Itinerary
Day 1 – Casablanca: Upon arrival in Casablanca, you will be met by your driver and National Guide, who will spend the next 11 days showing you the best that Morocco has to offer. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight at Le Doge (Luxury) or Sofitel Tour Blanche (Deluxe).
Day 2 – Casablanca/Rabat/Fes: After breakfast, begin your tour of Casablanca, Morocco’s largest metropolis and its industrial hub. Visit the Hassan II Grand Mosque, among the largest in the world and housing as many as 25,000 worshipers. Its minaret is the tallest religious structure in the world. In the afternoon, embark on a city tour of Rabat, which highlights its cultural influences and the superbly preserved relics of its Moorish past. Visit the 12th Century Hassan Tower, the incomplete minaret of the great mosque built by Yacoub al-Mansour, and the Oudaya Kasbah, where within its walls you’ll explore a delightful craft museum (housed in a former palace) and the Andalusian garden (complete with a melodious fountain and sweet-smelling orange trees). After your tour, continue to Fes for overnight (3-hour drive). Overnight at Riad Fes (Luxury) or Les Jardins des Biehn (Deluxe).
Day 3 – Fes: Today, take a step back in time to the Middle Ages when you visit one of the most imperial, timeless and untouched cities in the world – Fez El Bali (Old Fez) – the cultural heart of Morocco. You will explore some of the 9,000 narrow lanes, alleys and souks that make-up the labyrinth of the city’s old quarter, originally founded in the 8th Century AD. The imperial capital was a renowned center of medieval learning and at its heart still remains the Karaouine, one of the oldest, still functioning universities in the world. Nearby is the Attarine Medersa (Koranic college), a jewel of Hispano-Moorish architecture, built in the 14th Century. Additionally, you can see the Chouara Tannery, the largest tannery in the city and one of the oldest. You will also visit Fez El Jedid (New Fez), built by the Merinid Dynasty in the 13th Century. Here, you will see the Royal Palace, mosques, medersas, souks and the city wall. Most notably, Fez El Jedid is home to the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, which provides an interesting insight into Jewish architecture. The medieval Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterward, return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at Riad Fes (Luxury) or Les Jardins des Biehn (Deluxe).
Day 4 – Meknes/Volubilis: After breakfast, depart overland to Meknes (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), one of the Imperial Cities of Morocco (1-hour drive). In Meknes, the impressive monuments recall the splendor of the city, first built in the 17th Century by the powerful sultan Moulay Ismail, to rival the court of his contemporary Louis XIV of France. During your visit to Meknes, you will see the monumental Bab Mansour gateway, the Granaries and the Royal Stables, built to accommodate some 12,000 horses. You will also see Moulay Ismail’s Mausoleum, one of the few shrines in Morocco that can be visited by non-Muslims. From here, continue for about a half hour to Volubilis (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site), home to the largest and most well preserved Roman ruins in Morocco. With its triumphal arches, basilicas, and capitals, the Volubilis skyline is peppered with examples of Roman architecture. However, the greatest treasures of Volubilis are the superb mosaic floors, which have been excellently preserved and left in situ. After your tour, return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at Riad Fes (Luxury) or Les Jardins des Biehn (Deluxe).
Day 5 – Fes/Erg Chebbi: After breakfast, begin your drive to Erg Chebbi. At your lunch stop in Merzouga, switch to a 4×4 vehicle and continue your journey. Arrive in Erg Chebbi in time for a camel ride and sunset on the dunes. Overnight at White Camel Acacia (Luxury) or Desert Luxury Camp (Deluxe).
Day 6 – Erg Chebbi/Skoura: After breakfast, drive to Skoura. Skoura is considered one of the most beautiful oases in Morocco. Sitting south of the Atlas Mountains, the area is filled with almond, fig and olive trees and date palms. Arrive mid-afternoon and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. Overnight at Dar Ahlam (Luxury) or Les Jardins de Skoura (Deluxe).
