Artists from around the world flock to Morocco's spiritual
capital during the annual Fez Sacred Music Festival. The
event features performances in a variety, from local
Sufi chants...(Private Tour)
Overall operator rating 9.3/10 from 6 trip reviews
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We are now back home after a lovely holiday in Morocco. Morocco is beautiful and the people are very warm and friendly.
With one or two exceptions, we have no major complaints with the tour. Our driver Mohamed was excellent; he was helpful and sorted out our problems in no time at all. He drove at a good pace and was also informative. He also ensured that we were comfortable and were enjoying the trip.
The Riads are beautiful but I think that for the first two at least, they were not quite suitable for the winter. They were too cold and would have been quite lovely if we were there in the summer. All the other riads were not only excellent but their staff and hospitality were impeccable.
The tour itself was just nice, not too long and not too short (I sound like Goldilocks) Hisham, our guide in Fez was good. He was very knowledgeable and very informative.
Other than the cold riads, (and the fact that my son had food poisoning on the second day in Fez) we were very happy with the tour and would recommend this tour and the tour operator highly
Morocco is a beautiful country and I thought the most ‘undersold’ parts were the best – Fes & surrounds, Ourika Valley. I found Marrakech a bit disappointing and Casablanca a big bore (but perhaps both were because I ended up travelling alone – not intended – and hence could not enjoy the night life). The amount of construction on the seafront areas of the Atlantic coast was quite a surprise and limits what one can actually see. Next time I would add the Med coast; the Sahara and the Southern part of the country to my itinerary.
Services provided by the operator were generally good, although the itinerary provided was a bit different to the actual one (it almost seemed as though the person writing the itinerary had not been to many of the places as some suggestions were impractical – e.g. a routing from Ourika Valley to Fes via Meknes and Rabat in a single day!).
The driver and guides provided were all well informed and well spoken but somewhat inclined to ‘guide’ me to places where the intent was largely to get me to shop (which, after a credit card challenge in Marrakech, I was disinclined towards). The mountain guide in the Ourika Valley was magnificent, very patient and helpful on the rather strenuous hike.
My planned travel companion had visa problems (she is South African but lives in Nigeria and couldn’t get a visa – which as South Africans is a requirement – due to problems with her Nigerian work permit) and had to cancel at the last minute (after her planned arrival). Obviously, expecting a refund on the travel or accommodation was unrealistic given the late cancellation and the operator offered to give her a 20% discount if she books through them again.
The ‘personalised’ tour (i.e. own car and driver, rather than sharing with a bus load of others) was fantastic and the accommodation was superb throughout. If I return to Morocco, I would plan for something similar.
Visiting Morocco was an exciting and unforgettable experience: the people, the landscapes, the cities, the food, everything was just wonderful. We absolutely enjoyed it.
As mentioned by the operators advertisements, we are back home “with plenty of tales of Arabian days and nights”; I can still smell the spices, the flowers, the fresh of the Ourika valley. By the way, Mr Karim kindness and hospitality at the Kasbah Omar has to be highlighted. He also helped us in exploring the beautiful valley leading us in two wonderful walks.
The trip went on as planned. Riads and hotels were great, as well as restaurants and foods in our dinners. Guides and visits were very well coordinated. Everything on time and the trip fulfilled every word committed by the tour operator in the package we bought.
Said, the driver that spent with us the whole visit, was perfect; always on time, ready to help us in every question we asked, excellent driver, at all times taking care of our safety and comfort. Meeting Said is part of the nice memories we have from our trip.
Summing up and for the requested feedback, I would qualified my holiday with a 100. Hope to visit Morocco again!!!!
Thank you for your assistance in passing on our enquiry to such an efficient company. We think the trip was one of the best we have taken.
We had a wonderful time with our driver Mohamed who took very good care of us throughout. It was great that he was always there to pick us up from outings which made for a very stress free trip. His driving, in sometimes very difficult conditions such as heavy snow in the High Atlas was to be commended. We feel we saw much more than was in the itinerary and people we have since spoken to have been amazed at what we actually fitted into the twelve days.
Regarding the dinners, all included, we could not fault them from the Styze club in Marrakech to the homecooked meals in the Riads.
By chance we were invited to a Berber wedding which was being held next to our Riad out of Marrakech which was a real bonus. Stayed with it till midnight. A lot of fun.
Even though we were guided everywhere, we felt we got to experience the local flavour and so believe our trip was wonderful value. Because of the spread of accomodation the operator supplied from very good small riads to the opulent riad in Fez we feel we have certainly seen a wide cross section of Moroccan life.
Finally, thanks to them for organising all this at what was very short notice. It all went very smoothly thanks to Mohamed.
