When Crosby, Stills & Nash sang about the Marrakech Express in 1966 the Citroen 2CV wasalready an iconic little car - especially with the hippies. Today the era of free love, flower

power, the Beatles, Swinging London, Twiggy and Biba are largely behind us but the evergreen 2CVlives on and has become symbolic of the quirky French motoring of the period.

Its eccentric styling and ride, minimal interior and tin snail epithet have made it the personificationof the long lost age of simplicity and innocence.

The hippies have wilted but the 2CV remains and we will celebrate its extraordinary appeal with arally through the Morocco of the song - our very own Marrakech Express.

From the coast to the Atlas Mountains, from plush landscapes to desert, from tiny communities toexotic Marrakech, the rally explores it all. Here David Lean filmed Lawrence of Arabia, and IndianJones went in search of the Lost Ark and the Temple of Doom. The Mummy and Gladiator werealso block busters filmed in the deserts of Morocco.

We explore the network of roads less travelled including the fabulous Todra Gorge. We find tracksin the desert, visit Souks and watch the sunsets, try a Tagine of lamb and eat at a desert camp – allbringing you an authentic experience of this fabulous country.

The Route

Day 1 – Malaga to TarifaThe rally starts in the southern Spanish town of Malagawhich has frequent flights from around Europe. On theday you arrive, you collect your car and familiarise your-self with it. From here we drive to Tarifa to take a fastferry to Tangier.

Day 2 – Tarifa to Tangier to FesThe rally starts in earnest the next day in Tangier whenwe take the routes less travelled to Fes. The fabulousroads of Morocco beckon as we head through the

foothills towards thispretty town, thehome of the Berber

community. Here, if youhave time, we strongly rec-

ommend a visit to theMedina – take a guide or you

will never find yourway out!

Day 3 – Fes to MideltLeaving Fes we head south as we chase the peaks of theAtlas Mountains. The green landscape around ElMenzel starts to turn to yellow as the desert sandsencroach. The roads through El Menzel are magnificentwith mountain passes, broken up by the respite of a flatand welcoming straight section. In Missour we are onthe home straight to welcome evening halt at Midelt.

Day 4 – Midelt to ErfoudA tough but fantastic day today as we head through theGorge of Todra, one of the most spectacular drives inthe rally. Once through we head to Erfoud and a coupleof nights in a desert camp. A true Moroccanexperience.

29 March to 9 April 2014

2CV Included

Day 5 ErfoudToday we head out onto the desert to test your off-roadand driving skills. Sun, sand and … more sun and sand.

Day 6 Erfoud to OuarzazateToday we follow the southern route from Erfoud to thefamous city of Ouarzazate. On the way we have a lunchstop in Tazzarine, site of many petroglyphs – stonecarvings – more than 10,000 year’s old on the rocks onthe way to N’Kob.

Day 7 Ouarzazate to MarrakechOf course there is a direct route to Marrakech but that’stoo easy – and busy, so we take the route via Tazenakhtand Douar Loulija and from there through the AtlasMountain to Marrakech and very welcome day off.

Day 8 MarrakechRest Day

Day 9 Marrakech to Kasbah TadlaFollowing the foothills of the Atlas mountains we headNorth for Kasbah Tadla via Beni Mellal. The scenery hasnow changed to a more verdant area with agricultureand greenery!

Day 10 Kasbah Tadla to MeknesA beautiful route away from the main road that takesyou through one of the prime agricultural regions ofMorocco to Meknes, an ancient capital of Morocco.

1 2/ 1 6 / 1 3 R o u t e d e l ' A b a t t oD i r e c t i o n s t o A v e n u e Y o u s s e

L o a d

© 2 0 1 3 G o o g l e M a p d a t a © 2 0 1 3 G

Day 11 Meknes to TetouanHere we head north to Ouezzane in the Rif Mountainsbefore dropping down to Tetouan and a night on thebeach to recharge the batteries. Today is the lastcompetition section.

Day 12 Tetouan to MalagaStraight to the fast ferry in the morning and then toMalaga where we drop off the cars and get ready for theGala dinner and prize giving.

Bespoke Rallies, Hewitts House, Elmbridge Road,Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8LW. UKTel: +44(0)1483 542954. Mob: +44 (0)7785 281272Email: john@bespokerallies.com

Day Route Night Stop KMs HoursMar 29 Day 1 Fly to Malaga Tarifa 178 4 Collect cars/docsMar 30 Day 2 Tarifa to Ferry to Tangier to Fes 330 6 Stages in mountainsMar 31 Day 3 Fes to Midelt 318 5.5 StagesApril 1 Day 4 Midelt to Todra Gorge to Erfoud 397 8 via Gorge of TodraApril 2 Day 5 Erfoud Erfoud 100 4 Desert Camp/stagesApril 3 Day 6 Erfoud to Ouarzazate 372 6 Desert runApril 4 Day 7 Ouarzazate to Marrakech 421 8.5 StagesApril 5 Day 8 Marrakech Marrakesh 0 0 Rest DayApril 6 Day 9 Marrakech to Kasbah Tadla 297 6 Atlas MountainsApril 7 Day 10 Kasbah Tadla to Meknes 252 5 StagesApril 8 Day 11 Meknes to Tetouan 264 5.5 StagesApril 9 Day 12 Tetouan to Ferry to Tarifa to Malaga 220 6 Gala dinnerApril 10 Depart 2971 60.5

Marrakech Express 2014