Enchanting Morocco: A Tapestry of Culture & Landscape

Upon arrival in Casablanca, after proceeding through immigration customs and collecting your baggage, our representative will be waiting for you outside the terminal with a big welcome before starting a brief sightseeing of Casablanca (early flight arrivals only)

Casablanca is Morocco’s largest metropolis and its industrial hub. 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 overnight.

After breakfast, you will be met at your hotel for a short tour of Rabat, the capital of Morocco.

Enjoy a short walk at the Mohammed V Mausoleum. Mosaics rise from the marble floor to a ceiling of gold leaf and hand-carved cedar wood, while the three ground-floor tombs are carved from white onyx.

Next to the Mausoleum is the Hassan Tower, which is the towering minaret of the Hassan Mosque builded in 1195. The morning ends with a visit of the Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat’s Medina.

This fortification is erected on a mountain, overlooking the ocean, and was constructed during the realm of the Almohads.

Inside the Kasbah are Andalusian gardens full of fountains, orange trees, flowers, and palms.

Afterwards on the way to Fez, we will explore the Roman Ruins of Volubilis and the sacred town of Moulay Idriss Meknes, Morocco’s first Arab conqueror’s settlement.

Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in this Imperial city and continue to Fez for overnight.

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 ornamentation. 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 still 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 also 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.

Overnight in the hotel in Fez

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

Continue the journey while enjoying views of verdant cedar forests, volcanic mountains, wind-swept plains, spectacular gorges, and stony desert.

Travel along the marvelous oasis of the Ziz Valley before arriving in Erfoud, entrance 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 head overland to Merzouga, the heart of the desert, and surf the sandy sea in a powerful 4- WD Land Rover.

Dinner and overnight at a desert Camp in the the Sahara Desert.

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 in the famous Todra Gorge, a 300m wall, carved deep into the High Atlas Mountains.

Leave Tinghir heading towards Dades and its charming valley. Stop there to take pictures then continue to KelaatM’Gouna, a large village famous for cultivating roses. Expect to find many fine, rose-infused products here.

Then transfer to Ouarzazate, also known as ‘Hollywood of Morocco’ for dinner and overnight.

A morning 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 landscape movie scenes are 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.

After breakfast, you’ll go on a city tour of Marrakesh, the “Red City”, a majestic place filled with palaces, gardens, markets, and mosques.

First see 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 tile work), intricate white plaster work and heavy carved cedar-wood lintels.

Before sunset stroll in the famous city square, 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 local restaurant in the medina to enjoy a typical Moroccan dinner with entertainment. After the dinner, back to your hotel for overnight.

After breakfast, day at leisure to wander on your own.

Or you may want to book one of the following optional activities:

1. Day Retreat at Bennouna’s Farm with Cooking Class

This retreat experience will start by a pickup from your hotel/riad at 10AM by our English-speaking driver aboard a deluxe car for a 20-min. drive to the Valley of Ourika.

Upon arrival at the entrance to the trail you will switch to a camel/donkey/mule -depending on availability- for transfer to the farm.

A welcome drink is served by the Farm host, followed with a tour of the property that is surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the Atlas Mountains

Enjoy a 20-min. meditation on the roof of the farmhouse (yoga class optional upon request on

your own expenses).

Light lunch will be served. Swimming pool is available for use (if season permits) or enjoy a breathtaking walk in the surroundings.

Start to prepare for the cooking class at 4PM. First, pick up vegetables from the garden if season permits, then bring them to the kitchen to begin an immersed experience with the New York Times 3-stars Executive Chef.

You will dine on the food you cooked. After dinner, witness the sunset on the terrace of the villa. Moroccan tea or coffee will be served. Return to your hotel.

2. Traditional Hammam and Massage

The hammam is a must-do activity in Morocco. Historically, the hammam was a public bathhouse for the locals to clean off the dirt and grime invariably accumulated after traveling through the desert.

Today, the hammam still serves this purpose for the locals, but is brought to a higher level for the tourists. In the hammam, you’ll be submerged by a complete relaxation experience surrounded by authentic oriental décor in an atmosphere filled with water, oils, essences and perfumes. Enjoy a 30-min. scrub with black soap or soothing spices eliminating toxins from your body. After the Hammam, sway to the massage room where you will experience a 30-min. traditional Moroccan massage to eliminate tension and gain energy and vitality.

3. Excursion in the Atlas Mountains (Imlil Valley)

After breakfast, enjoy a rich and full day trip to see the Amazigh (Berber) villages and landscapes.

The full day excursion will visit the High Atlas Mountains and two valleys.

Beginning with the Ourika valley, which is one of the most beautiful valleys in Morocco. Ourika is about 1-hour drive from Marrakech and is famous for its waterfalls (it’s a 90 minute fairly strenuous trek to reach the waterfalls). On the way, you’ll visit a womens’ cooperative that extracts Argan oil, unique to Morocco.

Take a secluded mountain road over 1,800 meters above sea level, you will pass through traditional Amazigh villages built from adobe and stones.

Then continue to the valley of Imlil, famous for its fruit trees (apples, walnuts, almonds, peaches, etc.).

In Imlil, enjoy a typical lunch with a local family surrounded by the snowy summits of the High Atlas Mountains.

After lunch, cross the Kik plateau to the Takerkouste Lake – used as the Atlas Mountains water reservoir and as a generator of hydraulic power.

Complete your exciting day trip with a drive back to your hotel.

After breakfast, transportation to the airport for your return flight.