In partnership with Globetrotters International In partnership with BMW Morocco, SMEIA Palm Road Moroccan BMW Tours 2010 Signature Guided BMW Motorcycle Tours In The Heart Of Morocco Enter Our World, Leave Yours Behind….. DATES: September, October, November 2010 START/FINISH: Marrakech DURATION: TEN days holiday, EIGHT riding days ROUTE: Total distance 2200 kms. Average daily rides: 275 kms. The entire route runs on good asphalt roads and uniquely offers a 10-20% off-road option each day. ACCOMMODATION: Highest quality available in each destination, eclectic and privately owned, guaranteed surprising and unique. HIGHLIGHTS: Marrakech, Atlas Mountains, Famous Gorges of Dades and Togda, Magical Deserts Erg Chebbi, Oasis Towns, Mountain Villages, Museum, Kasbah and Mosque Visits. Palm Road Moroccan BMW Tours 2010 “The superlative adventure tour in Morocco” Itinerary: Ten day, eight day riding adventure tour in the very heart of Morocco DAY FROM TO KMS FEATURES 1 ARRIVAL DAY MARRAKECH 0 ARRIVAL DAY 2 MARRAKECH SKOURA 250 TICHKA PASS 3 SKOURA TINGHIR (TOGDA) 250 GORGE RIDING 4 TINGHIR MERZOUGA 230 DESERT & DUNES 5 MERZOUGA AGDZ 300 BETWEEN TWO DJEBELS 6 AGDZ M’HAMID 220 DRAA VALLEY TO DESERT 7 M’HAMID FOUM ZGUID 350 DESERT RIDING DAY 8 FOUM ZGUID TAROUDANT 350 MOUNTAINS & GORGES 9 TAROUDANT MARRAKECH 250 TIZ N TEST PASS 10 DEPARTURE DAY 0 DEPARTURE DAY The first and last day mentioned in the itinerary are the arrival and departure days for tour start and end. Depending on the country of departure you may have to leave a day early, respectively you will arrive one day later back home. Please arrange your flights accordingly! “Into the very heart of Morocco” Signature Moroccan BMW Motorcycle Tours by Palm Road Riding Day by Day: Day 1 Marrakech - arrival From the moment you alight from the aeroplane you plunge into that unique and bewitching Marrakech atmosphere, ready to be transported to a land of myths Our first day is devoted to exploring the town . It also includes a visit to our premises to give you a chance to ‘get to know’ your bike and receive detailed plans for the week. Day 2 Marrakech – Skoura En route for the great adventure!!!! After a few kilometres on the road we come to the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains to follow the road up into the mountains by a series of switchback bends before crossing the Tizi n’Tichka Pass at 2,260 metres above sea level. In just a few hours you are transported from the modern world to that of years gone by. Marvellous scenery with the snowy peaks and timeless villages clinging to craggy mountainsides will be the backdrop to this day.. Day 3 Skoura – Tineghir Departure for Tineghir along the Dadès Valley, along the ‘Road of a Thousand Kasbahs’ and a hundred fabulous panoramic views. We enter the Dadès Gorge, along a road lined with rocks and ancient Ksours (fortified baked earth villages) a pageant of shapes and colours. Lunch in the gorge, with time to contemplate the breathtaking view. The afternoon provides the chance to taste that wonderful sensation of freedom as you cross the open plateau that runs alongside the High Atlas with the peaks of the Jbel Saghro in the background, to reach the village of Tineghir in the foothills of the Gorge of Todgha, where we make a stop to drink in the scenery. Day 4 Tineghir – Merzouga Today is the day the gates of the desert open up to you … After a short cultural break at an enchanting ecomuseum to learn more about the customs and way of life of the local population, we set off for Erfoud and Merzouga, a small village on the edge of the desert with that ‘ends of the earth’ atmosphere. Tonight you will experience the world of the Sahara: your meal is served by the ‘blue men’ of the desert, you will dance to the intoxicating beat of Berber drums, and you will sleep under canvas or simply under the open sky …..and believe us, to see the desert sky cascading with stars is an experience in itself!!!!! Signature Moroccan BMW Motorcycle Tours by Palm Road Riding Day by Day (continued): Day 5 Merzouga – Agdez Today, a change of scene!