Day 1: Arrival to AgadirOn arrival at Agadir Al Massira airport, and after clearing immigration & customs, you will meet your holiday representative just outside of the airport terminal, with a Voyage Prive banner.
The drive to your hotel will take approximately 30 minutes.
Agadir, is a Berber word meaning a fortified granary or village, and a dominant feature of many villages in the South and Atlas (you will be seeing several on your tour this week).
The city is the regional capital and its main activities include the production of fruit and vegetables in the Souss valley, exportation of fish – it actually produces the largest sardine production in the world, and, thanks to its climate and 9km long sandy bay which is one of the most beautiful bays in the world, tourism. It has professional golf courses, sea water treatment spas, chic marina, casinos & lots of sporting activities.
This region is the home of the argan forests – producing the immensely popular argan oil used in cosmetics and gastronomical dishes.
Its history dates back to the 12th century, when the Ksima tribe settled, and Portuguese sailors made it their centre for fishing and arms smuggling. Over the years, the city changed hands from the Saadian and Alaouite dynasties, even being the subject of a dispute in 1911 between Kaiser Wilhelm II, King of Prussia & Emperor of Germany, tried to set up a naval base. France ceded part of the Congo to Germany in return of control of Morocco, until its independence was restored in 1955.
Agadir was rebuilt after the earthquake in 1960, and you will find beautiful tree-lined avenues, a pedestrian promenade along the 6-mile long golden sandy beach – leading to the trendy marina, seawater centres, professional golf courses & an amazing surrounding countryside.
Its landmark is the citadel – Agadir Oufellah – bearing the inscription God, King & Country, where the bay can be seen in all its glory.
You will spend tonight in the Hotel Timoulay & Spa. Dinner will be taken in the softly lit, warm and friendly Ayour restaurant, overlooking the pool terrace & gardens.
Day 2: Agadir - Souss Massa National Park – Tiznit – GoulimineAfter breakfast & check-out, your personal driver will meet you at the reception of the hotel & the adventure begins towards the « Gateway to the Sahara » Goulimine.
Today, you will have the privileged opportunity to enter the internationally renowned Souss Massa National Park, a protected area characterised by its bio-ecological richness, and ecosystems (wetlands, cliffs, argan forest, steppes, etc), with over 300 species of plants, 250 species of birds and 20 mammals such as Addax antelope, red-necked ostriches, Oryx algazelle and the beautiful ‘Bambi’ golden gazelle. This is the home of the Bald Ibis, one of the rarest birds in the world. The best time to visit is in winter, when tens of thousands of migrating birds gather, stopping over from Europe to Africa. Back to nature at its very best.
A light refreshment will be taken at the beautiful & usually isolated fishermen’s Tifnit beach – surfers’ paradise – before continuing to the former silver capital, Tiznit. This is the place to buy traditional silver Berber jewellery such as the famous hand of Fatima, an ancient talismanic motif.
Continue South along one of the region’s most beautiful routes, offering wonderful views of the ocean, rugged hills and empty coves to the cosmopolitan spot of Mirleft. A late lunch can be taken in one of its beckoning cafés, historically popular with artists, musicians recovering from Saharan crossings.
Then, its on to Sidi Ifni, standing on a rocky plateau above the Atlantic, and finally to Goulimine, which, from the 10th to 19th centuries as an important commercial centre located on the caravan route from Niger, Mali & Senegal, trading gold, spices, cloth & slave with Timbuktu. It’s also known as the town of the « blue men » due to the indigo robes of the Saharan nomads, coming once a week from the desert to trade their camels.
Check-in to the recently opened 4* Oasis Palm Hotel.
(Breakfast & Dinner)
