Activities

Day 1: Arrival: Casablanca/Rabat

Welcome to Morocco! Upon arriving in Casablanca, you will be greeted by your professional English speaking guide. Start your day by visiting Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the Islamic world, displaying stunning Moorish architecture. If time permits you will visit the Anfa district that houses villas of rich families. Then discover the French built Habous New Medina and admire the beautiful gates of the Royal Palace. Then travel to Rabat, the capital of Morocco.

Dinner and overnight in Rabat

Day 2: Rabat/Meknes / Volubilis /Fez

Start your sightseeing of this imperial city and the current capital of Morocco. We see the exterior of Rabat's Royal Palace and its impressive 12th century Bab ar-Rouah gate (Gate of the Winds). We walk in the Andalusian Gardens, within the walls of the 12 century Kasbah (fortress) of the Oudaya Kasbah. We stop at the Hassan Tower, a huge unfinished mosque, built mostly at the end of the twelfth century.

You will end you tour of Rabat with a visit of the majestic Mausoleum of his Majesty the late king Mohamed 5 and Hassan 2. Travel to the Imperial city of Meknes. In the 17 century, it was chosen by the Sultan Moulay Ismail to be the capital of his empire. Explore some of its 40 kilometers of ramparts and monumental gates such as its impressive 17th century Bab Mansour gate .Walk in Lahdim square which is known as the focal point of the medina and admire the colorful display of local products. From here you continue to the Heri Souani, the granary of huge vaulted structures and royal stables; it’s reported that once it housed some 12000 horses! Then admire the Agdal Basin: house of water, once used to water the royal gardens and amuse the favorite concubines of the sultan.

After lunch at a local restaurant, travel to Volubilis, the most important Roman site in Morooco.This Roman city was a flourishing trade in the 2nd and 3rd centuries selling wine, oil and wild animals. Volubilis is a city of incredible mosaics, monumental arches and old columns where you will have a real sense of Roman lifestyle in the country. After completing your tour of the ruins, make a short stop at nearby Moulay Driss 1 town, the holiest Muslim site in Morocco. Then drive to your riad in Fes for dinner and overnight.

Dinner and overnight in Fes

Day 3: Fez/ Fes

Today you take a step back in time to the Middle Ages when you visit Fes El Bali, the largest living medieval medina-city, the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco. Fes was founded in the 8th century by Moulay Driss 1 and subscribed as a UNESCO patrimonial in 1981.Visit the Bou Inania mederssa (Koranic College), a jewel of the Hispano-Moorish architecture, built in the 14th century. Your tour of the medina includes also the Nejjarine complex that houses a beautiful fountain and the nearby Foundouk; now converted into a museum. Fes is also the capital of Arab handmade crafts; visit the medieval tanneries and then see artisans at work, see the brass workers at Essafarine Souk. Among the highlights of Fes there is the Karaouine mosque and university and the shrine of Moulay Driss2. After lunch in a Moroccan restaurant in the Medina, continue your visit to the 14th century Fes El Jedid (New Fes) where you will enjoy the stunning gates of the King Palace and the 14th century Jewish quarter.

Dinner and overnight in Fes

Day 4: Fes /Ifrane /Midelt /Erfoud

In this leg of the trip, you will leave the urban Morocco behind and you will slowly venture to the wilderness of the Sahara Desert. First, we drive across the Middle Atlas mountain range, winding through beautiful pine groves and giant cedar forests. The contrast of the rich purple soil and the tall evergreens is magnificent. We cross a 6,000-foot pass in the mountains and head further toward the Sahara. This is a long, but fascinating transfer as we witness the varied geologic and ecological zones we travel through. Along the way, our first stop will be in the ski resort city of Ifrane. Then we proceed to Midelt which is the capital of apples. After lunch in a restaurant in Midelt, you will drive along the beautiful Ziz gorges and valley. In the late afternoon, we descend into Erfoud, a small trading village that is the gateway to the vast Sahara Desert. Once you arrive to Erfoud you will be transferred to the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. Welcome tea in the desert camp of Merzouga. Dinner & entertainment around a fire camp

