At last, the date of the Moussem des Roses 2009 is known. Not officially, as it will only be signed by the officials at the end of the month, but we’ve got the information from the Ouarzazate Tourist Delegation, and it’s reliable.
The date of the Moussem des Roses will be 8 May 2009
It was the second weekend in May that was chosen (whereas the previous two years, the moussem had been held on the first weekend), because of the May Day celebrations and the cold weather this winter, which meant that the harvest would be late.
It’s a bit of a shame, because the first of May made it easy to have a long weekend, whereas the 8th of May falls on a Saturday… but you can’t ask Moroccan roses to respect the French holiday calendar!
This year, as last year, we are offering you two tours specially designed to help you make the most of this exceptional event.
Because Rose Moussem is a great moment in Berber culture, a traditional festival that has not been transformed into a canned spectacle, and an opportunity to visit the superb landscapes of Dades.
A short, four-day tour around the Moussem
This short tour, departing from Ouarzazate, allows you to experience the essentials: discovering the landscapes of Mgoun and Dades valley, visiting a superb kasbah at Skoura, where you will spend your last night, and above all, of course, Festival day.
It begins in the crowded streets of Kelaa M’Gouna, with the parade of musicians and dancers accompanying the floral floats.
The most beautiful of the floats is the one carrying the Rose Queen and her princesses, young girls from the region, in their traditional Berber costume, with their heavy amber and silver jewellery.
The parade ends in an arena, where the different groups put on a show. The stands are packed, invaded by Moroccans enjoying the show, while the streets of Kelaa are packed with people, as the moussem is also the occasion for a large market.
After making the most of the moussem, you will have lunch in a nearby kasbah and visit the rose gardens.
The price:366 euros / person
A week’s holiday around the Moussem des Roses
The second tour, which is longer, taking 11 days to allow you to make the most of your May break, departs from Marrakesh.
As well as the day of the Moussem des Roses, you can discover the Telouet kasbah, the eagle’s nest of the Glaouis, and the landscapes of the Saro mountains, where the Aït Atta nomads still live along their traditional transhumance routes.
But the south of Morocco is also the desert, and you’ll be diving into our desert, that of the Draa hamada, around our berber camping. You will then continue south to Zagora, the gateway to the Saharan desert, before heading back up towards Ouarzazate.
The last night will be spent in a riad in Marrakesh, before returning to France.
The price :980 euros / person
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