I'd like to inform you that we had the most amazing and out-of-this-world experience while vacationing in Morocco.
Our driver Abdel was not only very careful and cordial but also extremely hospitable and eager to share with us the Moroccan lifestyle. We are most appreciative of him opening up his home for a home-made chicken cous-cous meal with his lovely family. It truly made our trip more than personal now that we have a 'new family' in Morocco!
We will highly recommend this trip with this company to our friends who have seen, from our pictures, the many splendors of Moroc!
We hope to travel back very soon as we know there are many other treasures yet to be seen!
Again, we give our highest marks to your agency and it's tour guides/driver.
We returned last Tuesday from Spain and Morocco. I just wanted to let you know what a wonderful time we all had.
Our driver Abdul was waiting for us when we got off the boat in Tangier with a very nice and comfortable van. Abdul did a wonderful job. He was a great driver and was always punctual and very helpful.
Our stay at the Riad in Fez was wonderful. The staff was so attentive. Our rooms and the courtyard and garden areas were just beautiful. We had a very enjoyable day in Fez with our guide Abdul (another Abdul) and a delicious dinner with entertainment at Maison Blue.
The following day we really enjoyed Meknes, Volubilis, lunch at Moulay Idriss and finally Chefchaoen. What a beautiful town. Our Riad here, although not as luxurious as the one in Fez, was so conveniently located near the main square.
The people of Morocco were very friendly and welcoming to us.
We were all very impressed with the beautiful mosaics in all the buildings we visited but the most pleasant surprise of all was the delicious food. We absolutely loved the Moroccan salads, pastilla, and the tajines, and fresh fruits and most of all the mint tea. When I got home, I bought a Moroccan cookbook immediately.
If there was one complaint, it was that all the interesting presentations in Fez (ceramics, carpet, tannery, cloth ) also included a bit of high pressure sales after the presentation. All three couples bought mosaic tables which we are looking forward to enjoying in our yards here in California.
Thank you to the operator for organizing a trip to Morocco that we will never forget.
Itinerary
Moroccan Sacred Music Festival & Tour June 3 - 11, 2011 - Fez
Artists from around the world flock to Morocco's spiritual capital during the annual Fez Sacred Music Festival. The event features performances in a variety of styles, ranging from local Sufi chants to haunting gypsy songs from Spain - a romantic setting for a fine selection of devotional music.
The spread of the gypsy-inspired style is such that musicians from France to Rajasthan can find common ground - and they certainly do over the course of this event, with double bills and collaborative performances forming the majority of the program.
To satisfy even the most demanding customer, organizers add annual spectaculars to each year's program. This has included Whirling Dervishes from Iran. There are also concerts on the Bab Boujloud Square, children's educational activities and the famous Sufi nights at Dar Tazi......and much more.
The 17th annual - Programme Fes Festival of World Sacred Music
June 3 - 11, 2011
Friday 3 June 2011 (Grand Opening) Bab Makina 20h30: Royal Ballet of Cambodia (Cambodia) The Legend of the Creation of the Khmer Kingdom
Saturday 4 June 2011 Batha Museum 16h00: The Young Gotipuras Dancers (India) Ritual acrobatic dance from the temples of Orissa
Bab Makina 20h30: Ben Harper (USA) The roots of popular American music, from gospel to blues, from reggae to folk OR Al Green (USA) Gospel (to be confirmed)
Sunday 5 June 2011 Batha Museum 16h30: Shakila Saidi & the Rajab Suleiman Trio (Tanzania) The art of taraab in Swahili tradition
Bab Makina 20h30: Africa Spirit: The Sufi Ensemble Mtendeni Maulid (Zanzibar) and Les Maîtres Tambours (Burundi) Sufi ritual and sacred rhythm
Monday 6 June 2011 Batha Museum 16h30: Ahmed Essyad and the Accroche Note Ensemble (Morocco) Forbidden Voices: mystical poems of Hussain Mansour Al-Hallaj
A Night in the Medina 20h30: Various locations including the Bouanania Medersa, Riad Sheherazade, Dar Jnan Sbil, Dar Adiyel Conservatoire and Dar Ba Mohamed Chergui:
• The Constantinople Ensemble and Barbara Furtuna (Iran & France) Canti di a Terra • Parvathy Baul (India) The poetry of God's fools • Poets and musicians from Kabul (Afghanistan) (in partnership with the Aga Khan Initiative) • Epi (Mongolia) Songs of the Steppe Nomads • Gülay Haçer Toruk (Turkey) Songs of Anatolia
