasting colours of bright green vegetation set against red, brown and orange rock faces—overnight Ouarzazate.
Day 9: the High Atlas—cross the High Atlas mountains, stopping at Taourirt and the celebrated kasbah village of Aït Benhaddou before twisting through the high passes—descend through woodland on the north face of the mountains down to the red city of Marrakech for the first of three nights.
Day 10: Marrakech—a morning devoted to the architectural achievements of the Saadian dynasty, paid for with the gold of Timbuctoo—the dazzling decorative excess of the Saadian tombs and the gaunt simplicity of the ruins of the El Badi Palace are balanced by the calm munificence of the Ben Youssef Madrassa—free afternoon to visit the world famous market and Djemaa el-Fna square—overnight Marrakech.
Day 11: Marrakech—the late-19th-century Bahia Palace contrasts with the sophistication of the Saadian palaces and tombs—the Koutoubia minaret is the oldest of the three Almohad towers, and stands 70 metres high—free afternoon; a visit of the Marjorelle gardens, with its bamboo groves and date plantations, is an option—overnight Marrakech.
Day 12: fly from Marrakech to Casablanca and on to London Heathrow (time in the air: c.2 hours 45 minutes) arriving c. 4.45 p.m.
18–29 September 2010
(EX 709)
12 days •
£3,240
Lecturer:
Dr Amira Bennison
Comments from participants in 2009:
‘Lecturer was fantastic. Her knowledge of history, ability to take care of us and her pleasant nature.’
J. C., British Columbia
‘The itinerary covered a wide range of land forms and this contributed to the enjoyment of the trip.’
J. D., South Australia
‘Good total picture of the country – its cultural and geographical complexity.’
L. H., London