…. We set off across the vast, empty Saharan regions to the South of Jbel Saghro. After passing through the pretty Tazzarine oasis, the road winds through huge forests of palm trees. Towards the end of the morning, we arrive at N’kob, the fiefdom of the Aït Atta Amazigh people, renowned for their sense of honour and their combative spirit. Day 6 Agdez – M’Hamid The palm groves and market gardens seem to stretch on for ever, lined by superb Kasbahs and adobe villages. These dwellings build of earth, straw and water are located on the higher, infertile ground overlooking the rich fields of the palm groves. We pass through Zagora, taking a road that quickly turns into a track with a surface like corrugated iron. The track takes us to M’hamid – one of the gateways to the desert. We leave our luggage and steep ourselves in the pure and absolute peace of the surroundings, reliving the gorgeous images and sensations of the day. Day 7 M’hamid – Foum Zguid We travel up the Draa Valley, leaving the watercourse to enter the gorges leading up to Jbel Bani, we follow the historic tracks of the Dakar Rally around Foum’Zguid, a traditional bivouac area, that is the theme of this day. The desert surrounds us, omnipresent, and oases are few and far between. One last night under the sign of Iriki and a sky punctuated by more stars than you could ever imagine….. Day 8 Foum Zguid - Taroudant We leave the ochre sands and the desert behind us and step into a world of greenery and … argan trees! Thousands of argan trees, each one inviting you to stretch out under shady branches for a delicious picnic. The Souss holds out its arms and welcomes us to Taroudant, a mini-Marrakech. This evening we can look forward to relaxing in the comfort of a boutique hotel! Signature Moroccan BMW Motorcycle Tours by Palm Road Riding Day by Day (continued): Day 9 Taroudant - Marrakech Now thoughts turn to returning to Marrakech, but not before ‘scaling’ the Tiz’n Test along steep, winding roads leading through the Ouirgane Valley, past its twelfth century mosque. It is return journey full of twists and turns, accentuated by a mountainside lunch right in front of Mount Toubkal. Arriving in Marrakesh doesn’t mean the end of the adventure! We say au revoir to our trusty two-wheeled steeds, we take a refreshing shower and set off for a farewell night of music and oriental dancing. Marrakech, as you’ve never experienced it before!! Day 10 Marrakech – departure Free time until you need to set off for the airport to catch the plane home! The adventure is over but the memories will remain forever …… Signature Moroccan BMW Motorcycle Tours by Palm Road Palm Road Tours are the perfect blend of the mixture between the passion of riding and the discovery of an amazing country and its people, demonstrated by Moroccan and European staff who are committed to providing the best Moroccan experience possible. •2010 BMW GS Bikes, well prepared and equipped •Departure directly from Marrakech, heading directly to the southern part of Morocco •Over 2000 Km of mountains, desert and valleys on this tour (using only national and country roads) •1st category accommodation; Comfort, ambience and highest standards of service •Excellent dining, tagines, pastillas, couscous, sample Moroccan gastronomy for 10 days! •Fully all inclusive (even fuel !!!) •10 to 20% off road tracks, depending on your capability (optional and available every day) •Unforgettable farewell dinner before leaving Marrakech •Entrance fees to all places of interest; (Berber museum, Kasbahs, Mosque, …) A UNIQUE ITINERARY FOR A UNIQUE TOUR IN THE HEART OF MOROCCO! TOUR PRICES AND BIKE AVAILABILITY TOUR PRICE BIKE MODEL NUMBER AVAILABLE RIDER PILLION R 1200 GS 2 3,190 Euros 1,490 Euros F 800 GS 4 2,950 Euros 1,490 Euros F 650 GS Twin cyl 4 2,750 Euros 1,490 Euros F 650 GS single cyl 7 2,490 Euros 1,490 Euros LIMITED TOUR DATES 2010 TOUR FROM TO 1 Sunday September 19th Tuesday September 28th 2 Sunday October 17th Tuesday October 26th 3 Sunday November 7th Tuesday November 16th Inclusions: • Motorcycle rental of your choice for the full eight days. • Unlimited mileage and third party liability insurance • Fuel for the whole of the Tour • Supply of Top Case and/or Side cases (if required) • Complete Riding Equipment (jacket, trousers, boots, helmets, gloves, camel back) • Full Palm Road tour assistance with a motorcycle tour leader, mechanic and support vehicle • An additional vehicle transports the luggage and provides space for passengers on entire tour • Tour information package about entire tour including safety tips, details about the route, sights and road map • Nine nights in high class accommodation in boutique hotels, riads and bivouacs • Full board, nine breakfasts, eight lunches and nine evening meals including a farewell dinner in a traditional Moroccan restaurant • Surprise gift pack Not included in the tour price (all items not mentioned above) • Air Fare • Full risk and medical and repatriation insurance • Alcoholic Beverages • All items of a personal nature Signature Moroccan BMW Motorcycle Tours by Palm Road A personal guarantee from the Company Principal: “This is my signature tour, the one I put my name to. I look forward to welcoming you in Marrakech, my home town, and personally leading you on a voyage of wonder and discovery through the country that will always remain closest to my heart.