MOROCCO

DAY 1: CASABLANCA - RABAT

Upon arrival into Morocco, you will be met at the door of the plane and escorted through Customs and Immigration avoiding any queues.

Our local representative will provide you with your travel documents and go over the itinerary in great detail. 

Today enjoy a tour of Casablanca, before being transferred to Rabat in a private vehicle with English speaking driver.  Casablanca is located on the coast the Atlantic Ocean, and is the center of business in Morocco.  Originally established by the French as a commercial center, this dynamic city boasts a combination of modern, art deco, and traditional architecture.  Visit some of the city's most renowned monuments including La Corniche on the ocean front and the outstanding Hassan II Mosque.  Upon completion of the tour, you will proceed to Rabat.

 

Accommodation: Riad Kalaa

 

The Riad Kalaa is a renovated Kasbah which originally dates back to the Almoravide dynasty. This ancient structure was built in 1815, in the heart of the ramparts of the medina only a few steps away from the ocean. This Kasbah converted into a hotel  and has undergone a thorough and lengthy restoration, using artisan workmanship traditional to Morocco. The Riad Kalaa features 11 rooms and suites designed to with tradition and convenience in mind with each room equipped with the modern amenities such as climate control, wireless internet access and more.  The talented culinary team at the Riad Kalaa provides guests with a plethora of dishes to enjoy including an extensive menu of Moroccan specialities.  The Riad Kalaa also features tree-lined terraces on the upper floors with a solarium and emerald swimming pool.  A traditional hammam and spa are made available as well and offer relaxing massage treatments and old fashion shaves. The architecture of the Riad Kalaa is quite unique, and features an elegant assortment of terraces, alcoves and salons, ensuring intimacy and harmonious ambiance for all the guests

 

DAY 2: RABAT - FES

A private vehicle with English speaking driver will provide a transfer between Rabat and Fes. During the transfer, explore the Imperial City of Meknes along with the Roman city of Volubilis. In antiquity, Volubilis was an important Roman town situated near the westernmost border of Roman Empire. It was built on the site of a previous Carthaginian settlement from the third century BC. Volubilis was the administrative center of the province in Roman Africa called Mauretania Tingitana. The fertile lands of the province produced many commodities such as grain and olive oil, which were exported to Rome, contributing to the province's wealth and prosperity. Discover the Imperial city of Meknes known as the “Moroccan Versailles.”  Meknes was founded in the 17th century by King Moulay Ismail. It is famous for its 25-mile-long walls. Upon arrival into Fes, a hotel drop-off is provided.

Accommodation: Riad Salam

Riad Salam Fes is conveniently located next to Batha square as well as other historical sites of Fez city (within walking distance from the historic sites of the Medina and the famous Bab Boujloud medina gate.) This remarkable riad in Fes' medina was built at the beginning of 20th century and was recently restored by craftsmen who managed to recapture the glory of its jaw-dropping interiors. The property itself is wonderfully atmospheric, with some of the finest zellij, plasterwork, carved wood and brass work that you can see outside of the tourist attractions – just the place to unwind in style. The small size of the property means that service is highly personalised, and the staff will do everything they can to ensure that your stay is perfect. They will also be more than happy to offer advice on places to visit, so that you can get the most out of your time here.

 

DAY 3: FES

A private vehicle with English speaking driver will be at your disposal for the day.

 

Your guide will meet you at your hotel at 9am. Explore the cultural and spiritual center of Morocco during this full day tour of Fes. Also known as Fes el Bali, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was founded in the 9th century, and is home to the world's oldest university. The city of Fes reached its true economic and cultural height in the 13th–14th centuries under the Merinids, when it replaced Marrakech as the capital of the kingdom. Although the political capital of Morocco was transferred to Rabat in 1912, Fes has retained its status as the country's Artisan centre. Artisan workshops in the medina are as active today as they were 100 years ago, and strongly contribute to the city’s industrial economy. Trades such as blacksmithing, leather working, ceramics, silk, tapestries, and sculpting are still practiced in these workshops today. The original ramparts still protect this ancient city and its estimated 9000 narrow passageways and bustling streets.

