Marrakesh and The Atlas Mountains for solo travellers

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Marrakesh and The Atlas Mountains for solo travellers

6 Days - Tours for Solo Travellers

A visit to Morocco is like taking a journey back in time – it’s everything you imagine it to be and so much more. It is a country of startling contrasts due to the legacies left behind by its past rulers and inhabitants: starting with the earliest records from Phoenician times, then coming under the sway of Carthage, followed by the Romans and from the 7th century the Ottomans, and finally, the French. This has created a unique and utterly compelling country which today, although relatively close geographically, remains delightfully exotic, mysterious and unspoilt. Marrakesh is Morocco’s most vibrant city, full of myths and mystery. Today it’s an anachronism, one of the most exciting and romantic places you will ever visit, with one foot in the present and one firmly in the past. It was once an oasis on the ancient caravan routes to the south, soon becoming a natural centre of commerce and consequently, during medieval times, Morocco’s capital. Vast wealth poured in from nearby Moorish Spain and skilled artisans built the city you see today. Surrounded by almost intact medieval ramparts, ochre-coloured Morocco boasts some amazing buildings. Dominating the traditional low-rise skyline is the astounding minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque, towering at more than 60 metres high, visible for miles around and a classic example of Moorish architecture. Then there are the Saadian Tombs, the intricately decorated final resting place of the descendants of Mohammed, plus the spectacular Royal Palace and a host of other wonderful things to experience. The city’s maze of tiny streets is interspersed with tranquil gardens watered for centuries by an ingenious underground water system that still functions after all these years. At the heart of it all though is the immense Jemaa el-Fnaa, Africa’s busiest square and the site of one of the world’s greatest spectacles, especially atmospheric at dusk. Here, bustling street restaurants serve all kinds of delicacies with mouth-watering aromas filling the air, set in what can only be described as a medieval circus. Storytellers recount tales of old, while courageous fire-eaters and skilled acrobats entertain the eager crowds. Scribes pen letters while barbers are busy at work. Underscoring the whole scene is the heavy drumbeat of musical troupes playing their instruments, the sights and sounds of which are enchanting. The balmy warmth of the Moroccan evening adds to the atmosphere, and all this under an ocean of stars makes for a fabulous experience. The Moroccans themselves display legendary hospitality: culturally bound to offer help to visitors, they are extremely friendly, generous and open. One of the great delights when exploring Morocco is its exciting cuisine, and Marrakesh is a veritable food-lovers’ paradise. Whilst our tour is on a half-board basis, to get an authentic taste of the local cuisine, you may choose lunch in the hotel, instead of dinner, to try the city’s myriad of atmospheric restaurants and sample the local delicacies. Most famous is the pastilla, a legendary pastry prepared with pigeon or chicken flavoured with cinnamon and honey. Indeed, renowned TV chef Robert Carrier once stated that there are three outstanding cuisines in the world: French, Chinese and Moroccan. Join us on this exhilarating tour of one of the world’s most fascinating cities and experience all its wonders for yourself.

Holiday Highlights

Discover Marrakesh on a guided tour and explore its countless gems including the medieval medina, atmospheric souks and the extraordinary Jemaa el-Fnaa square
Visit the stunning Jardin Majorelle, once home to Yves St Laurent
Experience the spectacular Atlas Mountains, Africa’s greatest mountain range and an ever-present backdrop to Marrakesh
Visit the Saadian Tombs, one of the finest examples of Moorish architecture
Visit Essaouira, a 15th-century coastal town and one of North Africa’s most attractive ports
Five nights in four-star superior accommodation inclusive of all local taxes, plus breakfast and dinner including a welcome dinner on the first night to meet your fellow travellers
Hotel porterage of one item per person

What's Included

The price of this holiday is per person based on one person in a double/twin room for sole occupancy. The price includes:
Five nights’ four-star superior accommodation
Daily breakfast and dinner
All tours as mentioned
Return flights and transfers
Airport departure taxes,
All local accommodation taxes
Porterage of one piece of luggage at the hotel
The services of a Riviera Travel tour manager
Please note where hotels feature an outdoor swimming pool, this will be open summer months, weather permitting.

