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From one extreme to another...
This concept encompasses a wilderness of a different kind where shifting sands replace drifting snow-fields, desolate salt pans reflect the powerful sunlight like frozen lakes and dunes dominate the desert horizons. The desert belts that swathe the globe just shy of the Tropics encompass the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia offering a vast panorama of programme location options. Each of these 'continental' deserts demonstrates its own unique personality - in geography, geology, biology, culture and custom. From the painted deserts of Arizona & Colorado rich with indigenous culture and lush arid vegetation to the mystical, shifting crescent dune deserts of the Middle East criss-crossed with camel routes and speckled with oasis settlements is where we have concentrated on developing our most innovative programmes to date.
The desert presents a beautiful if barren prospect to those without the knowledge to discover the mystery and magic of this unique environment. With expert guides and an adventurous spirit, the secrets of the desert can be revealed - offering guests a singular opportunity to truly experience life at the extreme. Riding by camel along ancient trade routes, past crumbling Crusader castles and camping Bedouin-style in traditional goatskin tents. Desert adventures, wadi bashing in 4x4s, sand skiing and trail riding provide the adrenaline.
All costs are for a full weekend and inclusive of all meals, hotel accommodation, flights, activity day and an allowance for drinks.
Dubai
Sweeping sand dunes with their rippling ridges of soft, shifting grains form the perfect playground for dune driving in specially adapted 4x4 vehicles. Combined with camel riding, falconry, sand skiing, helicopter flips over the inaccessible mountains, swimming in fresh oasis pools, Bedouin banquets with belly dancers and Creek cruising on traditional dhows, the Dubai Desert Experience provides a unique experience in a style befitting a sheikh.
Marrakech
Marrakech, a very different venue, but one that combines all of the ingredients that go to make up a total incentive destination. Spectacular scenery, flanked on one side by the majestic Atlas Mountains and on the other by the desert that stretches to the coast.
A wide choice of hotels to suit incentive group. The old walled city with its souks and Djemaa El Fna Square offers a fascinating glimpse into the local life style.
Superb Moroccan and European cuisine, excellent recreational facilities including golf on the King’s personal course, a variety of evening entertainment with international nightclubs as well as the spectacular “Fantasia” where a Moroccan spectacular can be tailored to your requirements, or a choice of discotheques and casinos.
There are extensive sightseeing opportunities, many of which can be arranged as participation events, desert rallies in four wheel drive vehicles, treasure hunts in the old city, on foot or using vintage motor vehicles, camel riding and much much more.
This is a suggested itinerary for a trip to Marrakech
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DAY ONE
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20.50 |
Estimated local arrival time into Marrakech International Airport (Menara), Morocco. On arrival, a local guide will meet and assist guests; visas will be taken care of before the direct transfer to Dinner. Luggage will be transferred to the Palmeraie Golf Palace.
What better way to get immersed in the life of Marrakech than to start with a visit of Djemma El Fna Square (the main square of Marrakech) at dusk when it is at its liveliest. Story tellers, snake charmers, henna artists, water sellers, grilled food stalls with billowing smoke, dentists, medicine men from the Sahara, and hawkers of all kinds. We continue by foot to Ksar El Hamra, a riad (Arab palace with an open courtyard in the centre) located near the Square. Ksar El Hamra, formerly the home of the Pacha of Marrakech, serves excellent Moroccan cuisine. |
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DAY TWO
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Ahead of guests today lies a series of adventures in 4x4 vehicles, racing in a competitive treasure hunt into the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.
This fun, informal and competitive day in chauffeur driven Mitsubishi jeeps, provides guests with the opportunity to see some of the most stunning scenery, as well as witnessing Moroccan life at its most simple, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, crossing small Berber villages with their country schools (children love to receive sweets, pens, hotel stationery and note pads ...!).
Our rally includes stops at old ruins where guests must find their team envelope, at a Berber country home where they are hosted for tea, at a tumble down fortress where they must search through 100 covered tagines for a clue, near an old well where participants must obtain a turban from a the keeper of the well and figure out how put it on in order to participate in the competition for best tied turbans at the end of the rally, and at an olive grove where each team will plant a tree. From here, we’ll continue another 1 ½ hours on dirt track across picturesque countryside |
13.00 |
Arrival in time for a rustic BBQ lunch at the at La Roseraie, a beautiful inn located near a stream in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. Kasbah, set in a tiny village in the countryside, very much in the middle of nowhere. The dining area is an open sided covered beamed structure, decorated simply but brightly with traditional hand woven rugs. Lunch will include an allowance for soft drinks and half a bottle of wine per person. |
19.30 |
Departure by coach this evening for the most unusual setting for dinner. This is a private evening, at a site located 9k outside of Marrakech – 15 minutes drive from the hotel. The 2k dirt track leading to the Kasbah will be lit up by torches and guests will be welcomed at the entrance of the Kasbah by Moroccan horsemen traditionally clad.
Guests dine in a magnificent chieftain tent where guests will taste the delights of the specialities for which Moroccan cuisine is justly famed, whilst reclining upon luxurious cushions in true Arabian style!
The climax of the evening is the massing of all singers, dancers and musicians in an extraordinary warrior's charge where the horsemen stand up in their stirrups and shout as they fire their guns skywards in a deafening cloud of gunfire. |
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DAY THREE
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Early Buffet breakfast served in the hotel’s restaurant.
Check-out and coach transfer to Marrakech International Airport (Menara), Morocco aboard a luxury coach. |
8.15 |
Private group check-in with BA.
Once the brief check in formalities have been completed guests may continue through to the departure lounge for any duty-free shopping prior to their departure. |
9.40 |
BA 6919 departs Marrakech, lunch and refreshments will be served in-flight. |
14.30 |
Estimated local arrival time into London Heathrow. |
Please contact us for further information.
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