Casablanca, Fez & Marrakech

On arrival at the Mohamed V airport in Casablanca you will be greeted by your tour guide and transferred to your hotel. This is an introduction day so you are free to explore your surroundings and your tour leader will provide information about the meeting point for the following day.

In Casablanca we will show you the Mosque of Hassan II, opened in 1993, it is a major architectural landmark. Accommodating over 25,000 worshippers, it is one of the only religious sites open to non-Muslims. Furthermore, we will drive to Rabat, the elegant capital of Morocco and our first Imperial city tour. The city is filled with fine Arab monuments, some dating back to the Almohad and Merenid dynasties. We will also visit the vast minaret of the Hassan Mosque and explore the lovely Kasbah des Oudaias. In the late afternoon we will continue our journey to Meknes.

  DAY 3: MEKNES – VOLUBILIS – FEZ In the morning, we will start our journey to Volubilis, which was once a provincial Roman capital, a distant outpost of the empire. Today, Volubilis is the most impressive Roman site in Morocco declared by the UNESCO a World Heritage Site in 1997. We will also explore the House of Orpheus, where several fine mosaic floors remain intact. Back in Meknes we will discover the charming streets of the old medina, a perfect way to start our journey to Fez. From the northern gate, Bab Berdaine, we will walk to the shrine of Moulay Ismail who in the 17th century turned Meknes from a provincial town to the Imperial city. We will also visit the lovely Bou Inania Medresse (religious school) and the old souk, afterwards we will drive to Fez in the night.

  DAY 4: FES Fez is the spiritual heart of Morocco; magical, vibrant, noisy and fascinating city with an ancient Medina. Considered as the largest medina in North Africa, It is made up of three different ‘cities’, or quarters. We will be based in the elegant ‘Nouveau Ville’, or New City, which has a distinctly French/European character. The adventure today will consist of a visit to the old city, known locally as Fez el Bali, For over a thousand years, it was the political capital of Morocco, home to powerful sultans who lived in their luxurious palaces. Palaces and mosques all over Morocco are built, and restored, by craftsmen and artisans from Fez. Experience how it was back in the Middle Ages, as we wander through the streets and alleyways, passing historic khans, medresses and dye-pits, Fez is Morocco at its purest. It is a landmark of Moroccan traditions and values in the 21st century. We will spend the day visiting the Belghazi Museum, Medresse el Attarine, the tanneries and  Funduk Nejjarine. Fez is home to the world’s oldest university. The libraries of Fez house treasure troves of rare manuscripts. We will return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Fes el Jedid is also well worth a visit. Unlike Fes el Bali, which grew exponentially over the years, Fes el Jedid was a city built and planned by the Merenids in the 13th and 14th centuries. Later, you will have two options: visit the spa village of Moulay Yacoub to enjoy a swim and traditional thermal baths OR a trip to Sefrou a lovely little town, once home to Morocco’s largest Jewish communities. Your tour guide will provide information on both options and you’ll have to make a decision. Alternatively, we can also spend the day in Fez.

In the morning, we will travel in a private minibus from Fez to Marrakech. Upon arrival, you will be guided to your hotel. In the evening, it is a great opportunity to spend your last days visiting the Jemaa el-Fna square, one of the largest public spaces in the world considered a UNESCO World Heritage site. A unique place with snake-charmers, local musicians, story-tellers and hundreds of outdoor dining options.

  DAY 7: MARRAKECH After breakfast in the hotel we will meet our Marrakech guide and begin our tour of the old medina visiting the Bahia Palace, a mansion built in 1866 for a slave who had risen to a respected position in the government of Moulay Hassan. We will explore its calm inner courtyards, fragrant with orange blossoms, and the grand salons and chambers that make up this elegant home. Furthermore, we will continue our adventure to the Marrakech Museum, a former palace holding fine collections of  traditional Moroccan art and sculptures. We will then walk you through the streets of the old medina making our way back to Jemaa el-Fna square. The rest of the day is up to you to explore further, or shop in the bazaars.

Your adventure with us ends on this day after breakfast. Check-out time is usually around 12.00 noon, however you are free to leave at any time. If you have arranged a an airport transfer you will be informed of the pick-up time.