Bukima Adventure

Day 1 Saturday: Arrival in Tangier and pre-departure meeting

Tangier, often described as the gateway to Africa, has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years. As with most Moroccan cities Tangier is partitioned into two main areas, the Medina (old walled city) and the Ville nouvelle (new town). Tangier with its strategic location overlooking the straits of Gibraltar and it's ancient history makes a vibrant starting / finishing point for our tour.

The first day of your tour starts at 18:00 at the Tarik Hotel in Tangier with a pre departure meeting, where you will meet the tour leader and your fellow travellers.  Once all the introductions are out the way our crew will give you an overview of the trip and tantalise your travelling taste-buds with whats to come!  Grab a beer relax and get to know your expedition-mates.

Day 2 Sunday: Tangier - Chefchaouen

After a good nights sleep in the Tarik (your last in a real bed!) we will depart from the hustle and bustle of Tangier and head south-east towards the peace and tranquillity of Chefchaouen up in the Rif Mountains. With it's breathtaking scenery and long history this is the perfect place for a gentle beginning to the tour.  You will get your first experience of travelling truck-style with the facing seats helping you get to know your fellow travellers and the open sides giving you a fantastic view. 

The drive time today is around 3-4 hours but we will stop along the way for your first experience of mint tea - the Moroccan tipple of choice. Our campsite sits perched above Chefchaoen with fantastic views of the Rif Mountains.  Once you get a quick lesson on erecting tents and the mega-comfy army-style camp beds we will be off into town to sample some fine Moroccan cuisine.  No cooking tonight!

Day 3 Monday: Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen enjoys a stunning location high up in the ' Rif Mountains ' part of the Middle Atlas chain. Its name actually means 'Look at the peaks' this is so true as all around us they tower above. The town was originally formed by Moulay Ali ben Rachid in 1471 as a staging post for the Rifian Berber tribes to launch attacks on the Portuguese occupiers. Today Chefchaouen offers a serenity and tranquillity second to none. Your guide will take you on a 5 hour hike up into the mountains to visit some villages and to give you an insight to mountain life.  Their knowledge of history, culture & customs is second to none - just keep asking the questions!

The hike will take us through marijuana plantations which for many years have been the main crop of mountain farmers but which are steadily being replaced by alternative industries of which tourism is a main one.  Your presence is helping these communities find alternative income streams.  After some welcome cold showers at the camp-site the rest of the afternoon is free to explore the Medina (old town).  Chefchaouen and the mountain communities produce some outstanding wool blankets and silk throws - just don't spend all your money, there is more to come!  Tonight will be your first communal cooking experience.

Day 4 Tuesday: Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Fes

On the third day we set off en route for the oldest imperial city in Morocco, Fes . However, on the way, we will take a tour of the Roman ruins at Volubilis. A world heritage site dating back to AD40, here we will learn some of the history of these impressive ruins. The city of Volubilis, set at the foot of the Zerhoun hills, is by far the most impressive of the Roman remains in Morocco.  This ancient city once ruled the whole Roman province of Mauritania.  It is beautifully situated, overlooking a wide and fertile plain rich in corn crops. At least 15,000 people lived within its walls protected by a garrison recruited from all over the ancient world, including a contingent from Britain, as revealed by the inscriptions. Many treasures have been unearthed at Volubilis, including some remarkable bronzes.  Much of the masonry was plundered by Moulay Ismail for the building of Meknes and some was damaged in the devastating earthquake which overthrew Lisbon in the middle of the 18th century, but enough remains to remind us of just how thoroughly the Romans equipped their great provincial capitals.

Home for the next two days is our fantastic campsite at Fes.  It has grassy lawns to pitch the tents and friendly ducks from the nearby pond.  Hot showers and cool pools make this the best campsite on the route.  Tonight we will chill out at camp, cook some nice food drink a beer or two and maybe smoke a Sheesha pipe.

 

 

Day 5 Wednesday: Fes

It's the fourth day now and we enter the city of Fes and, more specifically, the old Medina. A local guide (for you will need one) will show us through the labyrinth of alleyways to reveal the various "Souks" or markets dedicated to the different trades of the people that populate this amazing centre of production and craftsmanship. Fes is the oldest of the four imperial cities and was founded more than 11 centuries ago by Moulay Idris II. It's name has long been familiar because of the crimson skull caps called Fez, which were and still are worn everywhere in the Muslem world. A visit to the Medina is a must.  Looking down on the old quarters of Fes ,from the surrounding hills is a magical experience, the muffled sounds of the buzzing city and the contained disorder below all add to the timeless quality of this ancient city. Be prepared to do some damage to the credit card with visits to fantastic ceramic factories, the famous tanneries and awesome rug shops - but be prepared to haggle hard.  Our local guide will give you a crash course on haggling and advise on fair prices for the items in which you are interested.

Tonight as an optional extra we can be entertained at a 5 course Moroccan banquet with local entertainment.  The setting is spectacular and audience participation is required when the belly dancers come on.  If that is not to your fancy we can have a chilled out night back at camp catching up on journals or taking in the big Moroccan sky.  Although we have tents it hardly ever rains here so we advise sleeping out under the stars.

Day 6 Thursday Fes – Meknes – Asilah

Upon leaving Fes, our thoughts are now on a relaxing time travelling to the beaches of Asilah to spend the final days enjoying this beautiful environment. En route we still manage to check out Meknes - almost a small scale version of Fes but unique in its location and own characteristics. Our destination for today is Assilah, nestled on the Atlantic coast, which like most Moroccan towns and cities has a rich history to explore. However if you want nothing more than to just relax on the beach then look no further. Asilah has some of the finest beaches and exciting nightlife anywhere in Morocco. Tonight as a treat we will visit the Hammans to be massaged (if you are a girl) and manipulated (if you are a boy).  If the thought of being scrubbed in traditional Moroccan black soap then being held in wrestling-style holds is to your liking - then you will love this.  Ladies:  this is the most relaxing and cleansing experience you may ever have! Tonight you will all sleep like babies ready for an optional trip on a camel down the beach for some awesome up close and personal camel pictures.

Day 7 Friday: Asilah – Tangier (Cap Spartel)

Before returning to Tangier we enjoy a night at Cap Spartel (only 1/2 hours down the road) where we will have a last night bbq & campfire together. You will also have time to visit the Hercules caves carved into the rugged Atlantic coastline or to chill out on the beach. The afternoon is for yourself whilst the crew prepare a huge campfire and barbecue feast.  The cool boxes will be full of beer and ice (and soft drinks of course!) to make our last night one to remember - bring out the sheesha and recount the stories of the expedition amongst friends.

Day 8 Saturday : Tour ends after breakfast

Your tour finishes in Tangier with a quick stop at the Hotel Tarik to pick up any bags left in storage and then we will take those catching the ferry back to the port in Spain.  You are now free to continue your travels or return home, hopefully feeling that you have