We have our most popular adventure back on the calendar this fall: Miraculous Morocco. PhotoFly Travel Club is hopeful & optimistic that the end of this year will bring renewed “travel fever” when our current global crisis has played out. After being cooped up, this is one of many fall trips that will satisfy that urge and help speed up our recovery.
PLUS, our expectation as of now, is that by summer we’ll be able to travel many parts of the globe again, safely. We are still getting lots of interest in our Norway in September is also filling fast.
AND, Stay tuned for a BRAND NEW adventure in the works also in November this year. It will be ready and released in the coming 1-2 weeks. HINT: Holy Lands & Cleansing Waters…
Check out the overviews below and sign up before it’s too late!
Miraculous Morocco
- 12 nights/13 days throughout Marvelous Morocco
- Private local english speaking guides throughout
- Breakfast Everyday
- 3 lunches, 7 Dinners (Including Welcome and Farewell Dinner Celebrations)
Tangier (2 Nights)
– Mountain Road Trip: Pass splendid villas & gardens en route to Cape Spartel and it’s striking lighthouse. Great views & photographs from this north-westerly point of Africa.
– Hercules Cave: Continually inhabited since the Neolithic period, we’ll visit the place where legend has it that the great Greek God rested after separating Gibraltar from Africa!
– The Medina (Old Walled City): Privately guided tour through the labyrinth of paths that make up the cultural epicenter of the city. Visits include the Kasbah (Sultan’s walled fortress) via a walk through the old spice markets, the Dar El Makhze Museum, former governor’s palace buit in the 17th century, & Museum of Morccan Arts (located in the former princes apartments within the Kasbah) The afternoon is free to grab lunch and wander around the Grand & Petit Socco (Gateways to the Medina with beautiful gardens, fountains, cobblestone streets, restaurants, cafe’s and shops)
Chefchaouen (1 Night)
Andalusian Morocco: En route to Chefchaouen we’ll stop in Tetouan, known as the center of Andalusian Morocco. The city is famous as the place Spanish Jews came to settle after they were expelled from Southern Spain (Andalucia) along with the Arabs in 1492. We’ll explore the fascinating & authentic Medina which makes up the heart of the city while its nearby beaches are popular with both locals and visitors.
– There is amazing photography through the unique, hilly city of Chefchaouen! Wander around and photograph the Kasbah, the Medina, Jewish Quarter, Berber Souk (open air market), and the Artisan Quarters. Get lost in the beauty on your own or follow our guide to the hidden corners for awesome shots.
Meknes
Two UNESCO World Heritage sites for the price of one this morning with another stop in the 17th century imperial city of Meknes. In the old Meknes medina we visit Bab el Mansour, the grandest of all imperial Moroccan gateways. We continue our tour to the small but impressive Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Next we pass by the entrance of Meknes Royal Palace and end up at Moulay Ismail’s massive Heri es Souani, his personal stable & granary for his 12,000 horses.
Fes (2 Nights)
– Guided City Walk: Considered the “Athens of Africa” for its wealth of cultural, educational, and religious institutions, the walk begins at Fes’ fascinating medina, with stops to see and photograph the artisans’ quarters, 14th-century Koranic schools, Al Karaouine (medieval theological university), and the Potters District. The famous Fes tannery affords us great panoramic views over the men hard at work treating and dying the different hides. After lunch, head to the old Mellah (Jewish quarter) and its 17th century synagogue, royal gates, and Museum of Fez.
– Unique Family Dinner in Traditional Home: Located in the heart of the Medina, we’ll enjoy a very special experience dining at a traditional house with a host family for a truly authentic glimpse into the lives and culture of the Moroccan people. Ask about their way of life, values, interests, etc and share with them ours! Not to mention, the houses traditional Moroccan Fessi architecture will be the perfect place to photograph & enjoy an incredible home cooked meal in the most authentic way possible. No better way to wrap up an adventurous day around the city!
Erfoud & the Sahara Desert (2 Nights)
Referred to as the”Gate of the Sahara”, Erfoud is perched on the edge of the Erg Chebbi – a 30 mile long and 3 mile wide set of sand dunes that reach up to 170 ft high, some of the highest in North Africa! En-route to this magical place we’ll be stopping at numerous points for awesome photographs.
Our desert camp is the perfect place to enjoy a magical night in the desert under the stars. All luxury tents at the camp have air conditioning, en suite bathrooms w/ showers, and are beautifully decorated in the local Berber style. A large “dining room” tent will be the perfect meeting place for a delicious home cooked Moroccan feast. The center of the camp lights up at night with fires perfect for keeping warm while stargazing. Walk just a few feet away for absolute darkness for epic night shooting!
– Camel ride into the desert: We’ll hop on camels at the edge of the desert and be guided to our luxury desert camp for an amazing sunset, Moroccan home cooked feast, & night under the stars!
– Enjoy and photograph sunrise the next day before a specially prepared Berber breakfast and make our way back to Erfoud, famous for it’s date festival and ancient fossils.