Day 7 – Skoura: This morning, embark on a guided tour of Skoura. Visit the Kasbah Amridil, an intimidating fortress dating back to the 17th century. It contains a collection of artifacts and tools which gives visitors an insight into the area’s history and rural life. It has been featured in many films, most notably Lawrence of Arabia. You may also visit other notable sites in the area such as Dar Ait Sidi el-Mati, Ben Amar and Ait Ben Abou kasbahs. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure, enjoying the beautiful and relaxed nature of the city. Overnight at Dar Ahlam (Luxury) or Les Jardins de Skoura (Deluxe).
Day 8 – Skoura/Marrakesh: After breakfast, drive towards the exotic and thriving city of Marrakesh. Known as the “Pearl of the South”, Marrakesh showcases all the magic and diversity that Morocco has to offer. Overnight at La Mamounia (Luxury) or Riad Kniza or Riad Farnatchi (Deluxe).
Day 9 – Marrakesh: After breakfast, set out to discover the secrets of Marrakesh. Most of the city’s architectural attractions are inside the Medina, the old walled section of the town. Built in the 12th Century, the Koutoubia minaret is the most perfect Islamic religious structure in North Africa. This famous landmark dominates the local skyline and can easily be spotted from all of Marrakesh. Your tour includes visits to the Saadian Tombs, displaying a very high level of decoration using traditional stucco and delicate Granada-style carving, typical of classical Moroccan buildings; the Bahia Palace, a masterpiece of 19th architecture; and Dar Si Said, one of the most beautiful palaces, now home to the Museum of Moroccan Arts and Crafts. Inside are stunning collections of traditional woven carpets and Berber silver jewelry. In the afternoon, visit the famous labyrinthine souks of the old town, whose maze of colorful alleys and small squares are home to a bewildering array of stalls and ateliers devoted to specific crafts. Finish the day by exploring Djemaa El Fna, the city’s main square. No one can really be certain how it came into being, but over the years the square has become the beating heart of Marrakesh, where fire-eaters, mime artists, snake-charmers and street musicians perform at every turn. Cap off your day with drinks overlooking the main square. Overnight at La Mamounia (Luxury) or Riad Kniza or Riad Farnatchi (Deluxe).
Day 10 – Marrakesh/Atlas Mountains: Today, set off on a day trip to the Atlas Mountains. Less than an hour’s drive from Marrakesh, the breathtaking and remote-feeling Atlas Mountains stretch across the northern part of Africa extending 1,500 miles through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Travelers love to discover the beautiful scenery, amazing colors and the incredibly well-preserved traditional Berber villages of the High Atlas range. Work with your Journey Specialist to design a day around your interests. Perhaps you’d like to learn to cook and eat like a local by taking a cooking class in the Ourika Valley. We also recommend exploring local markets to get a feel for local life and shopping. You may also opt to join a Berber family in their home for a refreshing mint tea. Return to Marrakesh for your overnight at La Mamounia (Luxury) or Riad Kniza or Riad Farnatchi (Deluxe).
Day 11 – Marrakesh: Enjoy another full day in Marrakesh. Visit the famous Majorelle Gardens or perhaps enjoy a ride on a traditional horse-drawn carriage. For those interested in shopping, wander through Souq Semmarine and Souq el-Kebir, two of the main thoroughfares in the city. Or, relax in a traditional hammam bath. The hammam is the Middle Eastern variant of a steam bath and is highly prevalent in Moroccan culture, with many Moroccans attending baths weekly. For your final evening in Morocco, choose from a variety of dinner shows available in the city. Options include those with music, belly dancers or even a private Arabian horse show. Overnight at La Mamounia (Luxury) or Riad Kniza or Riad Farnatchi (Deluxe).
Day 12 – Marrakesh/Depart: After breakfast, you will be met in the lobby of your hotel and transferred to the Marrakesh Menara Airport for your departing flight.
Photo Credit: Akorn Destinations
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