Roses Festival of El Kalaa M'Gouna
Festivals and celbrations in Morocco
Morocco is famous throughout the world for its superb rose oil that's known as rose otto (from the Arabic itr, meaning perfume).
The roses are not farmed in fields as you might see in the south of Morocco around Dades valley, but are simply hedgerow plants that bloom once a year. French essential oil producers descend on the area at harvest time and set up stills in the fields. Thousands of tons of petals of rosa damascena are distilled in the big copper pots. Rosewater is the main product, but it's the essential oil, in fact a by product of the process, that is so valuable. That's taken back to France and sold to perfume and cosmetic houses; it's extremely expensive. The retail price of just 3ml, or half a teaspoon, costs over 150 Euros. The essential oil is extremely difficult to find in Morocco, and simply isn't available in El Kelaa M'Gouna at all. But you can find rosewater and lots of pink face and body creams.
The Dades Valley in Morocco is also known as the Valley of the Roses, as it is here where the fragrant rose oil and rose water is produced for the country, and the landscapes are a sea of pink Persian roses. Their beauty and subtle aromas fill the air, and to farmers in the area, harvesting the petals of these delicate, yet perfect, crops is done with love and not seen as hard labor. To celebrate the wealth and success of the harvest, the Dades Valley hosts the annual Rose Festival.
El Kelaa M’Gouna is the only settlement in the area, and is home to the two massive rose water factories of the region. Rose water is quite an expensive commodity in Morocco and is used not only for its fragrance but in traditional cooking as well. The reason for its price tag is because of the fact that the four thousand two hundred kilometers of rose hedges can only produce one thousand four hundred liters of the product. The process uses approximately three thousand kilograms of rose petals to extract a liter of rose oil. Visitors to the festival will therefore see tons of rose petals being transported to the factories to extract the precious oils, leaving a trail of rose scent lingering in the air. A massive market, known as a souk, is opened in the town of El Kelaa M’Gouna where tourists will find various fascinating items being sold, and musicians and dancers livening up the festival spirit. During the festival, a Rose Queen is crowned, who will reign over the successful harvest of fragrance. It is an attraction that is a unique experience, and with such a large supply of roses, it is no wonder that this region is said to be the best festive aromatic destination in Morocco.
Day 1: New York – Casablanca – Marrakech
You will depart from New York on a Royal Air Maroc overnight flight to Casablanca, where you will board a plane to Marrakech. Dinner will be served on board, and a movie will be available for your entertainment during the flight.
Day 2: Marrakech
Upon your arrival at the Menara Airport in Marrakech, you will find your guide waiting to take you to your hotel for check-in. the morning will be to relax and acclimate. An introductory tour of the city high lights of Gates, ramparts and the famous Jamaa El Fna Square will be at your disposal.
Day 3: Marrakech
This unique city is located where the desert and mountains meet. Known is the “Pearl of the South,” it was established in the 11th century by the Almoravide Dynasty. You will spend your day visiting sights including the Saadian Tombs, the Dar Si Said Museum, the Menara Gardens, and the city’s focal point: the 12th century Koutoubia Minaret. After lunch, you will have an opportunity to visit the souks, a plethora of alleyways with multicolored shops, and the Djemaa El Fna Square, where snake charmers, acrobats, and fortune-tellers put on a never-ending show. You will conclude your day with dinner and accommodations at your hotel.
Day 4: Marrakech – El Kalaa M’Gouna
Following breakfast, you will start your journey southward to Tinghir via Taddert and the Tizin Tichka Pass, located in the heart of the Atlas mountain chain. Additionally, you will visit the Berber village of Ait Ben Haddou and stop in Ouarzazate for lunch. Afterward, you will follow the route of a thousand Kasbahs through the Dades Valley to the village of Tinghir, where you will visit Kalaa des Mogouna, the Persian roses haven. You will end your day with dinner and other accommodations at your hotel.
Day 5: El Kalaa M’Gouna
Spend your full day enjoying the Souk and the festivities in el Kalaa M’Gouna. Food Music and dance all around the wild roses.
Day 6: El Kalaa – Tinghir – Zagora
Land Rovers will take you across the desert to the magnificent dunes of Erg Lihoudi in Zagora. To watch the sun set over the spectacular Tinfou dunes in the Sahara is a breathtaking encounter worth experiencing. Saddled camels will be offered as an option for those who would like to explore the area. Afterward, you will be served dinner over these dunes in a nomadic fashion. Enjoy a night under the African skies.
Day 7: Zagora – M’Hamid – Tinfou – Tamegroute
Breakfast with the Tuaregs, then ride your camels to meet your vehicles to take on an excursion that will take you to the real gateway of the Moroccan Saharan Desert. You will drive through the lowlands and along the mountain passes to Tamegroute, a humble village where deep knowledge is transmitted in the most simplistic way. There you will visit the famous Moorish Koranic Library, the Zaouiia Nasseria. Full of rare books and documents, the library includes 13
th century writings made on gazelle hide. Afterward, you will return to Zagora for the night.
Day 8: Zagora – Ouarzazate
Following breakfast, you will leave for your return trip to Marrakech, stopping in Ouarzazate, where women still weave the Ouazguita carpets famous for their natural colors and geometric and symbolic designs. Here, life is concentrated in the oases and Kasbahs, contrasting with the vast and stark desert plateaux that surround the city. Finally, you will return to Marrakech for a farewell dinner, where you will experience a typical Moroccan meal under a caidal Berber tent along with a spectacle of the Fantasia.
Day 9: Ouarzxazate – Casablanca – New York
You will depart from the Marrakech airport for your transatlantic flight, connecting via Casablanca on your way to New York.
