Majestic Sights of Morocco

Salam! Welcome to Morocco!

Upon arrival in Casablanca, after proceeding through immigration customs and collecting your baggage, our representative is waiting for you outside of the terminal with a big welcome sign.

You will then be transferred to your hotel for rest of day at leisure.

Accommodation: Hotel Idou Anfa or Similar 

After breakfast, explore Morocco’s political and administrative capital. A clean central beach, an intact and evocative Kasbah, and an attractive walled medina that is far less touristy than those in other large cities.

Highlights include the old French quarter of Habous, beaches lapped by green-blue water, the Hassan II Grand Mosque (exterior) considered among the largest in the world, has a capacity of 25,000 worshipers. The mosque's minaret is the tallest religious structure in the world.

After the tour, transfer along the coastline to Rabat for a welcome dinner then overnight.

Accommodation: Hotel le Rabat or Similar

After breakfast, explore Morocco’s political and administrative capital. A clean central beach, an intact and evocative Kasbah, and an attractive walled medina that is far less touristy than those in other large cities.

Our tour starts from the Mohammed V and Hassan II Mausoleum, Hassan Tower, the landmark of Rabat and one of the oldest mosques of Morocco. The Kasbah des Oudaya, Rabat's historic citadel occupies the site of the original Ribat (fortress-monastery) that gave the city its name.

This afternoon, departure to Chefchaouen or (Chaouen) a trip that will take about 4 hours. Continue to enjoy sightseeing of Chefchaouen, quite likely the most charming village in Morocco, their Kasbah built in the 15th century is worth a detour or that you should try to track down the still-working watermill or the district Farnatchi “oven”, but Chefchaouen is about losing yourselves in its streets without any precise goal. Inside the ancient gated medina nearly every building is painted an arresting shade of cerulean or azure, the sky blues juxtaposed with white trim and terracotta rooftops. Twisting cobblestone paths lead up and up, around the ocher-colored Kasbah to a landscape of green hills and mountaintops, uninterrupted sky extending beyond.

Continue to your hotel for overnight.

After breakfast you will begin your tour to ancient Roman city of Volubilis to explore its stunning ruins. Impressive stone arches and columns, some tumbled down and others still standing tall against the vivid blue sky, invite us to take a step back in time. Only about half of the 40-hectare UNESCO site of Volubilis has been excavated. The better-known monuments are in the northern part of the site, farthest from the entrance in the south: The Capitol, dedicated to the Triad of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, dates 218AD; the Basilica and 1,300 sq. meters Forum are nearby. Here, floors of what were once family dwellings are still covered with decorative tile mosaics depicting mythological beings, such as Orpheus charming animals with their lyre and Hercules performing his legendary 12 labors. The fact that so many of these tiles are still in place with their colors, after centuries of exposure to the elements, is astonishing.

Then off to the Imperial city of Meknes, the one-time home of the Moroccan sultanate with its Medina all-winding narrow streets and grand buildings that justify its stamp of Imperial City. Remnants of three sets of fortifications, ingeniously incorporated into the city roads network, emphasize its past importance and glory. The king's tomb sits at the heart of what remains of the original imperial city, flanked by an almighty royal granary, the magnificent Bab El-Mansour.

Continue to Fez for overnight

Accommodation: L’Escale hotel or Similar 

This morning you will be met at your hotel for an all-day city tour of the spiritual capital of Morocco, Fez. The first stop is the entrance of the biggest royal palace of Morocco. This palatial complex is located in the center of the Fez El-Jedid area and is surrounded by high walls with intricate and elaborate decorated ornamentations. The doors are bronze, and they shine like gold. The interior of the palace is not available to the public because the king of Morocco uses the complex when he visits Fez.

We then continue the tour with a panoramic view of the medina, before venturing to the heart of the largest old souk in the world in the medieval center of Fez. The medina of Fez has not changed for centuries. Its narrow alleys house hundreds of merchants and craftsmen selling a range of products such as dates, fish, spices, copper urns, carpets, and musical instruments. One of the most interesting sites in Fez is the leather souk with the oldest leather tannery in the world. The tannery dates back nine centuries. In Fez, you will visit the Jamaa Al-Karaouine (the world’s first established university) and a Medersa (a Koranic school).

You will also visit the tannery, a clay workshop, the artisan quarters, and the other souks.

After breakfast, Leaving Fez this morning, we drive through the Middle Atlas into the south with a break in the quiet French built alpine resort town of Ifrane.