Dinner and overnight In Merzouga

Day 5: Erg Cheebi/Todghra/Ouarzazate

Early in the morning, you mount your dromedary camel –“Ships of the Desert” on a ride that takes you up to Erg Chebbi, the highest dunes in Morocco’s Sahara to witness a spectacular sunrise. This morning you will leave the desert behind and you head to Ouarzazate known here as Mollywood!  After loading your land rovers you’ll take the road to Erfoud to join your vehicle. Have a brief stop to learn about the Khattarat: a system of irrigation that had been introduced to the desert for centuries. After passing by many Ksours (Berber fortified Villages) you will drive along the spectacular Todghra valley which is one of the most beautiful valleys of the country. Then stop in the Todghra Gorges to admire this natural scenery. After lunch, you will enjoy the drive along the valley of the Kasbahs before you arrive to your hotel in Ouarzazate

Dinner and overnight in Ouarzazate

Day 6: Ouarzazate/ Ait Ben Hadou/Marrakesh

After having your breakfast, you will start your tour of Ouarzazate, home to the Tifoulotoute Kasbah, one of the strongholds of the Glaoui family who once ruled the south of Morocco. Then visit the Atlas film Studios (outside) .And then make your way to Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best preserved Kasbah’s in the entire Atlas region. Don’t be surprised if you feel as if you are stepping into another, more ancient world, as the Kasbah has been the backdrop to many historical films, including Lawrence of Arabia, The Last Temptation of Christ, and Gladiator. After lunch, you will enjoy crossing parts of the majestic High Atlas Mountains. Your final destination today is the red city of Marrakesh.

Dinner and overnight in Marrakesh

Day 7: Marrakesh /Marrakesh

Discover the Mysteries of Marrakesh. Begin your journey into this tantalizing city with Kotoubia mosque which is the landmark of Marrakesh. The Kotoubia minaret went to inspire the architects of the Giralda of Seville and the Hassan Tower of Rabat. Then visit the 19century Bahia Palace and the 16 century Badi Palace .After lunch on your own, prepare yourself for a discovery in the labyrinth souks and get ready for shopping!!Souk Samarine is an important thoroughfare, traditionally dominated by the sale of textiles and clothing and all Moroccan handicrafts. Explore the colorful souks (marketplaces) of Marrakesh. Each trade spices, carpets, jewelry, enamel, copper, brass, wood-is situated in its quarter. You might see villagers bringing in their handmade rugs to sell to merchants, or you might observe artisans hand tooling crafts as they have done for centuries.

You end up at the famous Jemma el Fana square. It’s a multitude of street-artists and stalls of dried fruit or orange juice freshly pressed in front of you. The multitude of small restaurants that take over its center from the early evening, contributes to the scent of its surroundings. The square was once the ultimate destination for traders from places as diverse as Venice, sub Saharan Africa, and Asia. The Jemma El Fana square has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Space due to its important role in transmitting oral heritage from one generation to another.

Dinner and overnight in Marrakesh

Day 8: Marrakesh /Marrakesh

Today start your day with a visit of the 12th century Menara Garden. Then visit the tropical Majorelle Gardens, lovingly restored under the patronage of the late Yves St.Laurent.Then visit the Ben Youssef Mederssa, one of the jewels of Marrakesh. The current structure of this Koranic school was built in the 16th century. It is the biggest mederssa in the whole Maghreb (west).Opposite the entrance to the Ben Youssef mosque and there is also the Almoravides Koubba that was the ablution (washing ritual) center for believers going to the mosque. The complex was also one of the first fountains of Medina and used to ensure a constant water supply for the inhabitants of Marrakesh and their animals. Stop at one of the Berber pharmacies and learn about the secret of herbs and plants that are still used as traditional medicines. Visit some of the oldest Foundouks; lodging hotels that were used by the merchants during the high days of the caravan trade in Africa. Enjoy sipping your mint tea on the terrace of one of the cafes overlooking the square and admiring the Jemma El Fana by night view.

Dinner and overnight in Marrakesh

Day 9: Marrakesh / Casablanca Airport

After breakfast, you will be transferred this morning to airport for your return flight.