 

Accommodation: Riad Salam

 

DAY 4: FES

A private vehicle with English speaking driver will be at your disposal for the day.

Enjoy an afternoon’s guided tour of the labyrinthine souks of the city. Amongst the many shops and stalls are artisans’ workshops and studios where traditional skills, passed down by the Moorish émigrés from Andalucia, are still practised by master craftsmen. Trades such as metal and leather working, ceramics, silk, tapestry, and sculpting remain current.  Highlights of the tour will be observing the vast tanneries from a family home for this unique view, and the spice souk, El Attarine, without doubt the most vibrant in Fes. The henna and wood working souks are located in the Nejjarine neighborhood and the scent of cedar wood is noticeable. The main plaza is planted with trees and provides a shaded haven from the warm sun. Various natural products derived from henna are sold here. Nejjarine is also where the fabric dyers are located; wool and cotton are treated and you can see the colours used floating along the streets after the rinsing.

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

 

Accommodation: Riad Salam

 

DAY 5: FES - MARRAKECH

Travel today between Fes and Marrakech with private vehicle, driver and your guide.  Enjoy lunch en-route, your guide will take you to a nice & recommended restaurant.  Explore the Mountain range of the Middle Atlas, with incredible passes and dizzying sights to experience the countryside of Morocco.

The drive takes 7 hours in total, you will be stopping for an hour for lunch enroute.

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

 

Accommodation: Riad Les Yeux Bleus

 

Riad Les Yeux Bleus is located in the Bab Doukkala district, one of the most popular and picturesque quarters of the medina, and just ten minutes on foot from the square of Jemaa el Fna in the heart of Marrakech. Riad Les Yeux Bleus features comfortable bedrooms, each one decorated in its own style. The property features two charming patios; two pools, a library, a hammam, and a magnificent roof terrace with a bar. It is the perfect place for you to relax after a hard day of exploring the wonders of Marrakech.

DAY 6: MARRAKECH

A private vehicle with English speaking driver will be at your disposal for the day.

Your tour usually starts at the 12th century Koutoubia Mosque. This mosque's beautiful minaret dominates the skyline of Marrakech and can be seen from almost every approach to the city thanks to a long-standing planning ordinance that forbids any other building in the old city to rise above the height of a palm tree. You will also visit the El-Bahia Palace.  This 19th century palace is elaborate in its decoration and was built over a period of seven years for Ba Ahmed, the son of the Grand Vizier Si Moussa. There are row after row of apartments—that once housed Ahmed's harem—a trapezoidal garden, a huge tiled courtyard, and many hidden treasures, both in the form of antique objects d'art and the palace's convergence of Andalusian and Moorish architecture. One of most visited sites in Morocco is the Saadian Tombs, which were only accessible via the mosque next door. However, in 1917 they were opened to the public and can now be accessed via a narrow passage that leads to an enclosed garden watched over by two mausoleums that include more than one hundred mosaic-decorated tombs. The Koranic School Medersa Ben Youssef is a Theological college founded by the Merenid Sultan Abu Hassan in the 14th century.  It was restored in 1564 by the Saadians who made it the largest theological college in the Maghreb and a rival to the important Medersa Bou Inania in Fés.

 

Accommodation: Riad Les Yeux Bleus

 

DAY 7: MARRAKECH

Enjoy time at leisure in Marrakech. Horse riding, ATV, hot-air ballooning or golf? Even skiing is possible close by…. Marrakech is home to a wide variety of activities. Enjoy time at leisure to explore the city on your own or sign up for tours and sight seeing. Local attractions include: hot air balloon ride, 4x4 riding, cooking class, wine tasting, camel back ride, white water rafting, zip lining, biking, walking, garden and historical tours just to name a few!

 

Accommodation: Riad Les Yeux Bleus

 

DAY 8: MARRAKECH

A private vehicle with English speaking driver will provide a transfer between Marrakech and the airport in Casablanca.

The approximate travel time is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Airport Drop off is included.

 

Accommodation: Depart (Int`l Airport) (standard)

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.