We continue our journey while we enjoy the views of verdant cedar forests, volcanic mountains, wind-swept plains, spectacular gorges, and stony desert. We travel along the marvelous oasis of the Ziz Valley before arriving in Erfoud, port of entry to the Saharan dunes, located at the southern end of the Ziz Oasis. Known by the name of “the Gate of Sahara Desert”.

Erfoud was built by the French around 1920 as an outpost and Foreign Legion stronghold. This frontier town on the Algerian border has a definite Wild West feel to it (in this case, Wild South). Fossilized bathtubs and moist-sweet dates are its current claims to fame.

Then time to overland to Merzouga, the heart of the desert, and surf the sandy sea on a powerful 4-WD Land Rover.

Dinner and overnight at a desert Camp.

Accommodation: Madu Camp or Similar 

Enjoy an early morning sunrise camel ride along the golden sand dunes in Merzouga.

Return for breakfast before driving to Tinghir via Rissani and Tinjdad. Tinghir is a gorgeous, 40km oasis, which boasts one of the largest palm groves in the country.

Enjoy walking at the famous Todra Gorges, a 300m wall, carved deep into the High Atlas Mountains. Leave Tinghir heading to Dades and its charming valley. Stop there to take pictures then continue along to KelaatM’Gouna, a large village famous for cultivating roses. Expect to find many fine, rose-infused products there. Transfer to Ouarzazate, also known as the “Hollywood” of Morocco for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Dar Chamaa Hotel or Similar 

After breakfast, Enjoy the city tour of Ouarzazate, beginning with the Taourirt Kasbah that is considered one of the most beautiful Kasbahs in the country, and the film studios (optional visit) where some of the most famous desert landscapes are being shot.

Continue to the spectacular fortress of Ait Ben Haddou, the iconic landscape immortalized in films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator and Games of Thrones among others. Leave Ait Ben Haddou crossing the High Atlas Mountains via the magnificent TizInTichka pass (2,262m) to Marrakech for overnight.

Accommodation: Longue Vie Hotel or Similar 

After breakfast, enjoy the city tour of Marrakesh, the “Red City”, a majestic place filled with palaces, gardens, markets, and mosques. Upon arrival, you will first stand by the Koutoubia Mosque with its 282 ft minaret, an architectural landmark dating back to the late 12th century.

You will continue to the 19th century stunning Bahia palace and discover the intricate work done by the local artisans to decorate this splendid home built by a powerful Vizir for his Harem. The building includes one hundred and fifty rooms, countless courtyards and interior gardens, a veritable labyrinth of corridors, a Koranic school, hammams, a harem, stables. From there we will start exploring artisan quarters and the colorful Souks to interact with the real life of Marrakech people.

Continue to Dar El Bacha Museum, built in 1910 and was the residence of Thami El Glaoui, named Pasha of Marrakech by Sultan Moulay Youssef in 1912. It is one of the medina's finest examples of Riad architecture, dripping with Moroccan Zellige (colorful geometric tilework), intricate white plasterwork and heavy carved cedar-wood lintels.

Before sunset we will be strolling in the square of which the city is so famed, Jemaa El Fna, where hundreds of locals and tourists come to spend the end of the day watching jugglers, dancers, fortune tellers, story tellers and traditional musicians. After the tour, head to your hotel to freshen up.

When you are ready, transfer to a Le Blokk Restaurant in the medina to enjoy a typical farewell Moroccan dinner with entertainment.

After the dinner, back to your hotel for overnight

Breakfast at the hotel.

At 10 am, you’ll be picked up for a unique gastronomic experience, Cooking Class at The Bennounas Farm is at, 20-min. drive from Marrakech. The cooking class is taking place on the terrasse of the villa in a spectacular décor with the Atlas Mountains in the background. The New York Times 3-stars Executive Chef will unlock the secrets of the Moroccan recipes he has mastered over the years. You’ll leave with an inside perspective on one of the world’s most highly cherished cuisines. Lunch with the Chef (cooked class food will be served). This activity includes a welcome drink and a brief introduction to the property with picking fresh produces from the garden if season permits; a traditional tea session, bread making and spices demonstrations; and the preparation of a 3-course meal (appetizer, traditional Moroccan dish, and dessert).

After lunch, drive to Casablanca via highway. Upon arrival, check in at your hotel and overnight.

Accommodation: Hotel Idou Anfa or Similar 

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport to join your homebound flight (flight not included).