Dror Sinai & Rhythm Fusion invites you to join us on a
Fun, Spiritual, Music & Food Journey
To
MOROCCO
May 26 – June 4, 2010
Extended itinerary options for the Sacred Music Festival in Fes
available from June 4-12, 2010 (or any portion of those dates)
My last trip to the Sacred Music Festival in Fes with the Yuval Ron Ensemble was so deeply inspiring that I invite you to share the experience and travel with me to meet the tribal musicians and dancers of Morocco and to share this extraordinarycultural & musical experience.
Together we will explore the wonders of this ancient civilization and its many mystical music and dance traditions, beautifularchitecture, bustling colorful markets and a touch of the culinary world of Morocco. We will enjoy Berber and Sufi Gnawatribal music and dance ceremonies on the dunes of the Sahara and in the beautiful Atlas Mountains, Andalusian and Sephardic-Jewish musicians in the Mellah (the Jewish Quarter of Marrakech), Issawa, local Chaabi musicians & a Malhoun– beautiful poetic music. Accommodations include beautiful hotels, local Riads and a night in (comfortable) tents in the Sahara.
Please read itinerary for complete details of activities, locations, and events.
The itinerary may be subject to change due to local situations.
Itinerary and registration forms are available at:
www.drorsinai.com or email me at: rhythm@rhythmfusion.com with “Morocco 2010” in the subject line, call 831/423-2048, or write to:
Dror Sinai, Rhythm Fusion
P.O. Box 3226, Santa Cruz, CA 95063
1541 Pacific Ave. “C” Santa Cruz, CA 95060
ITINERARY
Casablanca, Marrakech, Gorges, Merzouga, Erfoud, Fes
May 26 Casablanca
Upon arrival in Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco, you will be met and transferred by bus to your Casablanca hotel, where you will check in and relax for the afternoon. Depending on time, you could choose to have an optional tour of the Hassan II mosque. Hotel: Hotel Maamoura: HYPERLINK “http://www.hotelmaamoura.com” http://www.hotelmaamoura.com
May 27 Casablanca / Marrakech (B) 4 HOURS DRIVING
In the morning you will set off to Marrakech, a four hour drive from Casablanca. You will be able to spend the afternoon getting a bit familiar with the city. In the evening you can visit the famous Djemaa el-fnaa that comes alive at night with storytellers, snake charmers, monkeys, acrobats, and musicians. Spend the evening watching the scene unfold from one of the rooftop cafes surrounding the famous square. Dinner will be taken at local restaurant. Riad: Riad Omar: HYPERLINK “http://www.riadomar.com” http://www.riadomar.com
May 28 Marrakech (B)
After breakfast, the group will have a guided tour of Marrakech, the southern pearl of Morocco. You will discover the Palace of the Bahia, the Saadian Tombs, Malah(jewish Quarter) and many other hidden treasures. After lunch, you will continue with the tour on to the magnificent Koutoubia Mosque and the famous Djemaa el-Fna, one of the center attractions of Marrakech. The tour will conclude with an exploration of the souk (market) lined with fresh fruit, mounds of spices, intricately woven Berber carpets and many other art objects of Morocco. Dinner will be taken at a local restaurant or near the big square. We’ll arrange for Andalous music . Riad: Riad Omar
May 29 Marrakech / Ouarzazate (B) 4 HOURS DRIVE
After breakfast you will depart for Ouarzazate over the High Atlas Mountains through the Tichka Pass. Keep your eyes open for the Berber villages tucked away in the mountain side. Upon arrival in Ouarzazate, lunch will be available. In the afternoon, you will tour Aït Benhaddou, one of the world’s most magnificent Kasbahs, this setting has been used for more films than any other location in Morocco; films including, Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, and recently The Gladiator. You will return to Ouarzazate for the evening and spend the night at a hotel there. Dinner will be taken at a local restaurant.
We’re working on booking a band for the evening.
