Gnawa Festival Tour 2010 Balthazar Tours offers itineraries tailor made to your needs and budget.  The exchange between us and our customers is at the heart of our tours. If you can’t decide how to make the most of your holiday we offer the following tour as a suggestion.  In keeping with our belief in preserving the culture and ecology of Morocco we donate 5% of our profit to the Association Mqourn which assists with development and regeneration of the local area and historic sites in Tinghir.

June 25 Arrive Marrakech.  Your driver will collect you from the airport and take you to your accommodation.  Depending on your time of arrival you will have the afternoon/evening to explore the wonders of Marrakech.  Visit the Jemaa El Fna Square, the Old Medina, the Koutoubia Minaret, the Bahia Palace, the Majorelle Botanical Gardens, the ruins of Elbadii Palace where you can see the tanners and dyers quarters, join the hustle and bustle and bargain in the souks or if you just want to sit back and get orientated, take a position in one of the many cafe's & restaurants that border the main square and observe the madness beyond.     June 26 Marrakech - Essaouira (170km).   After breakfast depart for the beautiful old Portuguese port of Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast.  Explore this white-washed city famous for its woodwork shops or head to the beach for a stroll or horse or camel ride.  Relax at the numerous cafes that line the main square and visit the fish market and sample the freshest fish in Morocco.  The pace of life is much calmer in Essaouira and it is a perfect place to relax.  Spend the night in a beautiful riad within the walled city with fantastic views of the Atlantic from the rooftop terrace.   June 27 Essaouira.  The day is yours to spend as you wish and in the evening you can enjoy the festival performances.   June 28 Essouira - Casablanca - Rabat (400km).  After breakfast we leave for Casablanca.  We visit the magnificent Hassan II Mosque  and wander around the old medina.  We then continue towards Rabat where you can admire the Kasbah of Oudaias dominating the ocean and the river and visit Mechouar, the royal palace, the Hassan tower whose decoration mirrors some of the mosque of Koutoubia in Marrakech.     June 29 Rabat - Meknes - Fès (250km).  After breakfast our destination will be Meknès, the capital of the Sultan Moulay Ismaïl. You will admire the famous door Bab Mansour, before visiting the old stables of this sultan who wanted to compete with the Sun king as well as Mellah (Jewish district). We will continue towards Moulay Idriss, holy city of Islam and visit of Volubilis, the most important ancient Roman site of Morocco and its splendid vestiges - columns, mosaics and arches.  It is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.     June 30 Fès.  A full day to explore the best example of old Islamic architecture to be found anywhere in the world.  Take the day to explore the Medina, souks and leather tanneries, noted for their overpowering smell as for their colourful display.  Fès buzzes with the sound of craftsmen who continue to with tradition, see ironworkers, tanners, weavers…     July 1 Fès - Marrakech (460 km).  After breakfast we will leave for Marrakech via the Middle Atlas mountains and passing the Berber villages of Immouzer, Ifrane and Beni Melal.   July 2 Marrakech.  A full day to explore this exotic city. July 3 Your driver will collect you from your hotel and take you to the airport for your flight departure.