Raïs Qenawi Bakhit Qenawi and the Mizmar Ensemble (Egypt) Songs of Luxor
Tuesday 7 June 2011 Batha Museum 16h30: Samul Nori Hanullim Ensemble (South Korea) Percussion and Sacred Dance of Korea
Bab Makina 20h30: Shahram Nazeri (Iran) with Mohamed Bajeddoud (Morocco) and the Arabo-Andalusian Orchestra of Fez The poetry of Jalâl ud Dîn Rûmî
Wednesday 8 June 2011 Batha Museum 16h30: Camille (France) Sacred songs
Bab Makina 20h30: Jordi Savall and the Hesperion XXI Ensemble (Spain) with guests from Morocco, Iraq, Greece, Israel, Galilee and Armenia Jerusalem, City of Heavenly Peace and Earthly Peace
Thursday 9 June 2011 Batha Museum 08h00: Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (India) Morning ragas on a bansuri flute
Batha Museum 16h30: Bagdad-Jerusalem Ensemble (Israel & Iraq) Music of the Jewish tradition of Baghdad
Bab Makina 20h30: Sizero Tabla Experience (India & United Kingdom) Rhythmic India
Friday 10 June 2011 Batha Museum 16h30: Dhafer Youssef and his Ensemble (Tunisia) Sufi Songs revisited
Bab Makina 20h30: Sabah Fakri and the Aleppo Singers (Syria)
Saturday 11 June 2011 Batha Museum 16h30: David Murray and the Gwo Ka Masters invite Archie Shepp (USA & Caribbean)
Bab Makina 20h30: Gospel Voices: 1st part: Sista Kee (USA) & 2nd part: The Blind Boys of Alabama (USA)
I T I N E R A R Y - 10 Days
We can customize your trip for 10 days including the number of days that you would like to join the Festival in addition to exploring the rest of Morocco according to your interest for USD 2250 per person and minimum 2 people .
If you don't have any specific activities or areas of interest, and would prefer that we suggest some to you, please let us know.
Sample Itinerary:
I T I N E R A R Y
After your arrival to Casablanca or Marrakech airport, your expert driver would escort you to your hotel or riad in Marrakech.
Day 1 - Marrakech An enchanting palm oasis set against the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas Mountains, Marrakesh is Morocco's second oldest majestic imperial city and retains the splendor of its ancient past. Buildings are blushed in hues of rosy earth, and horse-drawn carriages clip along broad avenues lined with palm, lime and orange trees. Donkeys carrying carts trawl past fragrant gardens of roses, honeysuckle and jasmine.
Explore the ancient Bahia Palace from the days of the harem, now populated by a sentry of nesting storks, enter the ancient royal Saadian Tombs, explore the vibrant and historic Jewish mellah where some of the best jewelry is found in Morocco, and view the majestic Koutoubia Mosque before entry into the 9th century walled medina.
Dinner and overnight at your luxury riad at the old city of Marrakech.
Day 2 - Marrakech You’ll explore the rest of Marrakech... including the Eve Saint Laurent garden, the ancient Menara pool ... followed by a tour around the ancient Medina wall and the palmeraie ride.
The night beats in the heart of the old city's famed square, Djemaa el-Fna, where delectable fare is grilled over coals in the bustling torch-lit open-air markets. Mystical snake charmers, hustlers and mischievous monkeys are part of the nightly drama unfolding as Berber acrobats, fortune tellers, musicians and engaging storytellers seduce rapt crowds. Wind your way through the serpentine labyrinth of the spice-filled air of the bustling souk, unchanged for over 1000 years, where you'll discover the best of traditional Moroccan craftsmanship.
You'll cap off your evening at the spectacular dinner event, Fantasia, where we’ll bear witness to a splendid dramatic display of Arabian Nights, belly dancing, folkloric troupes, and stately Arabian steeds charging in dynastic battles as of yore.
Overnight stay at your riad at the old city of in Marrakech.
Day 3 - Ourika Valley You will explore one of the most beautiful and unspoiled valleys of the High Atlas Valley of Ourika rises gently up to the preliminary hills of the High Atlas where small typical villages have nested. It is a pure and magnificent place where silence is only " disturbed " by birds singing, water streams and wagtails. Ourika is famous for its pottery, minerals and crystal.
If it is Monday, Thursday or Friday, you will visit the bustling weekly souk of the Valley.
A couple of hours trekking to explore one of the hidden water falls.
A cup of tea within a Berber family to have a taste of the Berber life style.
Dinner and overnight at your luxury Kasbah Omar at Anrar Mountain of Ourika.