Hotel: Riad Tichka Salam (no website yet)
May 30 Ouarzazate / Todra Gorges (B, D) 3-4 HOURS DRIVING
After breakfast you will continue onwards on your journey along the road of 1000 kasbahs. On route, you may have time to visit the beautiful Kasbahs of Taourirt and Tifoulout, and the Dades Valley before arriving at Tinerhir where you will have time to explore the gorges. Dinner will be served in your hotel. Hotel: Kasbah Lamrani: HYPERLINK “http://www.kasbahlamrani.com” http://www.kasbahlamrani.com
May 31 Todra Gorges / Erfoud / Sahara (B, L, D)
In the morning you will travel onwards to Erfoud from which you depart by 4×4 to the edge of the dunes at Auberge Dunes d’Or HYPERLINK “http://www.aubergedunesdor.com” http://www.aubergedunesdor.com. In the afternoon you will visit a Gnawa village and learn a bit about their music and background and have a chance to listen to them play. From there you set off in the evening on camel for a 2-hour trek out to the oasis where you will spend the night in Berber tents. While in the Oasis you will be entertained and able to sing and play along as your guides bring out their drums and start a mini concert among the sand dunes.
I’m working on getting the Gnawa musicians to play & dance for us and with us in the oasis.
Tents by Auberge Dunes D’Or
June 1 Erfoud (B, D) 1 hour drive about
After an early breakfast and the camel trek out of the dunes, you will have time to relax a little at the Auberge, possibly taking a swim in their small pool before taking the 4×4 back to Erfoud. You may want to visit the fossil factory where they saw huge slabs of rock to reveal the fossils hidden within. It is fascinating to see how much skilled hand labor is involved creating the highly polished items available in the small shop there. Some like to take a trip up to Errachidia to visit the market there. In the evening we will arrange to have a Malhoun band come and play for the group . Hotel: Hotel Belere HYPERLINK “http://www.belerehotels.com” http://www.belerehotels.com
June 2 Erfoud (B, D)
This day will be spent relaxing at the hotel, hopefully being able to meet some local musicians to play alongside, and conclude in the evening with a cooking class where you will learn how to make a traditional Moroccan dish. Hotel: Hotel Belere
June 3 Erfoud / Midelt (B) 4 HOURS OF DRIVING
Leaving Erfoud the next morning you begin your ascent up across the Middle Atlas Mountains following the Ziz River valley. Most of the day will be spent winding our way through the beautiful forests, jagged rock faces, and Berber villages as we cross the Atlas Mountains and begin to descend towards Fes. Half way, we will stop for lunch in the town of Midelt, famous for its fossils and rocks. Hotel: Kasbah Asmaa (no website yet)
June 4 Fes (B) 4 Hour drive
After breakfast you will drive the remaining four hours to Fes. Along the way you will pass through beautiful forests, Berber villages and the French town of Ifrane. Upon arrival in Fes you can check into your hotel and explore the city a bit. Or attend the first concert of the music festival. Hotel: on your own
NOTES:
*Itinerary may change without early notice.
*This itinerary is not complete since things are not set in such advance in Morocco. Dates may change couple days early or later (I’ll inform exact dates in Jan/10).
* For the same reason pricing is not complete yet however, the goal is to include double occupancy & breakfast for less than $3,000.
*I’m putting together an optional stay in Fes for the rest of the tour. I try to have options of 2,3,4 star or a riad accommodations , single or doubles.
*I’m thinking of driving direct in one day from Erfoud to Fes in order to have an extra day in Fes.
*The pace, culture and timing in Morocco are very different than ours, please expect delays and changes already. We still can have much fun.
Please email to sign in with “Morocco 2010” in subject line to rhythm@rhythmfusion.com
feel free to call with any questions 831/423-2048. I’ll add pics and videos from our last trip soon.
Please email to sign in with “Morocco 2010” in subject line to rhythm@rhythmfusion.com
feel free to call with any questions 831/423-2048.
I’ll add pics and videos from our last trip soon.
Can’t wait for another magical journey.
Please sign in EARLY so we can continue arrangements
Keep Life Alive
Dror Sinai
Rhythm fusion
1541 c Pacific av.
Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060
831/423-2048
831/426-7975