– The Route of 1000 Kasbahs: En route to Boumalne Dades we’ll have en epic road trip along one of the most beautiful drives in the entire country. The “Route of 1000 Kasbahs” as it’s commonly referred, is dotted with oases, ksours (fortified Berber villages), & of course lots of Kasbahs, or fortified homes of the ruling families. It continues up into the High Atlas Mountain range full of the highest and narrowest gorges in northern Africa.– Todra Gorge: Lush palm trees cover 30 miles of wide tracts along this giant natural creation. We’ll walk among the palm and olive groves to the deep & narrow canyon of pink and grey rock towering 1,000 ft high on each side.
– Dades Gorge & Valley: Explore the stunning gorge and valley to admire and photograph all sorts of interesting formations. One of the more well known is called “Monkey Toes”, a mountain ridge formation of rocks that have been eroded by wind and water into smooth toe like formations which intertwine in beautiful patterns. Over 150 species of birds can be found within the valley attracted by the Dades River and surrounding vegetation. Quaint, Berber villages dot the valley as we hike through to the dramatic canyon with lots of date and fig fields tended for centuries.
– Ait Ben Haddou: On our way to Marrakesh we’ll visit this world famous Ksar (fortified village), now an UNESCO World Heritage site. A traditional Mud Brick city on the edge of the High Atlas Mountains, many classic & modern movies have been filmed here including Jewel of the Nile, Cleopatra, Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, Seven Years in Tibet, Game of Thrones, and The Mummy (just to name a few…).
– Explore the Saadian Tombs: Discovered in 1917, the tombs date back to the late 1500’s during the reign of the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur who spared no expense creating his glamorous resting place. Three rooms make up the tomb with the most elaborate known as “The Chamber of the 12 Pillars”. The stele (columns) are made up of finely worked cedar wood & decorative stucco & the monuments are made of imported Italian Carrara marble.
– Jemaa el Fna Square: Wander around and photograph this UNESCO site and the heart of Marrakech. Jemma means “congregation” and the square does not disappoint as an entertainment hub for locals and tourists alike. At the end of the afternoon, storytellers, snake charmers, tooth-drawers, and dancers compete to entertain the crowd in a scene you’ll have to photograph and bring home for your friends and family to believe!
– The Souks of Marrakech: Without a doubt the most colorful and liveliest in Africa, the souks, or marketplaces, are grouped by the different trades and services they offer: the Dyers, the Blacksmiths, and the Babouche (slippers) & shoemakers, spices, and fabric sellers etc. They’re nicknamed the “Kingdom of the 5 Senses” for their perfumes, colors, sounds, touches, and tastes. Tons of photographs to capture here as the joyous rush of locals and visitors only adds to the “show”.
Lots of free time to explore the city on your own or sign up for a number of different optional tours:
– Hot Air Balloon Ride: Superb panoramic views over small villages and the immense palm grove extending as far as the Tensift River; all with a backdrop of the Atlas mountains (optional)
– Full Day Trip to Essaouira: Visit the old fortified fishing port of Essaouira on the atlantic coast. The city was founded in the 16th Century by the Portuguese and occupied until the mid 18th Century when the trans-saharan trade routes fell apart. Photograph the impressive town fortifications combining Portuguese and Berber architecture. Explore the Souks and the carpentry workshops devoted to cedar and Thuya wood carving. Visit art galleries around every corner and the fortified harbor with its stalls of freshly caught grilled fish. Walk & relax on the beach before returning to Marrakech. (optional)
– Cooking classes, Hamam (Spa), horse cart rides, and other optional activities also available…
* Tour Leader and photographer to help those who want to learn more about using their camera’s, taking better pictures, etc throughout the trip. (PhotoFly Travel Club adventures are laid back when it comes to photography. They are not workshop style based tours and you do not need to be an avid photographer to join. All are welcome!)
* International Airfare is not included. We are happy to help you find a good flight as always! (Flying into Tangier (TNG) & flying out of Marrakesh (RAK) )
* All Taxes, Fees, & Transfers Included
E-mail us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!
Sign up at PhotoFly Travel Club
We’re beyond excited to announce our new partnership with the extremely successful non-profit,Not Just Tourist.For 25 years their “mission is to help those who urgently need healthcare by matching tourists who are visiting developing countries with local clinics and hospitals in need of medical supplies. Not Just Tourists is the meeting point for travelers and donors. We provide the facilities and connections for hospitals, clinics, and medical suppliers to donate materials, and then we pack them into suitcases for world travelers to bring them where they’re needed most in the countries they’re already visiting anyway!”
On many PhotoFly Adventures going forward we’ll be working with NJT to bring suitcases filled with medical supplies to clinics and hospitals in the same regions we’ll already be exploring!
*If you’re interested in helping out and are signed up for a trip in 2019 already, pleaseemail usand we’ll let you know the details and options for that particular trip.
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK & INVITE FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO JOIN!
Spread the word about our travel clubs! If you know any friends, colleagues, or family that love to travel invite them to join! It’s free and all are welcome! The larger we get the more trips we can plan each year…
Any questions feel free to contact us anytime as always!
Travel Club Organizer: Steve Juba
978 479 4527
joinus@photoflytravel.com
*Please always review our cancellation and refund policy located at the bottom of every trip page before making payments. Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions.