Itinerary

Day 1

You arrive at the airport to take your flight to Marrakesh. On arrival, we will transfer to the excellent four-star superior Hotel Opera Plaza where we stay for five nights. Set in its own private landscaped grounds shaded by glossy-leaved palm trees, this luxury hotel is ideally located, allowing easy access to the sights of the old city. This evening we enjoy a relaxing welcome dinner and a chance to break the ice, expertly aided by your tour manager, experienced in delivering the very best tours for solo travellers.

Day 2

Marrakesh is a labyrinth of tiny alleyways teeming with activity like few other places in the world. With classic, French colonial buildings and boulevards surrounded by remarkably preserved medieval walls, the city is so perfect it could be, and often is used as, a film set. This morning, we enjoy a sightseeing tour during which we will see the Saadian tombs, one of the world’s finest examples of Moorish architecture, where classic archways are covered in gold leaf and stucco work. Plus, we will experience the Bahia Palace, which when built was acclaimed as the world’s most beautiful palace, famed for its 50 marble columns. We also visit the famous souks or covered markets, where immensely skilled craftsmen create intricate leatherware, jewellery and furniture. At dusk, after dinner in the hotel, we visit the Jemaa el-Fnaa square, a showcase for traditional Moroccan life. You will experience a fantastic spectacle of musicians, dancers, fortune-tellers and snake charmers in an exhilarating kaleidoscope of colour.

Day 3

This morning, we continue our tour of marvellous Marrakesh. The city boasts a wealth of wonderful gardens, some vast with olive groves and lakes, providing a haven of peace and tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle of the city. One of the prettiest parks is the Jardin Majorelle: an amazing display of bamboo, bougainvillaea and cacti, formerly owned by Yves Saint-Laurent. Surrounding the city are impressive ramparts stretching 19 miles long, still largely intact with imposing forts at various intervals. The gates are fine examples of classic Moorish architecture with their pastel hues changing colours depending on the time of day and the intensity of the light. The afternoon is yours at leisure to further your exploration of Marrakesh at an unhurried pace, or relax in your hotel and take advantage of its excellent facilities.

Day 4

Our day begins with a comfortable drive to the delightful coastal town of Essaouira, which came to prominence during the 15th century when the Portuguese established the medieval citadel that still stands today. Within its walls are a maze of tranquil squares and perfectly preserved streets, lined by whitewashed houses and pavement cafes. It’s a sheer pleasure to stroll through the markets here, where the stalls groan under the weight of colourful fresh fruit and vegetables. Or simply wander along the harbour, bustling with a hive of activity and where fishermen repair their nets as they have done for centuries. Essaouira is so charmingly unspoilt it has been featured as the location for several blockbuster productions, from Orson Welles’ Othello to Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven. During your journey, the real Morocco unfolds and the landscape changes from fertile green plains to a moon-like semi-desert, occasionally studded with palm trees. Mud-brick villages blend perfectly into the background, while shepherds of all ages tend their herds of sheep and goat – the transport of choice here is very much the donkey.

Day 5

Forming an ever-present backdrop and adding to Marrakesh’s wondrous setting are the soaring, snow-capped Atlas Mountains. This morning, we take a drive into the stunning foothills with the countryside evolving from saffron-coloured fields to steeper, wooded slopes, slashed by dramatic, river-filled gorges. Mammoth peaks soaring more than 3,000 metres high spear the vivid, blue sky while the desolate mountainside stretches before us. Then the forests commence, rolled out like a massive green carpet and beyond, misty plains stretch to the horizon in a patchwork of muted colours. There’s time to take in the spectacular vistas when we stop to stretch our legs and perhaps enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. After a morning of sightseeing, we return to Marrakesh in the early afternoon. The rest of the day is at leisure, giving you ample time to make the most of your final day in this wonderful city.

Day 6

Transfer to the airport for your return flight.

4* Superior Hotel Opera Plaza - Marrakesh

About the hotel

Designed in Arab Moorish style, the four-star superior Hotel Opera Plaza is a luxurious place to rest after a day of sight-seeing.

Each room has modern décor, and offers television, air-conditioning, ensuite, safe, hairdryer and a telephone.

There are three restaurants; the main restaurant, which serves international cuisine; and also, an Italian or Moroccan ‘à la carte’ restaurants. There is also a lounge bar, café bar, spa and large outdoor pool shaded by palm and olive trees.

Location

Set in its own private grounds, this hotel is ideally located, allowing easy access to the sights of the old city.

Holiday provided by

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At a glance

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