Day 4 - 5 hours trekking to explore the hidden water villages of the high atlas From our Berber village Anrar at Douar Tafza until we reach the Berber hamlet of Oualmes (1150m) to start our 5 hour hike across the river and up along a narrow winding hillside path surrounded by fields of corn towards Anins and the through the col (1670m) where you have lunch at the Berber village of Tizin-Oucheg. From here You you'll continue your Berber adventure to explore the hidden village of Agard then to Anamer villlage followed by a short trek that would bring you back to Tazintoute village at 1148m) where you shall cross the Assif Ourika to get to your vehicle for your return to your Anrar village around 7.00 in the evening.
Dinner and overnight at the luxury Berber Kasbah Omar at Anrar village in Ourika.
Traditional Moroccan bath & massage is available at Kasbah Omar with extra cost and by reservation only....... if you are interested, please let us know! ($100pp)
Day 5 - Rabat - Meknes - Fez A couple of hours drive for some of Rabat's highlights... the capital of the kingdom of Morocco......... the Kasbah des Oudaias, situated on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, you’ll find magnificent views. Inside the gates discover artisan galleries, an ornate 17th century palace now part of the Musée des Oudaia (Museum of Moroccan Arts), and the beautiful Andalusian Gardens near the famous Tour Hassan, a 12th century minaret intended to be the highest and the largest in the Muslim world. And not to be missed in the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and King Hassan’s stately official palace.
After, you travel past centuries-old olive groves and vineyards we near Meknes, the Ismalian capital, famous for its 25-mile-long walls - and, not to mention excellent wine - where ......... Heading to port Bab El Mansour and Bab El Khamis, journey back thousands of years including some of Meknes highlights.
MUSIC FESTIVAL IN FEZ
Dinner and lodging at your luxury riad o hotel in Fez.
Day 6 - Fez Fez is the holiest city in the Islamic world after Mecca and Medina. Founded at the beginning of the 9th century by Moulay Idriss II, and barely unchanged, this enchanting city has been a seat of government, philosophy, medicine and most notably religion since then. Fez, the best surviving example of an ancient Arab city, is comprised of the "new" city, established in the 12th century, and the 2,000-year-old medina, where donkeys and mules laden with goods still trawl alongside buyers through the ancient market, itself a fascinating maze of lanes, blind alleys and bustling souks assaulting the senses with spices and exotic delicacies. Fez is the perfect place to hone your bargaining skills in buying souvenirs, brightly colored hand-loomed carpets or fine crafted artisan goods. Visit the famous leather tanneries, a honeycomb of vats erupting in an explosion of brilliant color. Then, climb to the venerated Merenid Tombs for a spectacular panoramic view of Fez.
MUSIC FESTIVAL IN FEZ
Dinner at the famous La maison Bleu.
Accommodation at your luxury riad or hotel in Fez.
Day 7 & 8 - Fez
MUSIC FESTIVAL IN FEZ
Dinner in Fez
Accommodation at your luxury riad or hotel in Fez.
Day 9 - Casablanca Discover the charm and decadent languor of Casablanca. Like a dreamy mirage, the shimmering city of white appears against the azure of the surrounding sea. Steeped in romantic mystique and intrigue, Casablanca’s whitewashed dramatic Hispano-Moorish homes lay scattered amid Art Deco jewels and an elegant city center. Its ancient Arab quarter and new medina, with undeniably French influence, mark the passage from past to present. Casablanca’s modern attitude and big-city edge makes it today the most cosmopolitan of all Moroccan cities, a vibrant economic hub with the largest port found anywhere in the Maghreb. Some of the highlights we’ll explore include the majestic Hassan II Mosque (the only mosque non-Muslims are permitted to enter in Morocco), the lively squares of Place des Nations Unies and Mohammed V— hosting some of the city’s most impressive architecture —. Dinner and overnight at your luxury hotel in Casablanca.
Day 10 - Casablanca –Transfer to the airport for your return home with plenty of Arabian nights and days.
Note: If you wish to modify or change the entire itinerary according to your interest and desire, please let us know!
"2 people with a private car and English speaking Guide" "3 people or more with a private luxury van and English speaking guide"
2 years and under are free of charge 2 – 6 years old 75% off 7-11 years old 50% off 12 years old & up full cost
What's Included: Breakfast and dinner daily Four-star hotel and riad lodging and all transportation Transfers to and from airport Knowledgeable certified guides Festival Fee Private car, gas & driver for the entire trip All taxes
Not included in package price: Internatinal Airfare Lunch Drinks Travel Insurance
Note Private guided tour---Not a group tour. If it is over your budget-----Hotels can be changed for lower budgets. Upgrade to 5* or 5* deluxe accommodation is available. Group Discounts Available.
We can't make the sun shine, or the rain fall, but we can promise to do everything in our power to ensure an unforgettable and exceptional visit to Morocco. I hope you'll join us.
